Ocean Citizen Science Workshop: Cetaceans (Surveying Dolphins)

Be given the tools & knowledge you need to become a citizen scientist, then get out into our amazing marine park to do a dolphin survey and snorkel!

Join marine mammal researcher Dr Liz Hawkins and marine biologist Alice Forrest (along with our Captain - sea turtle researcher Joshua James) to learn more about our local dolphins and whales - who they are, the threats they face, and important science you can contribute to. Then head out to sea to put what you’ve learnt into action with a boat trip and snorkel in the Byron Bay Hope Spot (we'll do a real dolphin survey, then snorkel at Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks). 

When:

Thursday December 18th, 6pm - 8:15pm 

Friday December 19th, 8am - 12pm
You’ll need to be available for both these sessions - please only register if you can commit to these times. 

What:

Part one (Thursday evening) is a classroom session, where you’ll dive into dolphins, learning about our local species, conservation challenges, citizen science and how to conduct a survey - we'll give you all the tools you need to do citizen science anytime in the future.

For part two (Friday morning), we take the learning to the sea, heading out by boat to do a dolphin survey together on our local bottlenose dolphins, followed by a guided snorkel adventure at Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks where you'll have a chance to learn more about our local marine inhabitants and other citizen science projects to help collect real marine science data. This course isn't just a fun adventure, but a training session to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to contribute to science on your future beach walks, kayaks, snorkels, or however you like to be in the sea.

Where:

For both sessions we’ll meet at Byron Bay Sea Turtle School, 5 Marvell St, Byron Bay NSW 2481. The Thursday evening will be a classroom session where you’ll learn everything you need to know to prepare you for Friday on the boat when we’ll head out to Byron Bay and beyond to survey our local dolphin population, then finish with a snorkel at Julian Rocks/Nguthungulli where you’ll also have the chance to see and document turtles and loads of other awesome ocean species. 

Who:

Anyone!* You don't need to be a scientist, dolphin expert or marine biologist. All you need is passion for the ocean and a desire to give something back to this big salty playground that gives us so much! And you also need to be able to snorkel and comfortable on a boat to make sure this is a safe and enjoyable experience.
* Aged 16+, if you're under 18 you'll need to come with a responsible guardian over 18.

Note: this is an adventure, we’ll be spending around 3 hours on a boat doing dolphin surveys then snorkelling so you must be comfortable snorkelling as well as being on a small open boat. If you get sea sick - this workshop isn't the best one for you as we will be stopping regularly for long periods to observe dolphins & marine life. Be prepared to feel the ocean swell & conditions.

We’ll be there to assist and answer questions, but this is not a learn-to-snorkel experience. 

How Much?

The workshop costs $125 per person, and is limited to just 6 people. This includes:

• A two + hour workshop on citizen science - you’ll learn about whales and dolphins in general, our local species and what scientists have discovered about them, citizen science, dolphin behaviour and survey methods, and how you can contribute important data to on-going scientific research projects

• A three hour ocean excursion - you’ll head out to the bay to conduct a dolphin survey transect, collecting real data on dolphin populations and behaviours. Then we’ll have a chance to get wet, heading out to Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks for a snorkel with a marine biologist guide

• Snorkelling equipment & wetsuit 

• All the equipment you need to participate in the science (but see the equipment list below - we encourage you to bring a camera if you have one, but it is optional. We have a camera participants can use to try your hand at photographing the dolphins)

• Transfer from Byron Bay meeting point to The Pass 

• The opportunity to learn from marine scientists about how you can conduct, and continue, citizen science here in our local community (& throughout the world’s oceans)

• A Species Guide to Local Cetaceans - a quick guide to help you identify whales & dolphins on our coast

• Membership to Dolphin Research Australia (valid for one year) - members receive exclusive opportunities for events and field research volunteer positions, a subscription to newsletters, and it's a way to be part of and support conserving marine life into the future (valued at $30)

Any Questions?

We know you probably have a few questions—so we’ve put together answers to the ones we get asked most often. If you have others, don't hesitate to get in touch.

What’s citizen science? 

Citizen science is basically when everyday people help scientists by sharing their own sightings and observations. Whether it’s spotting wildlife, noticing changes in the environment, or logging what you see while you’re out and about, those on-the-ground observations become valuable data for researchers. It’s an easy way for anyone to support real science just by paying attention to the world around them. This can be as simple as taking a photo and uploading it to a dedicated app or website, or participating in surveys, censuses or field studies. It's a great way to contribute data that is actually used by scientists, and then feeds into policy and informs decision-makers like governments. It can be a way to discover new species, document changes in the range or migration patters of existing species, track populations of threatened fauna, and map changes due to climate change or other large scale impacts. The possibilities, and ways you can be involved, are endless.

Do I need to have any background knowledge? 

No! We’ll teach you everything you need to know. 

How many people? 

There’s just 6 spaces available for this workshop, and we need all of them to be filled in order to run the trip.  

How much does it cost? 

$125 each per person - this event is partially supported by a grant from Patagonia, and this charge covers the remaining expenses and allows us to run several of these workshops on various topics over the next year. If this amount is prohibitive for you then please contact us.

What does it include? 

All the details are listed above, but in a nutshell:

• A two + hour workshop on citizen science

• A three hour ocean excursion, including dolphin survey and snorkel

• Snorkelling equipment & wetsuit 

• Citizen science equipment (including cameras)

• Transfer from Byron Bay meeting point to The Pass 

• The opportunity to learn from marine scientists

• Membership to Dolphin Research Australia (valid for one year)

What do I need to bring? 

• Swimsuit

• Sun hat

• Waterbottle

• Sunscreen (reef safe) 

• Change of clothes

• Proof of ID

• Notebook & pen

• Camera (optional) 

• Binoculars (optional)

Can I bring my camera?
Yes, you're welcome to bring cameras - we have two pelican cases that can fit two DSLR sized cameras and multiple dry bags for use to keep your gear safe onboard.

What if I don’t have a camera? 

No worries - we have some cameras if you want to practice taking photos, plus there are plenty of other jobs to do during a dolphin survey. It’s not just about taking photos, it’s also about understanding the dolphins and their behaviour so observing, counting and interpreting is key. Phones are also usually enough for species identification anyway. Cameras optional. 

What ages can come?
Minimum age 16, under 18 you need to come with a supervising adult. While we hope to run more workshops for younger citizen scientists in the future, this one is targeted at adults.

Do I need to know how to snorkel? 

Yes! Unfortunately this is not a workshop where we can teach snorkelling and the experience is suited towards people who are already comfortable on and in the water.

Is food included?

No, but you're welcome to bring food (snacks or a takeaway dinner perhaps) along to the evening workshop. Tea & coffee are provided. Space on the boat is limited so we recommend not bringing unnecessary items like food (we'll leave after breakfast and be back by lunch).

Why do these workshops matter? 

We know there are many ocean lovers in our community who want the opportunity to give something back, but aren't sure how. Citizen Science is one fantastic tool for giving back to the ocean - helping scientists learn more, informing policymakers and improving our ability to identify, monitor and respond to threats facing our wildlife and habitats. They're also a chance for members of our community to learn more about our local species, marine protected areas, legislation and regulations, and get this knowledge out into our community. They're a way for us to create custodians our aquatic wildlife and marine protected areas, or as we often call them, ocean champions.

What's the cancellation policy?

If you can no longer attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your ticket to someone on the waiting list. Cancellations made 48 hours or more before the workshop will receive a full refund. You can manage your booking through the Humanitix website or contact us at (byronhope@dolphinresearchaustralia.org). Unfortunately, refunds cannot be issued for cancellations within 48 hours to the workshop start time. If the workshop is cancelled due to weather, we will be in contact within 48 hours prior to the event and reschedule as soon as possible or provide a full refund.

Thank you for your understanding – your booking helps us plan effectively and ensures others don’t miss out on these opportunities.

What happens if the weather is bad on the Friday?

If the weather is too terrible for us to have a safe and enjoyable experience onboard, then we will reschedule as soon as possible and do the boat trip on another day soon.

If I can't attend this one, will there be other workshops?
This is just the first in a series of Ocean Citizen Science Workshops - we plan to offer future sessions on sea turtles; fish and elasmobranchs (sharks & rays); benthic ecosystems (coral & seagrass); mangroves and marine debris.

Have any other questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

This is the first of a series of workshops which are being run by Dolphin Research Australia and Ocean Education & Conservation with support from a grant from Patagonia Australia to increase understanding of our marine life and marine protected areas; train participants to be leaders in citizen science; survey local marine life; build capacity to identify, monitor and respond to key threats to our oceans; increase compliance with local regulations; and increase custodianship for our aquatic wildlife and marine protected areas.