Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc

What Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc does

Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc, founded in 1979, operates a teen adventure summer camp in the British Virgin Islands, with an administrative office in Northport, NY (256 Main St., Suite #1203) and an operational base at The Moorings Marina in Tortola, BVI. The company runs multi-day live-aboard programs (14 to 68 days) for teens aged 11-18 aboard 50-foot sloops and 45-foot catamarans, offering specialized tracks in sailing, scuba diving, marine biology, community service, and watersports. Programs accommodate all skill levels from complete beginner to advanced, with 10-12 students per boat and a 3:1 student-to-staff ratio maintained across the fleet. The wholly-owned subsidiary Sail Caribbean Divers operates as the largest PADI Five-Star Instructor Development Dive Center in the BVI, with three land-based locations and custom Newton dive boats, providing year-round dive certification in addition to the seasonal summer programs.

The business model is direct-to-consumer, with enrollment handled through the CampInTouch platform and customer discovery driven by organic search, content marketing (blog content on marine biology and scuba topics), social media, and parent testimonials. Revenue is generated through base program tuition ($6,095-$6,695 for 14-day programs; $7,895-$9,995 for 21-day programs), optional ASA sailing certifications ($195) and PADI dive certifications ($295-$395), and a $175 round-trip transportation coordination fee from St. Thomas. Customers are primarily US families enrolling individual teens, with parents as the economic buyer and decision-makers. Marketing emphasizes safety (100% First Aid/CPR-certified field staff, EMT/WFR presence on each program, 12-day pre-season training including live emergency drills), multi-generational alumni participation, and integrated conservation programming through partnerships with REEF, BVI ARK, GreenVI, CoralWatch, and VISAR.

Sail Caribbean is privately held and founder-owned by Mike Liese, who has served as Founder and Director since inception. The company has never disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or financial results, and operates as an independent experiential-education business. Proprietary assets include a three-tier Crew/Bosun/Mate sailing certification program with bracelet-based progression tracking, custom marine science curricula ("Fringing Reefs of the British Virgin Islands" and "Guide to Marine Sciences of the Caribbean"), and an internship pipeline (Lima, Echo programs) extending the customer age range upward to college-aged students pursuing marine-career credentials. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, consistent with a lean year-round core supplemented by seasonal summer staff.

Name

Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc

Legal name

Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc

Website

https://sailcaribbean.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc is a privately-held, founder-owned adventure summer camp founded in 1979 that runs 14- to 68-day live-aboard sailing, scuba, marine biology, and community-service programs for teens aged 11-18 in the British Virgin Islands, operating the largest PADI Five-Star dive center in the BVI through its subsidiary Sail Caribbean Divers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Summer Adventure Camps

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM), Eco-Cruises & Small-Ship Nature Cruises (Expedition Cruising) (THAAAEAK)

Keywords

• Teen summer camps
• Sailing adventure programs
• Scuba diving education
• Marine biology camps
• Youth adventure travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Northport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Summer Adventure Program Tuition: Primary revenue stream from multi-day sailing and adventure camps for teens aged 11-18. Programs range from 14 to 68 days, with pricing varying by duration and focus area (sailing, scuba, marine biology, community service). Tuition includes accommodation aboard yachts, meals, instruction, activities, and equipment.
2. Optional Sailing and Scuba Certifications: Additional revenue from optional certification courses including ASA sailing certifications ($195) and PADI dive certifications ($295-$395 depending on program length). These are add-on fees to the base tuition.
3. Travel and Transportation Services: Staff-assisted airport pickup and ferry transfer services from St. Thomas (STT) to Tortola base, priced at $175 round-trip to cover ferry, taxi, and departure taxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc operates live-aboard teen summer adventure programs in the British Virgin Islands, offering 14- to 68-day sailing, scuba diving, marine biology, community service, and watersports experiences for teens aged 11-18 aboard 50-foot sloops and 45-foot catamarans. Programs are priced as multi-day tuition packages and include optional American Sailing Association (ASA) and PADI scuba certifications, with a wholly-owned subsidiary (Sail Caribbean Divers) operating a year-round PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Dive Center.

Product overview

Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc operates a multi-program adventure education platform for teens aged 11-18 in the British Virgin Islands. The core offering consists of sailing adventure programs (Alpha, Bravo, Tango, Delta) aboard 50-foot sloops and 45-foot catamarans, complemented by specialized tracks in scuba diving (Charlie, Lima Dive), marine biology (Sierra), and community service (Foxtrot). A subsidiary brand, Sail Caribbean Divers, provides year-round PADI 5-Star dive operations with custom dive boats. Add-on certification modules include American Sailing Association (ASA) sailing credentials and PADI scuba certifications from entry-level through Divemaster. Programs range from 14 to 68 days, with advanced internship pathways (Lima, Echo) for older students seeking leadership training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sailing Summer Camp Programs Sailing adventure programs for teens aged 11-18, including Alpha, Bravo, Tango, Delta, and Foxtrot programs ranging from 14 to 21 days. Students learn sailing on 50-foot sloops or 45-foot catamarans and earn certifications including Sail Caribbean Crew, Bosun, Mate, and American Sailing Association (ASA) credentials.
• Scuba Diving Camp Programs PADI-certified scuba diving programs for teens, including Charlie (Advanced Scuba), Lima Dive, and recreational diving options. Programs offer certifications from Discover Scuba through Divemaster level, using custom Newton dive boats and PADI 5-Star instructor development curriculum.
• Marine Biology Camp (Sierra) Marine science-focused adventure program with hands-on seminars on coral reef biology, reef ecology, fish identification, and conservation. Students earn academic credit through participation in research projects using curricula 'Fringing Reefs of the British Virgin Islands' and 'Guide to Marine Sciences of the Caribbean'.
• Community Service Summer Camp (Foxtrot) Environmental stewardship program focused on marine conservation in the British Virgin Islands. Students participate in reef health monitoring via CoralWatch and REEF, turtle tagging with BVI Association of Reef Keepers, beach cleanups, composting initiatives, and cultural exchange with local organizations.
• Watersports Camp Adventure program featuring wakeboarding, waterskiing, kneeboarding, tubing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and small boat sailing (Colgate 26s and Hobie Cats). Activities conducted using 15-20 foot ski boats and equipment rentals included.
• Sail Caribbean Divers Year-round PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Dive Center operating three land-based locations throughout the BVI with a fleet of custom Newton dive boats. The only teen program with its own dedicated dive center, providing scuba instruction and certifications.
• Internship Programs (Lima & Echo) Advanced leadership programs for high school seniors and college students. Lima offers marine-focused internships with professional diving components. Echo provides Mate-In-Training experience for aspiring sailing instructors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3:1 student-to-staff ratio maintained across all programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSail Caribbean Divers operates as a PADI Five-Star Instructor Development Dive Center, the highest level of PADI dive center certification. This partnership enables provision of all PADI certifications from beginner (Open Water) to professional (Divemaster, Instructor Development). The year-round dive operation with three land-based locations maintains PADI quality standards.
• American Sailing Association (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSail Caribbean offers ASA sailing certifications (101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 114) as optional add-on programs. ASA is the leading sailing education authority in the United States, and Sail Caribbean is an authorized ASA school providing certifications recognized globally for bareboat chartering.
• Leave No Trace (LNT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner promoting responsible outdoor recreation through minimum-impact practices. Sail Caribbean incorporates LNT principles into environmental education components.
• REEF (Grassroots Marine Conservation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSail Caribbean students participate in REEF monitoring programs to conserve marine ecosystems. Students learn scientific protocols for conducting fish counts and documenting coral reef health as part of the community service and marine biology curriculum.
• GreenVI EcoParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSail Caribbean drops off compost buckets (70+ per summer) at GreenVI EcoPark on Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Students participate in educational tours learning about composting, recycling, gardening, and sustainability initiatives in the BVI.
• BVI Association of Reef Keepers (ARK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSail Caribbean students learn turtle tagging techniques from BVI ARK on Foxtrot and Sierra programs. The partnership supports sea turtle conservation efforts by training students in safe tagging methods to monitor population and movements.
• H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSail Caribbean collaborates with HLSCC Marine Science department to collect conservation data. Students participate in beach restoration projects led by college staff and interns, learning about plant types and ecosystem restoration.
• VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVISAR provides 24-hour marine search and rescue coverage in the BVI. Sail Caribbean practices emergency response procedures with VISAR during annual 12-day staff training. Divers have assisted VISAR with rescue efforts when called upon.
• CoralWatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian research project using simple, non-invasive methods to monitor coral bleaching. Sail Caribbean students learn CoralWatch protocols to assess coral reef health using standardized coral health cards.
• KATS (Kids And The Sea)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal non-profit teaching BVI youth about water safety and potential marine industry careers. Sail Caribbean Foxtrot students take KATS participants on catamaran excursions teaching boat safety techniques and sailing exposure.
• The Moorings MarinacoreOthersSail Caribbean's home base operations are located at The Moorings Marina in Tortola, BVI. This is the departure and arrival point for all sailing programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ActionQuest: Teen sailing, diving, and marine biology adventure programs in the BVI and Caribbean with fleet-based live-aboard structure. Highly comparable on vessel type, target age, and BVI operating geography.
• Broadreach College Adventures: Operates teen summer adventure programs including sailing, scuba, and marine science in the Caribbean and beyond. Most direct comparable on multi-activity teen adventure itineraries and certification pathways.
• SailTrek Sailing Adventures: Teen-focused Caribbean sailing programs operating live-aboard yachts with certifications. Direct overlap on teen sailing camps, certification offerings, and BVI/regional routes.
• Ocean Quest Sailing Adventures: Teen sailing and adventure programs in the BVI and Caribbean offering live-aboard experiences with certifications. Comparable on target customer (teens 12–18), geography, and certification stack.
• Broadwater Outdoor Adventure Camp: Summer adventure camp offering sailing, watersports, and marine activities for teens. Comparable on multi-activity teen camp structure and live-aboard/instructional format.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: Large established outdoor education provider offering sailing and expedition programs for teens and young adults. Broader portfolio across land and sea, but overlaps on experiential youth sailing and credentialed outdoor leadership training.

Emerging players

• Sea|mester Study Abroad: Caribbean-based sailing and marine science semester programs for college-aged students. Comparable on sailing vessels, dive/marine curriculum, and Caribbean geography; differs by serving older students and longer-duration offerings.
• Camp Towanda / Traditional overnight camps with strong teen sailing: Premium overnight summer camps in the Northeast U.S. that increasingly bundle sailing, watersports, and adventure travel. Comparable on premium teen camp segment and parent decision-maker; differs by being land-based rather than live-aboard.

Regional players

• WWF/Scuba Schools International affiliated BVI dive operators: Established BVI dive centers (e.g., Dive BVI, Blue Water Divers) operating PADI-certified scuba instruction in the same waters Sail Caribbean Divers occupies. Comparable on dive certification stack and BVI geography; differs by serving adult/adventure divers rather than teens.

Others

• The Moorings / Sunsail BVI base operations: Bareboat and crewed yacht charter operator that hosts Sail Caribbean's home base in Tortola. Adjacent in marine tourism value chain in BVI and serves as infrastructure counterpart rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sailcaribbean
• YouTubeyoutube.com/sailcaribb
• Facebookfacebook.com/sailcaribbean
• Instagraminstagram.com/sailcaribbean

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sail Caribbean Voyages Inc