Sponsored in cooperation with the Earthwatch Institute

Coastal Waters of Southeast Spain

The sun rises on the Mediterranean Sea to find you stretching and rubbing your eyes in disbelief on the deck of the Toftevaag, an historic Norwegian fishing vessel. You hear the cries of reeling gulls and the slap of water on wood as the skipper guides the ship out to sea on a defined course. You join other crew members in a simple breakfast of bread and jam and coffee, before manning your first duty of the day’s rotation. The placid sea is perfect for spotting cetaceans today, and you are lucky enough to be in the lofty crow’s nest when a group of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) rises out of the water like skipping stones.

As the ship sidles into position 50 meters away from the dolphins, you begin taking photos and jotting down notes about the group’s composition, social structure, and behavior. Other crew members jump to their own tasks, noting the geographic position of the animals, oceanographic data, and the presence of other sea life. During prolonged observations, duties evolve to include filming their behavior underwater, taping acoustic behavior, and tracking their movements over an extended period.

Common dolphins, such as the ones you are observing, have been undergoing an apparently dramatic decline over the past few decades, but there isn’t enough historical data on their numbers or behavior to know how bad or how significant the decline might be. We do know that this section of the Mediterranean is critically important for whales, dolphins, and sea turtles of all kinds, because it is the only place where the sea gets its waters refreshed by outside water from the Atlantic. And we know that common dolphins may be important forecasters of environmental change, so learning their state of affairs is critical for both dolphins and humans. And that’s why you’re in the crow’s nest. Your leader, Ana Cañadas, of the University of Madrid, wants to document the range, social behavior, and ecology of these amazing mammals.

Although the Toftevaag looks like it sailed off a scrimshaw whalebone, it is equipped with the most sophisticated equipment, including radar, echo sounder, GPS satellite navigator, and photographic, video, and audio recording equipment for both surface and underwater. Volunteers can choose from a variety of tasks on this classic working ship, from keeping watch, taking data, and navigating and helming the boat to cooking and cleaning up meals.

• 1 9 9 9. and 2 0 0 0 .T E A M S
Team II: Jul 1-9 • III: Jul 11-19 • IV: Jul 21-29 • V: Aug 1-9 • VI: Aug 11-19 • VII: Aug 21-29 • VIII: Sep 1-9 • IX: Sep 11-19 • X: Sep 21-29 • XI: Oct 30-Nov 7 • Year 2000, Team XII: Jan 9-17 • XIII: Mar 11-19 •Max team size: 8

• M E M B E R S ' . S H A R E . O F . C O S T S
from US $1,845 • £1,150 • Aus$2,835 • ¥216,500

Special rates apply only to U.S. Members and only on selected teams

• R E N D E Z V O U S . S I T E
Port of Almerimar, Almería, Spain

• F I E L D . C O N D I T I O N S
You stay aboard the Toftevaag, which finds safe harbor evenings in historic ports along Spain’s southeast coast. Living quarters are comfortable and intimate below deck, with limited running water and a chemical toilet. You’ll communally cook Mediterranean-style meals.