Isla Mar Research Expeditions Guide to Services | страница 8

Wh y Puerto Ri co? 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. W ith 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. Clockwise from the top: Mangrove system in Guanica, Lago Dos Bocas lake in Utuado, coastal palm trees adjacent to the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve in Rincon, natural land bridge in Cabo Rojo.