Why Puerto Rico ?
Puerto Rico is located in the U . S . Caribbean , just southeast of Hispaniola . The island is a vibrant mix of Latin American and Caribbean cultures . Visiting Puerto Rico offers an completely immersive experience in language and customs that is unique from the contiguous United States .
As a territory of the U . S ., Puerto Rico is easily reached by daily flights from most large airports . Passports are not required for U . S . citizens . The island is bilingual , so fluency in Spanish is not a requirement to live , travel and work on the island .
The natural beauty of Puerto Rico is truly the hidden gem . The island boasts wonders like underground rivers , caves , waterfalls , jungles , rainforests , dry forests , coffee farms , marine protected areas and more . Extensive coral reefs , mangroves and seagrass habitats are available to snorkeling and diving . Remote islands like Desecheo and Mona are enticing to spelunkers and divers alike . There are endless opportunities to explore something new every day .
As a marine scientist , Puerto Rico is a field research paradise . There are easily accessible marine systems to perform field experiments and establish long-term monitoring . The presence of mesophotic coral ecosystems and the Puerto Rican trench provide even more opportunities for unique research . Professionals and student-scientists are eager to collaborate .
These reasons above support Puerto Rico as one of the most diverse and accessible places for a tropical ecology field course . With the help of Isla Mar , your students will experience island biodiversity from the perspective of resident marine scientists . This means access to off-the-beaten path excursions and hands-on training in field research . Our motto is " don ' t just learn about science , do science ". So , come explore with us .