The Bahamas are semi-tropical and temperatures remain fairly consistent, with temps rarely dipping below 60 degrees, even in winter. Average high temperatures from December to May range from the high 70s to low 80s. Average Bahamas daytime temperatures from May through November are in the mid to upper-80s. The sun can be intense, making sun protection (sun screen, sun hat and clothing) very important. The rainy season occurs between May and November. Though sunny for 300 days a year, cool rainy weather can occur briefly at any season.
BRING EVERYTHING ON THE LIST. We can't emphasize this strongly enough. You may think that it will be super warm and all you need bring is a swimsuit and sun shirt but the weather is very unpredictable, and you may be very glad that you have that extra pair of fleece pants and your rain gear. The clothing on this list is designed to keep you warm if it is cold or wet and be flexible enough to allow you to pack away items if it is hot. We'll say it again: BRING ALL REQUIRED ITEMS, and if you want to or can... bring the optional items too!
Packing several light layers rather than fewer heavier layers allows you more flexibility as the weather and workloads change. Inner layers should fit closely, middle layers should fit loosely and outer layers should be just a little bit baggy. When shopping or packing, it is a good idea to try on your layers together.
Before your expedition, your instructors will check your gear; they will assess your clothing with the actual route and the anticipated weather in mind. Items you don’t take on expedition will be stored safely at base. We suggest leaving the tags on any items you purchase in case you don’t actually pack them for expedition, but please note that you should check with each store to see what their return policies are. If there are items that you would like to bring but which are not mentioned on this list, feel free to call and ask your course advisor at 855-802-0307. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY BACK-UP ITEMS IN ELEUTHERA. This is essentially a remote course start, so we can't lend you any items if you do not have them. BRING EVERYTHING ON THE LIST.
Please note that Outward Bound provides all other equipment including (but not limited to): stoves, sleeping pads, dry-bags or duffel bags, and lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device). There are no additional fees for the use of our equipment. We do not provide foul weather gear or a sleeping bag. Please make sure you read the packing list carefully.
Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases are an increasing risk of traveling in the wild regions of the Americas, including our course areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Florida, the Bahamas, Brazil and Costa Rica. Fortunately, there are prevention steps that are very effective and, in most cases, treatment is relatively simple and recovery complete, so long as the diagnosis is made early. Students and their families should educate themselves on the risks, prevention measures, and signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses.
Since prevention is always better than treatment, we STRONGLY recommend pre-treating your footwear, long pants, long-sleeve shirts, jackets and hats with a chemical barrier containing permethrin, at least two days before traveling to your course. Applied correctly and allowed to dry before wearing, the treatment remains effective for up to a month. For even longer-lasting protection, you can either purchase clothing with permethrin embedded within it, or send your clothes to Insect Shield®, who will treat them and ship them back to you, ready for your course. Use the Coupon Code “HIOBS” to receive a 15% discount on both clothing and treatment services at this website (please note that you need to use the coupon separately for products/ service).
Permethrin spray is readily available at many retailers, including: Dick's Sporting Goods, Campmor, and Walgreen's.
For more information, please download our Arboviral Disease Prevention Fact Sheet
You are welcome to bring extras of the items marked with a plus (+) sign. Where a range of quantities is indicated, e.g., “1-2” bring the smaller quantity if you are on a one-week course, and the larger quantity if your course is 10 days or longer. There are multiple brand name options available at varying prices. The clothing and equipment on this list is widely available in many places. Specialty outdoor stores like L.L.Bean, REI, Campmor and Eastern Mountain Sports will have a range of appropriate items to choose from. Discount retailers, like Sierra Trading Post and the REI Garage often have good prices on name brand gear and clothing. You may also locate many first- quality clothing and equipment items at military surplus stores and area consignment stores and thrift stores, such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army. The HIOBS website has some great items, which you will find hyper-linked within the packing lists. A complete collection of HIOBS-recommended-for-course items can be found HERE. Please contact your course advisor for suggestions.