Morning: Wake up to the peaceful sounds of water lapping on the beach and the cool ocean air. Students will meet in the dining tent for hot breakfast and an assortment of fruit and cereals. Participants will learn basic snorkeling skills and free-diving techniques in the shallow bay of Ensenada Grande.

Afternoon: Participants will use their snorkeling skills to explore the rocky shoreline at Las Cuevas and their free-diving skills to see garden eels in the sandy flats at 25ft.

Evening Presentation: Survival of the Finnest: Fish are the most abundant vertebrate animals which dominate nearly every habitat in the hydrosphere. Why are they so successful?

Meals: BLD

Morning: While snorkeling at Los Meullecitos, you can see big schools of angel fish, snappers and parrotfish. In the nooks and crannies of the rocks are hard and soft corals, blennies, eels and many invertebrates. In deeper water we may find schools of mobula rays or Mexican barracudas.

Afternoon: Students will learn about geology of Espiritu Santo while they paddle the coastline in kayaks. They will identify basic rock formations and paddle into sea caves and though arches. We will pass by “bachelor island” where the bull sea lions haul out during mating season.

Evening: Work on research projects

Meals: BLD

Morning: We depart camp at about 6am, when the stars are still in the sky and light is about to break. The hike is relatively flat with a few boulders to scramble up or slide down. The trail terminates at the opposite side of the island and reveals stunning eastern views of the island and the water as the sun comes over the horizon. We will return to camp at about 8:30am for breakfast. The remainder of the morning will be free time to work on projects, journals or to rest.

Afternoon: Escape the heat and jump into the cool water at Isla El Candelero. This tiny island is a great spot to get up close to birds like cormorants, gulls and pelicans, as this island serves as a small rookery.

Evening Presentation: Gulf of California: Introduction to an Ocean Oasis: 40 minute slide show presentation that introduces students to oceanography and the physical processes which formed the Gulf of California and the biotic and abiotic factors that make it one of the most biological diverse marine systems on the planet.

Meals: BLD

Morning: Today is an exciting adventure across the Bay of La Paz to experience snorkeling with the sea lions of El Pardito. This sea lion colony has has divers and snorkelers swimming with the residents for over 30 years and there is a reason why people keep coming back. Participants will jump into the wild world of these "underwater dogs." Each experience is different, but it's highly likely to have playful juveniles come up to you performing entertaining acrobatics - their natural behaviors.  We learn about sea lion's adaptations and threats to the local sea lions and those world wide.

Afternoon: After a picnic lunch, we hike on the beautiful island of San Francisquito.

Evening Presentation: Empty Ocean: Human caused environmental issues threatening biodiversity of the global ocean.

Meals: BLD

Morning: We say adios to the camp crew after breakfast and travel back to La Paz. We will make one more stop for snorkeling at a huge reef system called El Coralito and afterwards will enjoy a picnic lunch on the boat. 

Afternoon: Once we return to La Paz, we will check into our rooms at the Waterfront Hotel. Everyone will enjoy a long fresh hot shower after 4 nights camping on the beach!

Evening: Before dinner, participants will meet with a marine biology illustrator who will tell you about her work and then everyone will have the chance to make their own illustration. Dinner is offsite with some time set aside for souvenir shopping.

Meals: BLD

Morning: After breakfast at the hotel we will depart by boat for another water adventure to one of the amazing sites near La Paz. This is a great day for those who want to add on SCUBA diving (certified divers) or Discover SCUBA (non-certified divers) for who want to try it on one of the shallow reefs. 

Late afternoon: After lunch the group will visit the Anthropology Museum to learn about the indigenous people that resided in the area before Spanish settlers arrived. 

Evening:  Research project presentations

Meals: BLD

Our team hates the last day just as much as you will. Saying goodbye to groups is hard because we had a chance to share a place we love with you, and know that we are lucky to have become friends with you because of the Sea of Cortez. Hopefully you have fallen in love with the wild ocean, and that you will go home inspired to protect it.

Morning: After breakfast the vans will depart the hotel and drive 2.5 hours to the Los Cabos Airport for your flight back home. 

Meals: B