| Ages | 14 - 17 (must complete 8th grade and turn 14 by the start of the program) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite |
Able to swim; medically fit for diving; DAN insurance coverage |
| Staff/Student Ratio | 1:8 with a scuba ratio of 1:4 |
| Schedule | Sunday - Friday |
| Check-in/out | Sunday 3:00 PM Friday 12:45 PM |
| Summer Sessions |
Week 1: June 8 - 13, 2025 Week 2: June 15 - 20, 2025 Week 5: July 6 - 11, 2025 Week 8: July 28 - August 1, 2025 *Commuter Only |
| Academic Fee*** | $1,350 |
| Overnight Fee |
$810 Total Cost: Academic + Residential = $2,160
|
| Location | UNCW Campus - TBD |
| Registration Deadline | You must register two weeks prior to the start of the program. |
*Note that prices, content, dates, and times are subject to change without notice.
**Commuter only week only academic fee. The daily schedule will be Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM & Friday 8:00 AM - 12:45 PM
***The academic fee includes Open Water Certification eLearning, charter fees, SCUBA equipment rental of BCD, regulator, computer, and wetsuit. Students are responsible for bringing their own mask, fins, and snorkel.
DAN insurance is a specialized insurance coverage for diving accidents and dive travel. Dive Hawks, MarineQuest Scientific Diver, and Oceans-17 students are REQUIRED to have DAN insurance with at least coverage at the master level, ranging from $80 - $100.
PADI eLearning is the online work required to earn your Open Water, Peak Performance Buoyancy, or Advanced Open Water certification. About 3 weeks prior to your program start date you will be issued an eLearning code. You are required to complete your program eLearning course before arriving at your MarineQuest program.
Students participating in MarineQuest scuba diving programs are required to bring their own mask, snorkel, and fins. All other scuba gear (BCD, wetsuit, regulator, computer, weights, and tank) are provided. Students who would like to use their own gear must provide a receipt of service within one year.
MarineQuest suggests that you purchase your mask, fins, and snorkel in person at the scuba diving shop. The mask is very important and should be fitted to your student's face. If you do not have a shop where you live, students can purchase mask, snorkel, and fins at Aquatic Safaris SCUBA Center, Inc. while during their MarineQuest program.
Most MarineQuest program educators are marine scientists pursuing or have recently completed their undergraduate or graduate degree in a marine science discipline. Also, we hire teachers who have a passion for marine science education. We search through 100+ staff candidates to identify a summer team with experience working with youth, marine science and hold safety certifications including first aid, lifeguard, and more.
We are proud to have a team that is highly trained in both safety and marine science. Each staff member passes a criminal background check before hiring, is First Aid certified, passes a DMV check if they are driving, and is lifeguard certified if required by their position.
MarineQuest's optional and for some senior programs required overnight programming provides participants with a full pre-college experience.
After the day's activities, students will have free time before dinner. After dinner, students will have fun, community, and leadership-based activities as well as additional opportunities for free time to read, exercise, and more.
The MarineQuest staff is more than happy to pick up and drop off students at ILM. An airport transportation request form is required. In some instances, there may be an additional charge.
MarineQuest
Main Office: 626 MacMillan Ave.
MarineQuest Lab: Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane
