The Newest Adventure
Growing up, I discovered from a very young age that I loved being in or near some type of water. I loved the beach, but also the pool and at one point, after a trip to the amazing, local aquarium, I considered a career in marine biology. Because of this interest in marine science, and my intense desire to travel, I absolutely could not pass up an opportunity to do coral reef research in Honduras. I’d always wanted to learn to scuba dive. I never believed I would get the chance to become scuba certified, much less on a tropical island in the Caribbean, diving among barracuda, dolphins, sea turtles, squid, and so many species of fish, all coexisting with one another. Scientists, students and volunteers research and address conservation concerns to improve the health of Caribbean coral reefs throughout the region. The study and preservation of the coral reefs are important to the economy because they bring in billions of dollars through tourism. They also provide a home for millions of amazing aquatic species, protect coastal homes from storms and may even offer some promising medical treatments.
Through some group and individual fundraising efforts, and the generosity of family and friends, I was able to raise the money for the single greatest adventure of my lifetime. My expectations were already high, but I had no idea I would be learning so much, as well as meeting and bonding with brand new friends. We went as a group of 15, ready to work. The two weeks I spent in Honduras were the best, most challenging, most eye-opening weeks of my life. It was the craziest thing, getting up early every morning to scuba dive and explore the ocean. We also spent days exploring the town on days off from diving. There were plenty of animals, marine and non-marine, to keep me happy.
But there’s more to Honduras than just the two islands. There’s SO much to see, and the flight from New York was just a few hours. Honduras has San Pedro Sula and Utila and Roatan and SO MUCH MORE! I need to go back asap, but here’s some photos of my trip which was spent mostly in Utila and Roatan!
Keep an eye out for more posts coming soon about back to school (eek, it’s so soon!) Check @olivia_gaidry for life updates, new posts, etc. I geotagged all my instagrams of Honduras! Let me know if you’ve been to Honduras before and what your favorite spot was!
xo, Liv
You have probably heard this before, but you guys NEED to roll your clothes. It totally saves room! If you need even more space, I would recommend using a space bag (those plastic bags that you vacuum the air out of). That way you don’t have to worry about cramming your entire wardrobe into your suitcase!
If you’re traveling with family or friends, it’s more than likely that you’ll accidentally mistake your electronics for another person’s. By putting the same pattern washi tape on your electronics, it’s so much easier to identify your electronics from the rest. Not to mention, it looks super cute too!
If you don’t like putting your shoes on top of your clothes when you pack your suitcase, you can use a shower cap instead! Stick your shoes inside a shower cap before placing it on top of your clothes. Alternatively, you can use a plastic grocery bag or a Ziploc bag, anything you have on hand to prevent your clothes from getting dirty! Super easy and neat!
This will save your butt if you ever get your wallet stolen. What I like to do is put money in a few different places, so that if one stash of cash gets stolen, you have other stashes hidden around.
Olivia Gaidry 