BELIZE OCEANIC SOCIETY FIELD STATION RE-OPENS AFTER HURRICANE

SAN FRANCISCO — Oceanic Society announces the re-opening of their Belize Field Station to the public following a temporary closure last October after Hurricane Richard struck Belize. The Category 1-force winds damaged the Field Station, but repairs and improvements are now complete. Weeklong programs available year round will resume April 9. Programs include snorkeling, coral reef monitoring, dolphin research and family trips.

The San Francisco-based, non-profit Oceanic Society opened the Field Station on Blackbird Caye at Turneffe Atoll in 2001. With its close proximity to the atoll's magnificent ring reef, Blackbird Caye provides an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Belize while learning about new discoveries from marine biologists or assisting researchers hands-on with important field studies.

Now upgraded into a full-service facility, the Field Station offers comfortable, beachfront cabanas with private porches, only minutes away from some of the most spectacular shallow-water snorkeling in the world. A new duplex cabana is ideal for families.

Four programs are offered by the Blackbird-Oceanic Society Field Station:

Bottlenose Dolphin Research Project

This research program allows visitors to study dolphin behavior and ecology in Belize's coral reef and mangrove ecosystems. The warm waters of Belize are highly conducive to studies of dolphin behavior and ecology. Days will be spent working in small teams, searching for dolphins and assisting researchers with fieldwork, including recording dolphin behavior, plotting locations, identifying individual dolphins through markings, recording dolphin sounds, and collecting environmental data. No prior experience with dolphin research is required. The cost of the weeklong program (Saturday to Saturday) is $1,950, plus air.

Coral Reef Research Project

The coral reef monitoring program collects basic ecological information that helps guide Oceanic Society's conservation efforts. Two types of data are collected: One for coral condition, including presence of disease and bleaching, and another for reef fish community composition to determine fish abundance. Monitoring is conducted at minimum on a quarterly basis. No prior research experience is required. Volunteers are trained in fish identification both in the field and through informative presentations, and the surveys are conducted at the end of the week. The cost of the weeklong program (Saturday to Saturday) is $1,950, plus air.

Blackbird Caye and Lighthouse Reef/Coral Reef Ecology

The Coral Reef Ecology Program is a naturalist-guided coral reef snorkeling expedition to Blackbird Caye at Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse Reef Atoll. This expedition is one of the best ways for non-divers to discover Belize's spectacular coral reef ecosystem. The naturalist will help identify the many different species of fish and explain the ecology of the reef and natural history of the islands. The surrounding area serves as a feeding and resting area for dolphins, which are often spotted en route to snorkeling sites. A highlight of this program is a day trip to Lighthouse Reef Atoll to snorkel the magnificent Blue Hole, an inverted underwater cave made famous by Jacques Cousteau. Bird watching is included. The cost of this weeklong program (Saturday to Saturday) is $2,075, plus air.

Family Program

Join Oceanic Society biologists and Belizean researchers for a family field study of Belizean wildlife including dolphins, manatees, and monkeys. This exciting and educational program offers guided snorkeling forays into outstanding coral reef habitats to explore Belize's undersea wonders, and includes participation in dolphin research, tracking manatees and more. While days will be full with activities, there also will be free time for exploration and recreational activities. This program, based at the island field station and at a mainland river lodge, is geared for children 10 and older accompanied by at least one adult parent/chaperone. The cost of this weeklong program (Saturday to Saturday) is $1,950 for adults and $1,750 for children, plus air.

The Oceanic Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 to introduce the public to the marine environment and marine mammals through conservation-based research and environmental education. The organization currently has ten other active research programs around the world studying all aspects of the marine world.

For more information on the Blackbird-Oceanic Society Field Station, contact Oceanic Society Expeditions at 800-326-7491, or visit the web site at www.oceanic-society.com.