Tag: guided snorkelling tour

Memories of 2022

Memories of 2022 and the long summer that was onboard Meet the Sea. In the video below are some of the highlights of our Family Boat trip around the sea of Ibiza and some of the stories that made us smile.

Remembering summer with Meet the Sea

We are all aware of the digital advances of our era and the profound changes they imply in children’s education. I personally marvel at the means available to teachers and students today when I think of my classroom. I also feel that children across Europe and the UK are today more outspoken, independent and willing to discover. It is crucial that these innate qualities and the excellent support obtained in school find completion with a strong relationship with our planet. That is perhaps the main reason Meet the Sea exists. Our desire to provide an experience and memories that will awaken or stoke a child’s curiosity for the sea.

I am in awe of the courage shown by so many children during our Family Boat trip. Dropping anchor in 30 feet of water poses a challenge for many, no matter how beautiful and secluded the spot. So many questions thrown at our guides as we get ready to snorkel: are there sharks? How deep is it? Why is the water dark over there? And despite their initial hesitation, we soon saw them with their mask following our guide. How proud I felt of these courageous children! How wise of their parents to support, motivate and push them to discover and challenge their fears!

Once in the water it is important that children get to see marine life from up close: It is important to understand the role of Posidonia Oceanica or Neptune grass in our environment. Or to witness the slow movements of the sea urchin as they seek protection. All of these small wonders help the young ones develop empathy for the creatures below and develop their love and concern for the environment.

Summer memories of 2022 onboard were about open blue skies and pristine waters. They were also about secluded bays that make us feel unique and that convey a sense of exclusivity to our holiday. And certainly also about discovering a number o species probably unknown to most. But perhaps more importantly they were about the personal growth experienced by children who challenged their fears. The satisfaction they felt for braving the depths of the sea and the unknown. The curiosity that thrilled them when discovering a new world. And perhaps the beginning of new horizons deployed in their limitless imagination.

Our thanks to Visit Sant Antoni for some of the pictures depicted in the video above and especially to our onboard photographer Jesica for her daily work.

10 Benefits of the Sea

December 9, 2022.

10 benefits of the sea that you experience when joining us in one of our Meet the Sea experiences around the Ibiza coast.

I have often wondered why being at sea makes me happy. Perhaps the fact that I was born in Ibiza accentuated the importance of answering the question. Over the years I have observed people at sea and read abundantly on the subject.

Here are the 10 benefits to being at sea with us:

  1. The health impact of sea air. As we approach the sea, before we even set foot in it, we are overcome with a sense of calm and wellbeing. Why is that? A study conducted by Jo Garrett, of the University of Exeter, concentrated on the benefits of mental health due to coastal proximity. It appears that being near the sea reduces depression, anxiety and mortality rates.
  2. The positive effect on your brain and lungs. The immediate sense of improved breathing is the result of salt in the air. As Oceanic states, the ocean’s waves produce negative ions that increase oxygen flow to your brain. As a result, you feel more energised and relaxed. Minerals in sea water also help clear the airways and breathing the sea breeze naturally cleanses our lungs.
  3. Natural relaxation at sea. As we leave the harbour behind onboard our boat, we begin to feel surrounded by silence and peace. Only the sound of the waves and light ocean spray surround us as the morning sun awakes our senses. We feel calm, invaded by a sense of peace and wellbeing as we look forward to our sea adventure.
  4. Feeling social and energised. Friends, families, different age groups and nationalities all converge in a medium size group on the Family Boat trip. The joy we feel when setting out to sea enhances our social instinct, the desire to interact and appetite for adventure.
  5. The challenge posed by the sea: Our sometimes too sedentary lives need a good impulse during the sea holiday! As soon as we drop anchor, we start our mask and snorkel fitting session. In a matter of minutes, you start our guided snorkelling tour exploring the bottom of the sea and discovering the underwater world.
  6. Calm at Sea: No sounds, only breathing. As you begin to follow our guide who leads you into the unknown, we only hear the sound of our breath. The snorkel amplifies the sound of our rhythmic breathing and we feel a natural meditative state invading us.
  7. Sense of achievement after the adventure: Swimming in open seas, interacting with sea creatures and seeing 20 feet of water below you is unusual! Your mind acknowledges the challenge and your soul feels enriched and strengthened as you arrive back to the boat.
  8. Personal growth of children and adults: We are always impressed by the courage shown by small children in deep waters. By their smile after they conquer their fears and the satisfaction that is drawn in their faces. And by the joy felt by parents as they watch their children. Only because of this single aspect the adventure is worth your time!
  9. Your skin, your muscles, your mind: Feel the impact on your skin as the minerals act during our snorkelling tour. Feel the soft impact of exercise at sea: your muscles tighten in a natural and gradual way, your joints do not suffer and your mind is ta peace.
  10. A return to land filled with joy: We arrive back to the dock feeling different. A sense of adventure, wellbeing, achievement, serenity and health surrounds our being. We are now feeling better about ourselves, more positive and eager to go out at sea again. Come join us in 2023 to discover it for yourself!