Stars to Sea
Community Science in Action
Our Stars to Sea program combines a vacation full of adventure, wildlife and nature with the unique opportunity to participate in real community science on one of the world’s most elusive and fascinating creatures!
Gentle giants of the sea, whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the largest fish on Earth with a maximum length of around 40 feet in length. Lack of knowledge about habitat and migration patterns makes experiencing these amazing creatures a challenge. Fortunately, The Vermilion Sea Field Station has been lucky enough to welcome these huge fish, along with an abundance of other marine life each year in Bahía de los Ángeles. Our Stars to Sea community science program brings together individuals from a variety of backgrounds to help the scientific community uncover the mysteries of this threatened species and aid in world-wide conservation efforts!
Due to their docile and approachable nature, whale sharks have become ambassadors of the oceans and a targeted species for the ever-growing ecotourism industry. In Bahía de los Ángeles, Mexico, the home of the Vermilion Sea Field Station, whale sharks visit the water en masse throughout the summer and fall months bringing many visitors to this region and serving as an important economic driver for the community. Here at VSI, we strive to create meaningful connections between the marine wildlife, the community, and you – our participants – in order to build a sustainable future for both.
Space is limited to 18 participants. Reservations are first-come, first-serve and are NOT finalized until the reservation form is complete and payment is received. Reservation and payment details can be found below.
Equitable access to nature is a core value of VSI. We never want money to be the barrier to making a trip, so we have created a scholarship fund to bring the Baja experience to people who would otherwise be unable to visit. You can donate to our scholarship fund here or reach out to us to learn more or if you are interested in applying.
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Photos by Courtney Baxter
Research
No prior research experience is necessary on this trip. You will become a trained community-science researcher, photographing whale sharks and uploading data that is shared collaboratively with researchers all over the world. The distinctive spot patterns of these marine giants are unique to each individual—just like fingerprints are to humans—and can be used to identify and track the sharks we encounter. The Sharkbook for Whale Sharks project aims to combine innovative technology that applies spot pattern recognition algorithms used by astronomers to recognize celestial patterns in the night sky to identify individual whale sharks via these unique, behind-the-gill spots.
This is an educational program. Participants are not required to have previous experience with field studies. Also, participants need not be SCUBA certified, but should be able to swim independently and be comfortable swimming in open water. Finally, given the nature of field-based education programs, a go-with-the-flow attitude is a must!
At a Glance
2023 dates:
S2S1: July 26-31
S2S2: Aug 2-7
S2S3: Aug 20-25
S2S4: Aug 29-Sep 3
Leaves from: San Diego, California
Destination: Bahía de los Ángeles, Mexico
Program Cost: $1,300
Recommended for: Active people with an interest in the sea and a desire to create adventure while gathering important data.
Inquiries:
[email protected]
Sign up for our newsletter below to get first access to registration!
Inclusions
- Round trip travel from San Diego to Bahía de los Ángeles, Mexico
- Lodging at the Vermilion Sea Field Station (VSFS)
- Meals at stops during road trips
- Delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared fresh at VSFS
- Boat rental fees and permits for access to the Natural Protected Area of Bahía de los Ángeles
- Wetsuits and fins
Exclusions
- Travel to/from San Diego from home location
- Lodging in San Diego before/after the trip
- Snacks, sodas, alcohol, souvenirs
- Snorkels and masks (available for rent for $10/set)
- Travel & Medical Emergency Insurance (mandatory for every participant)
Itinerary
Photo by Autumn Moore
Day 1: Depart from San Diego at 6 a.m. sharp for Bahía de los Ángeles, arriving approx. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Stops on the way will include lunch, stretch breaks and scenic views. The road trip is part of the fun and gives opportunities for making new friends, playing car games, and the occasional carpool karaoke.
Day 2-5: Early morning into the afternoon: Explore the bay and channel by panga, enjoying amazing snorkel stops, wildlife spotting and participate in whale shark field work involving locating the whale sharks, in-water observation, taking behind-the-gill photographs of individuals, and returning to the field station to upload photographs and potentially identify new or returning individuals. Most evenings you are free to relax, explore the town, or enjoy the following optional activities: kayaking, hiking, exploring wetlands/mangroves, reading, beachcombing, tide-pooling, stargazing, night snorkeling, and more!
Day 6: Depart Bahía de los Ángeles at around 6 a.m. for San Diego, arriving approx. 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. (please do NOT schedule returning flights on Day 6 as arrival time cannot be guaranteed).
Important Note: While whale sharks have typically visited the waters off Bahía de los Ángeles each summer, we can not predict that the sharks will be present during this program. Therefore, there is no guarantee that participants will see or swim with a whale shark.
Location
Situated along the shores of the Gulf of California within the Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vermilion Sea Field Station (VSFS) has hosted scientists, conservationists, educators, and students since the 1970’s. Bahía de los Ángeles is a sleepy little town unlike other crowded Mexican tourist destinations. It is primarily known for fishing and was formerly a mining town. It is authentic Mexico at its finest.
Internet/Telephone
Most visitors to Bahía and VSI take the rare and special opportunity to embrace being “unplugged” and find they connect more deeply with the incredible local environment because of it. However, if totally disconnecting isn’t possible, there are a handful of internet cafes in town. There is no cell service in town, but there are usually pay phones available at the internet cafes.
Additionally, if on-site WiFi is needed for specific administrative or academic needs, arrangements can be made at the time of reservation. If you have a specific need you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Lodging
The Vermilion Sea Field Station is first and foremost a field facility for researchers and educators in the environmental sciences with rustic yet enjoyable accommodations. The field station is comprised of a central two story adobe and stone facility with 12 multi-purpose rooms, a large kitchen, indoor shower and changing room, outdoor bucket-flush bathrooms and an additional family house.
Sleeping is typically dormitory style, with cots available for sleeping either inside the field station or outside under the stars.
For additional information such as a suggested packing list and other travel related questions, please review the VSI Stars to Sea Trip Planner which will be provided with registration confirmation.
Registration
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL TRIPS
- Registration will occur in two parts. Initial registration will require contact information and a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of $300. Secondary registration will be submitted before April 20. It will require passport, insurance, medical and dietary information, and the remainder of your payment in full.
- Each person will need a valid passport. Please check your expiration date as soon as possible!
- You will also need proof of travel insurance to cover any medical expenses or emergencies while abroad.
- With secondary registration, VSI will offer optional and strongly recommended trip cancellation insurance. This $100 offer will protect your payment after deposit.
- Example 1: Book in January and decide to cancel in April, you will forfeit your non-refundable deposit ($300)
- Example 2: Book in January, purchase VSI’s optional cancellation insurance ($100) at secondary registration, and decide to cancel in July. You forfeit your non-refundable deposit ($300) and we refund the remainder of your payment.
- Example 3: Book in January, choose to decline VSI’s optional cancellation insurance ($100) at secondary registration, decide to cancel in July. You will forfeit your full payment.
While we understand that the COVID situation is ever-evolving. It is VERY UNLIKELY that VSI will cancel trips. If you cancel for ANY REASON the cancellation guidelines above will be followed. We strongly encourage you to register when you are confident you will be able to attend and feel comfortable attending while recognizing that trips may fill. We strive to make all of our stakeholders happy and comfortable, and we maintain careful COVID protocols to keep our participants and community safe. By registering you agree to follow our COVID protocols; these can and will update as necessary.
COVID-19
Our team is committed to the wellbeing and safety of all program participants and to those of the Bahía de los Ángeles community. We are so grateful to continue our field programs and we strive to provide a safe environment for all participants, staff and our community members.
All participants in a Vermilion Sea Institute program will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before beginning any trip. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping us create a safe environment for all.
During this time of widespread pandemic, we are committed to using the best available science and resources to maintain our COVID-19 operations plan.
Please note that the information on this page is subject to change. If you have any urgent questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected] or reach out to your trip leader directly.
Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to email [email protected] with any questions. We hope to see you in the field!
Photo by Courtney Baxter
Header photo by Courtney Baxter