"RESEARCHER FOR A DAY"

We invite you to join our ongoing study of the behaviour, habitat use and social lives of these amazing marine mammals off the north-eastern coast of Sardinia Island, Italy.

During the "Researcher for a day" program you will participate during a day in a boat-based dolphin research survey investigating ecology and behaviour of bottlenose dolphins on the north-eastern coast of Sardinia, Italy.

Dedicated to those who are interesting to participate to dolphin research and conservation campaigns. No background knowledge of cetaceans is required, we ask only for you willing to learn about the dolphins and their environment.

Searching dolphins is just part of the fun!

Bottlenose dolphin research institute surveys are unique. Unlike many other research teams our surveys offers a wide spectrum of educational tools that go beyond the "average research trip". All trips are designed to enhance our awareness of dolphins, other marine life and the marine habitat that surrounds us. Our goal is to have each passenger depart our vessel with a greater understanding and appreciation of the Mediterranean environment and the wealth of life it supports. We make each research survey fun and educational for passengers of all ages.

Onboard the Spartana you will work together with our team in search of cetaceans. To refine details of bottlenose dolphin population biology and responses to human activities at sea, we will take identification photos, observe behaviour, and monitor vocalizations using a hydrophone.

Although our project focuses primarily on bottlenose dolphins, you will also experience the complex Mediterranean coastal ecosystem in which we live and work. During each dolphin expedition we may travel to different locations in search of dolphins and other marine life. Being an experienced marine biologists group that study these dolphins since 1999 gives us an advantage of finding the bottlenose dolphins. As the research vessel departs Golfo Aranci harbour, one of our highly trained researchers or our chief biologist will give a presentation about the bottlenose dolphins we may see, their behaviour and how BDRI studies these amazing animals.

Oftentimes, we see large number of birds during our trips. Many of the birds we see are pelagic and can only be viewed offshore by boat.  Our biologists conduct research on the dolphins seen, photographing each dolphin to be identified and catalogued yearly. We have a photo-identification catalogue of known bottlenose dolphins board our vessels for reference, to be viewed by our passengers. It is fun and educational for all to find a dolphin they have see or to learn about a dolphin's associations tree.

There will be no "typical" day in the field, and all scheduled activities may be rotated according to weather, activity and location of the dolphins. We are entirely weather driven and take every opportunity the weather provides. You should be comfortable with standing in a boat for up to 5 hours non-stop while looking for dolphins through binoculars or observing dolphins and recording data. Please be patient and flexible, and remember that no one can control the dolphin movements.

You never know what might be seen on the next dolphin expedition trip!

The fee includes research training and all associated field costs during your stay with us. The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute is not a tourist or dolphin watching organisation, but a well-organised team of researchers.

More information, please contact to us.