Irukandji (Carukia barnesi)

MarineBio Expeditions

MarineBio conducts expeditions to worldwide centers of marine biodiversity for the purpose of collecting data, photographs, and video concerning the conditions of marine ecosystems and the associated marine life. We also often contact local conservation groups, talk with locals about the marine life and how things have been changing. MarineBio also uses expeditions to assist with the planning that has begun to open a network of various marine conservation labs in various hotspots to help monitor and conduct research concerning marine conservation science.

What we're finding, like so many others, is that even in the best places to see marine wildlife, the ocean's ecosystems and marine life are at risk and are declining throughout the world. We also hope that by showing what does remain at these top destinations that more people will visit them as well and see for themselves what's at stake if we continue to abuse the ocean as we have been doing for so long.

Annual Indonesian Expeditions to Help Save the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle

MarineBio supports the Save Our Leatherbacks Operation (SOLO) to conduct expeditions to Irian Jaya, Indonesia where the Critically Endangered U.S. West Coast Pacific leatherback sea turtles go to nest and lay eggs. These magnificent sea turtles are part of the last remaining leatherbacks in the entire Pacific Ocean. SOLO runs incredible expeditions to this remote area to bring the locals much needed supplies and the support they need to be effective stewards of this vital nesting beach. We will also help with nest counts and document mother leatherbacks and babies nesting and returning to the sea.

The other 8 days will be spent diving on some of the most remote and undocumented reefs in the world aboard the M.V.S. RAJA AMPAT, a fully-equipped liveaboard set up specifically for divers and snorkelers.

SOLO is currently offering 2 expeditions of 10 nights and 11 days each and we hope to bring members on both expeditions. Each expedition will include day and night visits to the leatherback nesting areas as well as diving on WW II aircraft in some of the most remote, exotic, and biologically diverse dive spots in the world, including the fabled Raja Ampats and Kawe located right on the equator.

Contact SOLO for more details, current expedition dates, and costs (tell Larry we sent you) - berths are filling up fast so reserve your spot soon. Because you are participating in the work of this 501(c)(3) tax exempt foundation, all expedition fees, airfare, hotels, and meals are 100% tax deductible.

If you're a MarineBio member and would like to go, contact David Campbell (MarineBio Expeditions Leader) at David@marinebio.org or ++1 713-248-2576 CST.

MarineBio is seeking in-kind donations of the following equipment to document the turtles nesting and the underwater marine life of the region:

Underwater housing for a Canon Rebel XTi
Sony HDR-HC7 video camera
Gates housing for the Sony HDR-HC7
Airfare or miles - Seattle, WA to/from Sorong, Indonesia

Donors will be acknowledged as "Expedition Sponsors" on all expedition video, galleries, and reports. Our mailing address is on our Contact page.

Future Expeditions

The following are expedition destinations we would like to visit as soon as possible. If you would like to help arrange an expedition to any of the following, let us know.

USA: Southern Florida (Dry Tortugas*), Channel Islands off California, Hawaii (far NW islands)
Bahamas* - Tiger shark diving with Sharkdiver.com
Guadalupe Islands* - Great white shark diving with Sharkdiver.com
Mexico (Sea of Cortez) - Humboldt squid diving with Sharkdiver.com
Costa Rica: Cocos Island*
Colombia: Malpelo Island
Tahiti (Rangiroa)
Fiji
Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA)
Australia: Great Barrier Reef outer reefs and Coral Sea islands
Micronesia: Palau*, Yap*, Chuuk (Truk Lagoon)
Solomon Islands/Papua New Guinea
Indonesia: Togean Islands, Banda Islands/Irian Jaya, Komodo Island, Bali
Malaysia: Sipadan, Mabul, Layang Layang
Thailand: Puket, Similan Islands
Maldives
Seychelles
Mozambique: Bazaruto Archipelago
Red Sea: Brother's Islands, Sharm el-Sheikh, Ras Mohammed, Dahab, etc.

One of our goals is to also document the condition of the reefs in the above areas to compare to historical records and to serve as a snapshot for the future. And time is of the essence, climate change is in progress and many of the above will become worthless destinations for marine life if things continue as they are.

The following is recommended for all MarineBio team members on expeditions:

18 years of age or older
Advanced scuba certification (Rescue diving certification is highly recommended, many locations are very remote)
At least some traveling experience (overseas preferred)
Skills involving photography, videography, writing, research and/or computers
Relaxed demeanor, easy to get along with
Willingness to work as a team toward the expedition's goals
All team members pay their own way though we often work together to find the best deals...

If you're interested in joining one of our upcoming expeditions, send David an email and let us know.

Former Expeditions Log

Indonesia Expedition (August 28-September 19, 2006 - see photo gallery and expedition report)

Lembeh Strait/Bunaken Marine Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia. 33 dives (~32 hours underwater) at 30 dive locations (23.5 m average max depth, water temp. 25-29°C). ~6 hrs video (video housing flooded on first dive on Bunaken due to faulty o-ring on wide angle lens) + ~2,000 photos.... Visit the photo gallery and report or the video gallery.

Honduras Expedition (August 27-September 10, 2005 - see gallery and report)

~2,700 underwater photos taken on 36 nitrox dives at 32 dive locations around Utila, Honduras...

Florida Expedition (February 9-21, 2005 - see gallery)

~ 1,200 underwater photos taken on 20 nitrox drift dives out of Boynton Beach and Key Largo, Florida, US...

Bonaire Expedition (August 6-22, 2004 - see gallery)

~1,400 underwater photos taken on 38 nitrox dives at 27 dive locations in Bonaire...

Galapagos Expedition (November 8-17, 2002 - see video gallery)

Nine days on liveaboard M/Y Reina Silvia, 8 hours underwater video of octopus, fishes, sharks, dolphins, sea lions, marine iguanas, boobies, etc.

Red Sea Expedition (July 4-20, 2002 - see video gallery)

One week on liveaboard M/V Coral Princess off southern Egypt, St. John's Reef/Brother's Islands, etc. 18 hours of underwater video of reefs, corals, reef fishes, sea turtles, sharks, etc. One week shorediving along Dahab coast (Sinai). 7 hours uw video of reefs, corals, reefs, reef fishes, sea turtles, octopuses, etc.

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