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Whales, Sharks,
etc.
Great White Sharks: Guadalupe, Mexico | Farallon Islands, California | S. Africa | S. Australia
Whale Watching: Whales, Whales, Whales |
Sea of Cortez Wildlife Cruise
Magdalena Bay Whale Watching Basecamp | San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Watching Basecamp
Whales: Minke Whales | Dolphins | Gray
Whales | Humpback Whales | Whale Sharks
Whales, Sharks, etc.
Whale Research Expedition Komodo - Flores - Alor,
Indonesia
Balaenoptera - Pygmy Brides Whale
 The
Evening Star II and Benjamin Kahn, lead Investigator for
the Indonesian Cetacean Research program are looking for individuals
to help with his research goals. Well equiped for the project with
hydrophones - acoustic listening and locating devices, anybody with
a passion for cetaceans should consider this as an excellent opportunity
to encounter and learn more about these magnificent creature in
their natural habitat.
If you would like to join in his quest to survey and
find Sperm Whales and other Oceanic Whales and Dolphins make
a decision and contact us immediately. There are only 8 places available
alongside the core research team of four.
If you are looking for a cushy holiday look elsewhere.
While the services of the Evening Star II are running as
normal including fine food, and good service, the research program
will dictate the conduct of the trip. This is for people interested
in Cetaceans, marine research, or enjoy an active and adventurous
holiday with a difference.
Cost for the trip including Domestic Airfares Denpassar,
Bali to Maumere is $2250.
Itinerary:
- Day 1: 7am Embark from Labuan Bajo for Maumere.
Travelling on North Coast of Flores. With Research Team. Surveying
waters North or Flores during Relocation (28 Hours)
- Day 2: Maumere ESII Arrives 11am - Participants Join ESII Noon
1pm Embark for North Alor.
- Day 3: Survey North Flores and northern Adonara
- Day 4: Survey Selat Flores
- Day 5: Survey Adonara
- Day 6: Survey Adonara Selat Lamakera
- Day 7: Survey Solor
- Day 8: Survey Solor Selat Alor
- Day 9:Survey Oceanic South Of Alor
- Day 10: Survey Oceanic South Of Alor
- Day 11: Survey Pantar
- Day 12: Survey Pantar Selat Pantar
- Day 13: Survey Oceanic North Alor
- Day 14: Survey Oceanic North FLores
- Day 15: Evening Star Participants Disembark 9am ESII Embarks for
Labuan Bajo
- Surveying waters North or Flores (28 hours)
- Day 16:Evening Star Arrives Labuan Bajo (Noon) Research Team Disembark
Important Details about Trip Priorities and Routines
Our research area is between Northern Flores and Western
Alor approximately 600 miles east of Bali. The passages between
Adonara, Solor, Lembata,and Pantar are known migratory passages
and will get a lot of our attention. We will divide the survey time
into three zones; coastal, straits and passages, and oceanic. In
addition we plan to do interviews and fisheries assessments in the
whaling villages of Solor and Lamakera,this would include cultural
aspects also. Daily survey distances vary greatly depending on sightings.
On some quiet days we may travel over 60 nm, on others we may encounter
cetaceans every step of the way, opt to conduct a group follow and
not move far away from the mornings anchorage. Of course we are
always safety conscious and will break survey to ensure a proper
anchorage can be found and explored with plenty of daylight. Night
diving will be available in the evenings.
There are some considerations as field research is
not always that 'user-friendly'. However, we do experience some
magic moments by being in the right place at the right time - persistence
pays! Your suggestion to invite people to come on-board with the
expectation to assist in a cetacean survey expedition, to see lots
and learn about whales in the wild, would make it easier to combine
research with whale watching - and much more rewarding for all.
Our usual survey schedule is very intense while on
live-aboard, from approx 7:00 to 18:00 back at anchor. We rarely
track whales overnight in the Nusa Tengarra region for safety reasons
(strong currents, bad charts). So it may be (or maybe not) necessary
to find a common ground for all on-board?
When we encounter priority species we will initiate
what is called a 'group follow'. Follows complement the sightings
with more ecological data on movements and habitat use. This is
most valuable when done for several hours and this can be fairly
monotonous. Once we have identified the species, we are normally
not right on top of the animals so not to disturb their natural
behaviours. Again this may be frustrating to keen photographers
who are dead set on another great shot (on the other hand an important
part of the work will involve photo-identifications of individual
cetaceans so there are plenty of opportunities). High quality telescopic
lenses in the hands of an experienced photographer would assist
our research goals
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Whales, Sharks, etc.
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