Packing for Tropical Conservation in Belize :) Part Three (Class Supplies, Snorkeling Gear, and Other Useful Things)

by | Nov 27, 2024 | Central America, Engineering, Faculty-Led, Summer | 0 comments

Under each section, I have specific products listed in red, and I have linked the products on Amazon that I mention throughout the blog to make the process of finding these products easier. I will post promo codes at the bottom of the blog when they are updated so that discounts will be available to you at checkout through these links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

CLASS SUPPLIES

I took two hardcover dotted notebooks. I wrote more than anyone on the trip I’m sure, and I only needed one 251-page notebook. I didn’t like how my handwriting looked in pencil, so I just used a few gel pens and scratched out any words that I spelled incorrectly. I also bought some colored pencils and a little pouch for them. Some other people used watercolor markers, but regular markers would bleed through the notebook pages. Don’t forget a tiny pencil sharpener for your colored pencils!

SNORKEL GEAR

Here it is! This is mostly about the snorkel gear I used, but I will definitely include things that other people used! I had no problems with my mask and snorkel until the very last snorkel of the trip when the bottom of my mask began letting in a bit of saltwater to my nose. Overall, my equipment worked really well. I had no problems with my fins at all. They adjusted easily and never broke or came loose while I was swimming. Something to remember for snorkeling is to consider bringing an antifog product. On the boat to our snorkel spots, they would pass around dish soap that worked just as well as my antifog did, but I found that it was easier to use my little spray bottle of antifog than wash my goggles with soap. I also used water socks and loved them! I took one pair with me and used them on every snorkel. Dry sand wouldn’t stick to them either, which was really nice for walking around Lime Caye. In the water, these protected me from fin blisters.

Here are some other recommendations for snorkeling gear!

  • I had a friend that used Stream2Sea Antifog and claimed that her goggles never fogged while the rest of us experienced fogging at least once every dive. https://amzn.to/3zuyBRb
  • The Marine Biologists on Tobacco Caye favored Cressi brand masks and fins to other brands. Particularly these fins: https://amzn.to/3VVBge6
  • I noticed that a few people were using Ozark Trail snorkel sets from Walmart which were a bit cheaper but did not seem to work as well as other equipment.
  • My friend used BodyGlove mask and snorkel, but her mask was leaking for the last few days.
  • Lots of people used OMGear water socks and liked them. https://amzn.to/3WeJ0tq
  • One girl had a pair of Cressi neoprene boots but had trouble fitting her fins on top of them. https://amzn.to/4ePaqgx
  • Strap covers help the mask strap from getting stuck in your hair or giving you a headache. The TA on my trip had this Cressi strap. https://amzn.to/3XR3KIA
  • Other fins I saw: https://amzn.to/3VVkzQl

OTHER USEFUL THINGS

This is a list of some other random things that I used and loved and some things that I wish I had taken with me to Belize.

  • Headbands: I wish more than anything that I would’ve had a headband with me on this trip. With the wind whipping my baby hairs around during every boat ride, I would have loved to have a headband for the boat rides but also possibly for the snorkels. The hair surrounding my face would float around me even with my hair constantly pulled back. Anyway, that was a bit frustrating so here are some headbands I would recommend: https://amzn.to/3Wbgc4O, https://amzn.to/3xIfl2f, https://amzn.to/3zsr2uu
  • Unscented Trash Bags and Ziplock Bags: I took two unscented trashbags with me to carry wet clothes or shoes, and I am so thankful that I did. I used Ziplock bags for everything from keeping my containers of liquid from leaking in my suitcase, to putting shells and wet clothes in for the trip back home.
  • Bamboo Charcoal Bags: These were my mom’s idea and again, I am so happy that I took them with me. I put one in each of my bags to keep my bag from smelling like sweat or wet clothes and even now each bag smells new. https://amzn.to/3XXGyZz
  • Hammock and Mosquito Net: Bringing a hammock was definitely the right move for this trip. On Lime Caye there are small bunk beds that most people slept on. I wound up sleeping on a bunk one night because it was raining outside, and I didn’t have a tarp to hang over my hammock. Honestly, I think I was more comfortable in my hammock than that bunk bed. There was a bit of a breeze that I could feel from my hammock, so it was not as warm to sleep. My hammock advice would be to definitely not get a cloth hammock. The night that I had to sleep in the bunk bed was during a little tropical storm and literally the next morning, my hammock was already dry again. My hammock did not come with straps, so I just used paracord. Most people used straps and were able to set their hammock up quicker though. Also, the mosquito net was a LIFE SAVER. So many people complained about how awful the bugs were at night on Lime Caye, so it was so nice to be able to sleep in my little bug net.
  • Dr. Bronner’s 18in1 unscented soap: I saw this recommended a lot before I went to Belize to wash clothes. I didn’t take it or need to use it, but my roommates on our last island had some to wash clothes. They used this soap to wash their clothes in the tub, and they were as good as new. You can also use this soap on your body, but I would not recommend using it in your hair. Everyone who used Dr. Bronner’s as shampoo had trouble with their hair feeling dry. https://amzn.to/3LaZrR5
  • Plant-based body wipes: I took a small pack of Goodwipes Plant-based body wipes. They smelled nice and were great for when I didn’t feel like showering but had sand or dirt on my legs or arms. https://amzn.to/3xBBhfr
  • Banana Boat Sunscreen Lip Balm: This helped keep my lips from being too chapped or dry from sunburn. https://amzn.to/4czkPLN
  • Sunbum Lip Balm 30 SPF: An alternative lip balm https://amzn.to/3LdDMHO
  • Sunglasses Strap: The wind is super aggressive on the boat rides, and no one wants to lose their sunglasses to the sea. https://amzn.to/4cLKRev
  • Lotion: I didn’t even think about the fact that my skin would be so dry from the sun and salt. By the end of the trip, my legs and hands were super dry, and I wished for lotion more than anything.
  • Face Wash: I totally forgot to take face wash with me and had to borrow CeraVe face wash from a friend.
  • Dresses: Although I took a couple athletic skirts with me, I regretted not bringing a thin, flowy dress or two for Southwater Caye. The weather was perfect for a dress!
  • Timex Dive Watch: I did not take this off a single time the whole trip. (I have a funky tan line now.) On the snorkels, everyone would ask me for the time, so it was nice that at least one of us could keep up with the time while in the water. This watch is super durable and is meant for being underwater. https://amzn.to/3xPDsvR
  • The Royal Standard Beach Towel: I took two of these towels with me but only used one. The towel is not as soft as normal bath towels, but it dried super-fast in comparison and it was easy to shake off sand and dirt. There are lots of different colors and designs that are available on Amazon, but this is the one that I used. https://amzn.to/4eUtk5U
  • 26oz Britta Bottle: It was so nice having a filtering bottle, so I knew that all the water I drank was safe.https://amzn.to/3RWZDH8

Thank you and I hope these were helpful!