Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop December 10 21, 2014

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1 Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop December 10 21, 2014 Organized through the Northwest Explorers The Pacific Northwest Chapter of The Explorers Club Aboard Semester at Sea s M/V Explorer Join a small group of people who will study the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea and create their own environmental documentary videos. We will train you in research techniques and how to create your own documentary. Using your camera you can make a documentary on a topic of interest to you. We will provide background on marine environmental issues: ocean acidification, plastics in the sea, over fishing, and others. You choose what topic to use for your documentary video. We also provide workshops on creating and editing documentaries. Non-divers can participate in the workshops and can shoot video on shore and aboard the ship. SCUBA divers are invited to join the Caribbean Reef Expedition that will compare the health of coral reefs in six countries. They can also make their own video documentaries while we conduct our studies. Divers and non-divers will have opportunities to film on Semester at Sea field trips in port and on board the university ship, MV Explorer (below). Divers counting benthic marine life on our Belize Coral Reef Expedition in December 2013 (Right). Our 2013 Belize Coral Reef Expedition was based at the University of Belize Marine Research Station on Turneffe Atoll. Two video projects resulted from the expedition. You can view the works in progress at: Ecology180: A Natural Response:

2 Caribbean Reef Expedition December 2014 Aboard the MV Explorer Back on the ship two professional video editors/producers will help you create your video project. Then we hit two more ports, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. You can dive, snorkel, or explore each island on foot. We have one more day at sea to work on the documentaries before we visit the Netherlands Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Each evening in port you can edit your work and get help from the video instructors. We sail on the MV Explorer from Nassau on Wednesday, December 10 th. After two days at sea learning about ocean environmental issues and learning how to edit videos and create documentaries we arrive at our first port, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. SCUBA divers will make measurements of the reefs and can film the reefs and the research process. Non-divers will have multiple options to explore the coastal or uplands environment of the Dominican Republic. Divers measure the ratio of living and diseased coral on our Belize Coral Reef Expedition December We disembark at Aruba on Sunday, December 21 st, in time for you to return home for the holidays. Or, you can extend your stay in Aruba. Your completed video will cap this wonderful learning experience with Semester at Sea. Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop - December 10 21,

3 Ports of Call Nassau, Bahamas Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic San Juan, Puerto Rico St. Thomas, USVI Kralendijk, Bonaire Willemstad, Curacao Oranjestad, Aruba Join the MV Explorer in Nassau (transportation to Nassau on your own) Depart: Wednesday, December h Arrive: Saturday, December h Depart: Sunday, December h Arrive: Monday, December h Depart: Tuesday, December h Arrive: Wednesday, December h Depart: Wednesday, December h Arrive: Friday, December h Depart: Friday, December h Arrive: Saturday, December 20, 0800h Depart: Saturday, December h Arrive: Sunday, December h (disembark) The Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop ends in Aruba. Participants are welcome to continue on with the Semester at Sea Enrichment Voyage that goes through the Panama Canal and ends in San Diego on January 5 th. The itinerary for the full Enrichment Voyage is available at: Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop - December 10 21,

4 Expedition research Coral reefs across the Caribbean Sea and around the world have been devastated by a combination of higher water temperatures, ocean acidification, and disease. We will survey reefs in six regions to collect measures of reef health and vitality. Divers will spend part of each dive measuring, observing, and filming the reef for later analysis. Video documentary workshop Our goal is to have you create the video documentary of your dreams. We will coach you on how to shoot and edit the footage, and how to tell the story. We will provide background information on marine ecology and help you select topic for your story. You choose the topic; we provide the assistance in making your documentary. You use your own camera, underwater or on land. We will suggest editing software to purchase so you can edit on your own computer, but you are also welcome to edit your video on two computers in the ship s computer laboratory. At the conclusion of the voyage we will invite you to show your documentary to the ship s company and guests. Expedition and Workshop Leaders Dr. Ed Sobey is leading the expedition. He has led or participated in more than two dozen expeditions from Antarctica to the tropics. He is a Fellow Emeritus of The Explorers Club, a faculty member with Semester at Sea, author of 29 books, and former director of 5 museums. Ed has received two Fulbright Grants. He has traveled to all seven continents and 85 countries. Patrick Behan is a filmmaker and digital artist with several years of documentary story-telling experience. Recently he worked on the Sundance-award-winning documentary Chasing Ice. Patrick focuses on the importance of storytelling and connecting with worldwide audiences on a scientific documentary about the health of coral reefs of the Caribbean. He is a member of The Explorers Club. Andrew Sobey is a freelance filmmaker in Seattle. His documentary films have screened at a number of film festivals around the US, and he has taught video production for kids and adults for over ten years. With a BS in Ecology and an MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking, Andrew brings a unique perspective on environmental communication to the expedition. Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop - December 10 21,

5 Costs The Expedition starts in Nassau and ends in Aruba. Costs include lodging and meals aboard the MV Explorer. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs to the embarkation and from the disembarkation points. You can opt for an inside cabin or outboard cabin. With your choice of cabin, you get all meals aboard the MV Explorer, workshop presentations, and technical assistance with your video project, and participation in the expedition. Economy cabin on deck 2, 3, or 4: $2,489 Inside cabin on deck 2, 3, 4, or 5: $2,659 Outside cabin on deck 2, 3, 4, or 5: $3,159 This cost includes all port fees and fuel fees (most price quotes do not include these two costs they are added on later). These costs are for double occupancy. For single occupancy the is 150% of the rates shown. Not included in these costs are shore excursions and diving. SCUBA divers will pay individually for their dives. Divers can elect to go on as many or as few dives as they wish. We estimate the costs of making two dives in each of six ports to be $ 850 total (12 dives). You can elect to arrange your own shore excursions or travel with Semester at Sea excursions. Semester at Sea will post their excursions on their website: Reservations The expedition and workshop space is limited. To reserve your spot, please send a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person (payable to Northwest Explorers) and mail to: Ed Sobey, Expedition Leader NE 92 nd Way Redmond, WA Please also notify Dr. Ed Sobey: ed.sobey@gmail.com. We will send an to let you know that we have received your payment. Final payment must be received by September 1, Northwest Explorers is a private, non-profit organization established to encourage exploration, field science, and education. It is a chapter of The Explorers Club, the leading organization of professional explorers and field scientists. Part of your fee is tax deductible. Caribbean Reef Expedition and Environmental Documentary Workshop - December 10 21,