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 Silurian, a 16-meter ketch, with researchers from the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, you will record cetacean distribution along transects as well as recording acoustic detections of present cetaceans using the latest technology. Photographs of dolphins and whales will be made for individual identification, and you’ll collect environmental information. You may also have the opportunity to assist the crew with the sailing. Silurian will pass sea lochs, towering mountains, and medieval cliff-top castles, visiting a variety of island ports and ancorages, each with its own unique character and steeped in Highland traditions and culture.
Earthwatch Team Facilitator
An Earthwatch Teen Team Facilitator will join your team to provide additional guidance, supervision, and activity organization for the expedition. Your facilitator will be there to help from the time you meet at the team rendezvous to the end of the expedition. He or she will encourage team spirit by planning events such as team building exercises, presentations, and recreational and cultural activities. If you have any questions or problems during your expedition, such as issues with another student volunteer, homesickness, or an emergency back at home, you should feel comfortable talking to your facilitator. You should also follow the advice and expectations set by your facilitator regarding safety and personal conduct. All Teen Team Facilitators have experience teaching and leading groups of teenagers and are familiar with the team dynamics necessary to make each expedition a success. Remember, your facilitator is there for you!
Meals and Accommodations
Volunteers will share accommodations on board Silurian. She has three snug cabins for volunteers with six berths, 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 square 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 24 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise. In addition to these cetaceans, the seas of western Scotland are also inhabited by grey and common seal, basking shark and a variety of seabirds including sea eagle, gannet, shearwater, petrel, cormorant, guillemot and puffin.
There is a wide range of marine habitats of international importance supporting this wildlife, including rocky reefs, turbulent tidal streams, sand and gravel beds and deep-water channels. The coastal landscape on the islands varies dramatically, from 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.