Come join our Whale and
Dolphin Research
I openly encourage you to include your students in the
fascinating world of whale and dolphin research. I have found that
teenagers are very eager to be in the presence of these majestic animals and
to learn more about them. We have a very experienced and dedicated group of
people that we work with, whom in the past decade have hosted schools, museum
groups, television film crews, writers and countless individual whale
enthusiasts in their respective visits to the sea.
El Delfin Joven / SCHOOL OF THE
SEA
Come join our ongoing Whale and Dolphin research on the Pacific coast
of Costa Rica, in the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco, in the Sea
of Cortez off Baja California-Mexico, or our summer program on the St. Lawrence
River in Quebec, Canada.
We offer 2 week all inclusive internships for all ages - especially
catering to high school (14-18) aged students. All field sessions and studies
will be hosted by professional groups already observing and studying marine
mammals in the areas we will be visiting. Our presence will help to enhance
these studies.
Participate in marine mammal research and be a part of our team. All 2
week programs include approximately 10 days on the sea, all high and dry
accommodation, all meals, and all services of the guides and biologists. In
addition we offer rainforest and coral reef visits in Costa Rica, marine
ecosystem, cork tree, hilltown, and old castle visits in Spain, and cactus,
desert and island ecology in Baja California. Spanish language classes will be
offered in Costa Rica,Spain and Baja California as well as in depth talks and
interactive methodology lessons concerning our marine mammal studies, in all
locations.
Prices include all transportation and activities from the moment of arrival
in San Jose- Costa Rica, Malaga- Spain, Loreto- Baja California, or Sept Iles-
Quebec, until departure from any location. International air travel only where
specified.
Our studies will be posted on the WhaleNet website (WhaleNet), which will allow
students to become familiar with and to interact with our work before and after
joining us, as well as while they are actually assisting us in the field.
Students will be encouraged to use their own cameras to photograph the animals
they observe, and have their photos included in our ongoing catalogs for each
species.
All trips will have a minimum of one biologist from the El Delfin Joven
school. All school groups are required to bring along at least one chaperone. We
limit the number of participating schools in any one group to two. Group size is
limited to 16 in Quebec, Costa Rica and Baja California, and 20 in Spain. All
boats used are fully registered, insured and run by professional and experienced
captains.
Our bases of operation are Quepos- Costa Rica , Tarifa- Spain, Loreto-Baja
California, and Longue Pointe de Mingan- Quebec- Canada.
ABOUT US:
MICHAEL FISHBACH- Michael is the founder of the school. He has worked
at sea with many prominent cetacean researchers, government agencies, and film
crews, as well as countless tourists for the past decade. Michael has become a
field specialist as a research boat pilot, naturalist, photographer and field
team manager. For the past ten years he has worked with the Group for Research
and Education of Marine Mammals, and the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (both of
Quebec, Canada), studying bottlenose dolphins, blue, fin, humpback, minke, and
beluga whales. His fieldwork has primarily been in Canada, Mexico and the
Caribbean. Michael has over 15 years experience as a group leader facilitating
thousands of tourists on land and sea adventures. Michael has been a regular
visitor to numerous public and independent secondary schools where he has made
presentations on his fieldwork with whales and dolphins.
J. MICHAEL WILLIAMSON AND WHALENET- Michael is the associate
professor of science at Wheelock College of Boston, Mass. He is also the founder
and director of WhaleNet which will serve as El Delfin Jovenıs website. WhaleNet
is an interactive and educational website devoted to the world of marine
mammals. Michael is also the Associate Director of the Mingan Island Cetacean
Study, which is the worldıs foremost research group studying the blue whale. He
has been active in whale research for 25 years and education for 30 years.
Michael is on the advisory board of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary, and is a member of the Society of Marine Mammology, the Marine
Technology Society, and the National Science Teachers Association, among many
others. He will be writing the curriculum for all of the schoolıs programs in
the field.
MINGAN ISLAND CETACEAN STUDY (MICS)-
Our host in Quebec. MICS was founded in 1979 by premier biologist Richard
Sears. MICS is one of the foremost whale research stations in the world.
Specializing in the study of large whales such as blue, fin and humpback MICS is
the curator of the North Atlantic Blue Whale Catalog. Students will go out on
the fascinating St. Lawrence River with MICS biologists, and get a firsthand
look at a real time tested research station and interpretive museum. Other
species of marine life such as minke whales, harbor porpoise, gray and harp
seals as well as puffins, razorbills and gannets are likely to be observed.
PLANET DOLPHIN- Our host in Costa Rica - Run by American Stephen
Wofford in Quepos, Costa Rica since 1989. Planet Dolphin is a whale and dolphin
watching business, with environmental education and the study of the cetaceans
as a priority. Over 25,000 customers have enjoyed Planet Dolphins tours,
enjoying the rugged coastline and calm protected bays for observing and studying
undersea marine life. By joining forces with El Delfin Joven, Stephen expects to
be able to study the diverse coral reefs, whales and dolphins as well as the sea
turtles in much more depth. Students will get a firsthand education in the
rainforest by living in it, and hiking with experts on this rainforest
ecosystem. Three species of monkeys, parrots, toucans and anteaters should all
be regularly observed.
FIRMM - Foundation For Information and Research on Marine Mammals - Our
host in Spain - Run by a Swiss and Spanish team, FIRMM is truly a whale and
dolphin watching business dedicated to studying and learning more about the
animals they observe. FIRMM has already compiled a catalog of many different
pilot and sperm whales, as well as the orcas, striped, common and bottlenose
dolphins they have observed. By spending longer hours at sea with our school
their research area increases to a very exciting degree. The Strait of Gibraltar
which separates Europe from Africa is a very dynamic place to work, with its
beauty and diversity of life. In the nearby countryside students will visit
ancient Roman Ruins, old cork tree forests, as well as countless old castles.
FIRMM biologists speak no less than 7 languages and last September signed a
convention that will enable FIRMM to assist with any stranded animals on the
nearby coastline.
MINGAN ISLAND CETACEAN STUDY (MICS) - Our host in Baja California. MICS
researchers have been studying the Pacific blue whales in the Sea of Cortez for
19 years and documented over 300 individuals. In and around the Loreto National
Marine Park, MICS researchers will guide us in their continuing search for new
and "known" blue whales. The spectacular cactus studded Sierra de la Gigantica
Mtns. and the island jewels of the Sea of Cortez will both serve as a
magnificent backdrop to our visit. GRUPO ECOLOGISTA ANTARES (GEA) - will
share their museum space and computer with us and host us on a more local level.
Students may also observe fin, humpback, gray, sperm and short finned pilot
whales as well as orcas, common and bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions
in these rich and productive waters.
RESERVATION INFORMATION:
Tel: 828 675 9387 email: fishdeya@aol.com
The prime weeks are few and fill up fast, some are likely booked already!!
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