On the Expedition
Surveying the rich waters off the west coast of Scotland for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other sea life.
You will be exposed to the truly spectacular scenery of the west coast of Scotland, from the sheer cliffs of Scarba to the sandy beaches of Tiree, as you sail the waters of the Hebrides surveying for cetaceans and other sea life. Working from onboard the Silurian, a 21-meter ketch, with researchers Juliet Shrimpton and Clare Embling, you will record cetacean abundance along transects and record acoustic behaviors of encountered cetaceans using the latest technology. You'll photograph dolphins and whales for individual identification, and collect environmental information. You can also work as a member of the crew, gaining valuable sailing experience. The Silurian will pass sea lochs, towering mountains, and medieval cliff-top castles, visiting a variety of island ports, each with its own unique character and steeped in Highland traditions and culture.
Meals and Accommodations
Volunteers will share accommodations on board the Silurian, which has four snug cabins with eight berths and shower and toilet facilities. The showers are hot but with limited water, so you may want to take advantage of longer showers for a fee at onshore facilities, when available. All of the cooking will be done on board, and shared between crew and volunteers on a rotating basis, using your communal ingenuity and a variety of ingredients stocked on board.
About the Research Area
The Hebrides includes some 550 islands distributed over approximately 40,000 kilometers. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), it has diverse land and seascapes and abundant wildlife. The coastal waters of southwest Scotland, warmed by the Gulf Stream, are important and productive marine habitats as well as being some of the least polluted waters in Europe.
The transition from southern warmer waters to northern cooler seas in this area is reflected in the great diversity of marine species found here, including a variety of whales, dolphins and porpoises. In addition to cetaceans, the seas of western Scotland are also inhabited by grey and common seals, basking sharks and a variety of seabirds including sea eagles, gannets, shearwaters, petrels, cormorants, guillemots and puffins.
There is a wide range of marine habitats of international importance including rocky reefs, turbulent tidal streams, sand and gravel beds and deep-water channels. The coastal landscape on the islands varies dramatically, from the sheer cliffs of Scarba to the long stretches of sandy beaches on Tiree, the high sand dunes of Coll to the raised beaches west of Jura, and the exposed coast of Colonsay and Oronsay. The West Coast of Scotland possesses truly spectacular scenery: sea lochs, woodland, white beaches and towering mountains.