A Rebel Reef AdZENture
The woolly mammoths of the ocean
DATES
April 30 – May 6, 2027
DURATION
6 Nights / 7 Days
GROUP SIZE
12 Spaces
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Active · Diving
A Rebel Reef AdZENture
Our most beloved conservation partners are going back — and this time you get your hands in the water with them.
Tela is the reef that should not exist.
Reefs across the Caribbean have bleached, broken and gone quiet. This one sits at roughly 70% live coral cover, against a regional average nearer 18%, and nobody fully understands why. That is not a marketing line. It is an open scientific question, and we get to swim around inside it.
Then there is the elkhorn. Twenty years ago elkhorn was the most abundant coral on Caribbean shores. Today there are 13 wild elkhorns left in all 300 miles of Florida’s reef. THIRTEEN. In Tela there are tens of thousands of colonies, in dense jungles stretching at least four kilometres — thought to be the largest wild population left anywhere in the Caribbean. Juli calls them the white rhinos of the ocean. Swimming through them is like swimming in a herd of woolly mammoths.
We are going back with the two people who know this water best. Dr. Juli Berwald literally wrote the book on coral reefs, and she co-founded Tela Coral to protect this one. Antal Börcsök is the man who heard locals talk about rocas offshore, went to look, and found that the rocks were alive.
And then it stops being a dive trip. If conditions allow, you will take part in an actual elkhorn translocation — real citizen science, not a photo opportunity. You will be shown how to handle “fragments of opportunity”, the pieces snapped off by waves and illegal anchor drops, and you will hold coral in your hands. It counts toward a live scientific study, and it builds new habitat for the quarter of all marine life that depends on reefs.
Six nights. Four in a treehouse above the ocean, two in the mangroves of Jeanette Kawas National Park. Ten of us, no more. And $500 of what you pay goes straight to Tela Coral.
This is the one we are proudest of.
Gallery
Reef photography courtesy of Caribbean Reef Guardians.
🏊 Not scuba certified? No problem.
You do not need a certification to come on this retreat. Non-divers can take part in a discovery dive without any prior qualification, and you can snorkel the reef — which, on a reef this shallow and this alive, is not the consolation prize it usually is. The elkhorn grows near the surface.
If you would like to get certified, you can do it right here in Tela with Antal’s team: $500 plus your accommodation and food costs for the extra days. Tell us when you book and we’ll set it up.
Three Signature Experiences
Everything on this retreat was chosen on purpose. These three are the heart of it.
🪨 Hold a Coral in Your Hands
If conditions allow, we join a translocation of elkhorn coral — part of a live experiment to understand how these rare corals respond to their environment, and to build new reef habitat. You will be shown how to handle elkhorn “fragments of opportunity”: pieces broken off by waves or by illegal anchor drops. It is a rare chance to actually hold coral, and it counts toward a real scientific study.
🦣 The Biggest Elkhorn Forest Left in the Caribbean
Twenty years ago elkhorn was the most abundant coral on Caribbean shores. Today only 13 wild elkhorns remain across all 300 miles of Florida reef. Tela is estimated to hold tens of thousands of colonies, in dense jungles stretching at least four kilometres — thought to be the largest wild population left anywhere in the Caribbean. Juli calls it the white rhino of the ocean. Swimming through it is like swimming in a herd of woolly mammoths.
🔬 Diving the Rebel Reef with the People Who Found It
This reef should be dead. Decades of pollution, heat and disease have flattened reefs across the Caribbean, and this one sits at roughly 70% live coral cover against a regional average nearer 18%. Nobody fully knows why. You dive it with Antal, who found it, and Juli, who studies it — and your trip includes a $500 donation straight to Tela Coral’s conservation work.
⚠️ About the coral translocation
The translocation dive is weather and conditions dependent. It is a genuine scientific activity, not a scheduled attraction, and it only happens when it is safe and appropriate for the corals. We will always tell you honestly on the day. Everything else on this retreat runs regardless.
🌊 Plus a night dive, the aquarium, and Punta Sal
A night dive on the reef, a tour of the TelaMarine Aquarium, a scientific presentation from Juli and Antal, and a day out to Punta Sal Island. See the Inclusions tab for everything.
What’s Included & What’s Not
✓ What’s Included
- 4 nights in a unique treehouse property with ocean views
- 2 nights in the mangroves of Jeanette Kawas National Park
- Airport and retreat transportation to and from San Pedro Sula (SAP)
- All meals and snacks, from welcome dinner to farewell breakfast
- $500 donation to Tela Coral to study and protect the Rebel Reef
- Local beers or wine at dinner
- Guided scuba diving excursions on the Rebel Reef
- Elkhorn coral translocation dive, conditions permitting
- 1 night dive experience
- Scientific presentation of the Rebel Reef with Juli Berwald and Antal Börcsök
- TelaMarine Aquarium tour
- Punta Sal Island tour
- AdZENtures welcome kit
- All equipment, taxes & fees
✗ Not Included
- Flights to/from San Pedro Sula (SAP)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- PADI dive certification — available in Tela for $500 plus accommodation and food for the extra days
- Personal purchases
- Alcohol, other than what’s provided at meals
- Additional excursions/activities
- Additional gratuity for your hosts, guides and instructors
💰 Flexible Payment Plans Available
A $750 deposit secures your spot. A second payment of $1,275 is due November 30, 2026, and your remaining balance is due February 28, 2027. After submitting your deposit, you’ll receive a confirmation email with options to select your preferred payment plan.
Two Homes, One Week
This retreat splits in two, on purpose. Four nights in a treehouse above the ocean — built up into the mango trees, with a pool and views out over the water. Then two nights in the mangroves of Jeanette Kawas National Park, on the water, where the herons stand on the dock in the morning and the mountains sit blue across the lagoon.
They could not be more different, and that is the point. Ten of us, no more, in both.
Up in the Trees
Four nights in the treehouse property — decks, a pool, and the ocean through the mango canopy.
Out on the Water
Two nights in the mangroves inside a national park. Quiet in a way that is difficult to describe.
Ten Guests, Never More
Small enough that the dive boat is ours and everybody actually knows each other by day two.
Room Types
Shared Room
$3,299
per person
Two beds. Matched with a roommate, or bring your own. Four shared rooms: Punta Sal, Brisas, Montaña and Azul.
Private Room
$3,899
per person
One bed, your own room, no roommate. Four private rooms: Del Mar, Del Sol, Este and Mango.
Accommodation Gallery
Meet Your Guides
Lindsey Conroy
Your AdZENtures Host
Owner of AdZENtures | 500-Hour Yoga Instructor
Lindsey has been leading transformational retreats since 2017, guiding guests through conscious travel experiences around the world. As the founder of AdZENtures, she combines her expertise in yoga, adventure travel, and cultural immersion to create retreats that truly change lives.
Dr. Juli Berwald
Your Coral Scientist
PhD Ocean Science | Author, Life on the Rocks & Spineless | President, Tela Coral
Juli Berwald, Ph.D. is an ocean scientist and science writer based in Austin, Texas. In addition to The Shell Seeker, just released in July 2026, she is author of Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs, which was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize and Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone, which won an Indie Choice Award. Juli has contributed to magazines including National Geographic, Texas Monthly, and The New York Times, among others. She co-founded and is the President of the non-profit Tela Coral, which is working to protect and understand some of the rarest coral in the Caribbean.
Antal Börcsök
Your Dive Host
Founder, Tela Marine | Co-manager, Marine Protected Area
Antal is Honduras-born, Hungarian by family, and the reason anybody dives Tela at all. Locals talked about rocas offshore — rocks. Newly certified, he and Alejandra went to look, and the rocks turned out to be very much alive. He spent the next few years getting coral scientists to come and see what was in his front yard.
He founded Tela Marine — the dive shop, the aquarium and the education centre — and co-manages the Marine Protected Area. His PADI instructors take small groups out to Mushroom Mound, Canyon and Rotunda. Nobody knows this water better.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You do not need a certification to come on this retreat.
Non-divers can do a discovery dive with no prior qualification, and you can snorkel the reef. The elkhorn grows near the surface here, so snorkelling gets you genuinely close to the thing everyone comes for — it is not the consolation prize it usually is.
If you would like to become certified, you can do it in Tela with Antal’s team for $500 plus your accommodation and food costs for the extra days. Let us know when you book and we’ll arrange it.
Non-divers can do a discovery dive with no prior qualification, and you can snorkel the reef. The elkhorn grows near the surface here, so snorkelling gets you genuinely close to the thing everyone comes for — it is not the consolation prize it usually is.
If you would like to become certified, you can do it in Tela with Antal’s team for $500 plus your accommodation and food costs for the extra days. Let us know when you book and we’ll arrange it.
Yes. Tela Marine is a PADI operation and Antal’s instructors can certify you on site. It costs $500, plus accommodation and food for the additional days you’ll need before or after the retreat. Tell us when you book so we can build it into your dates.
Fly into San Pedro Sula (SAP). Airport and retreat transportation is included both ways. Send us your flight details on the guest form and we’ll be there.
We stay in two very different places: four nights in a treehouse property above the ocean, and two nights in a lodge in the mangroves of Jeanette Kawas National Park. Shared rooms have two beds; private rooms have one bed and no roommate.
Always. Plenty of guests come solo and leave with friends. With twelve of us, there’s nowhere to hide and no reason to. We’ll match you with a roommate in a shared room, or you can name a preferred roommate when you book.
No, and we won’t pretend otherwise. It depends on weather, sea conditions and what is right for the corals on the day. It is a real scientific activity, not a scheduled attraction. When it goes ahead it is the best day of the week — and every other part of this retreat runs regardless.
Throughout this AdZENture, we’re excited to immerse you in the vibrant flavors of our local cuisine, thoughtfully curated based on seasonal and traditional foods.
Please note that we strive to accommodate various dietary needs and restrictions by offering a variety of options for each meal. If you have specific dietary requirements, we’ll do our best to make adjustments within the framework of our offerings. Our goal is to introduce you to the rich tapestry of local flavors, and we believe that includes a diverse range of culinary experiences.
If guests require custom meals beyond our standard offerings or last minute changes during the retreat, there may be an additional fee, similar to an upcharge at a restaurant. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to providing you with a delicious and culturally enriching experience.
Please note that we strive to accommodate various dietary needs and restrictions by offering a variety of options for each meal. If you have specific dietary requirements, we’ll do our best to make adjustments within the framework of our offerings. Our goal is to introduce you to the rich tapestry of local flavors, and we believe that includes a diverse range of culinary experiences.
If guests require custom meals beyond our standard offerings or last minute changes during the retreat, there may be an additional fee, similar to an upcharge at a restaurant. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to providing you with a delicious and culturally enriching experience.
Comfortable in the water and steady getting in and out of a boat. Diving is the centre of this trip, and there’s a night dive. Every activity is optional — if a day calls for the pool and a book instead, take it.
This is a no smoking retreat — if you wish to smoke, you will not be permitted to do so on our retreat premises.
Limited alcohol is provided. You’re welcome to purchase more for the accommodations if you’d like. If you have any concerns about this aspect of your retreat, please reach out to your hosts and we will respond with the utmost discretion.
The full Code of Conduct, alcohol and smoking policies are on your confirmation page once you’ve booked.
Limited alcohol is provided. You’re welcome to purchase more for the accommodations if you’d like. If you have any concerns about this aspect of your retreat, please reach out to your hosts and we will respond with the utmost discretion.
The full Code of Conduct, alcohol and smoking policies are on your confirmation page once you’ve booked.
$750 non-refundable deposit at booking, $1,275 on November 30, 2026, and your remaining balance on February 28, 2027 — $1,274 for a shared room, $1,874 for a private one. Payment plans are available; you’ll get options in your confirmation email.
We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance. Some people are already covered through their standard health care, but travel insurance is useful for other areas of the trip too — Trip Protection in particular.
It helps protect against unforeseen emergencies, which can happen at any time, and against the rest of it as well: travel delay, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections, and plenty more.
One provider we recommend is IMGlobal, because it’s designed for adventurous travellers — overseas medical, evacuation, baggage, and a range of adventure sports and activities. It’s what we use ourselves. We don’t receive a commission — we just think it’s good.
It helps protect against unforeseen emergencies, which can happen at any time, and against the rest of it as well: travel delay, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections, and plenty more.
One provider we recommend is IMGlobal, because it’s designed for adventurous travellers — overseas medical, evacuation, baggage, and a range of adventure sports and activities. It’s what we use ourselves. We don’t receive a commission — we just think it’s good.
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