Join a Shark Research Institute expedition in Hawaii to assist with research on tiger sharks!

May 2022

 

Two expeditions will be led by Charlie Fasano, SRI Regional Director-Hawaii. Citizen scientists participate in cataloging individual tiger sharks. The objective is to determine tiger sharks’ annual use of the area. The project will also increase the biological information available to guide conservation efforts for this species, on both a regional (Hawaiian) and global scale, with important data such as life history, species distribution, abundance and diversity, population productivity, and extinction risk. This information will then be used to inform international conservation forums such as CITES, as well as local fishery risk assessment and management plans. An education and awareness campaign on the status of Hawaii tiger sharks will be conducted in conjunction with the survey to increase awareness of the habitat use of the species.

 

 

 

The expedition includes daily boat dives to catalog resident tiger sharks of Big Island, Hawaii and a guided tour of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site.

Nitrox is available and required.

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EXPEDITION DAYS, on vessel
Expedition Mua:  May 5, 6, 7, (8)
Expedition Lua:  May 19, 20, 21, (22)

(contingency day in parentheses)
 

EXPEDITION COST : $3000 total (taxes included)

 

Includes:

• Three [3] expedition on-vessel days (7hrs/day)

• Vessel embark and disembark daily at the resort pier

• Nine [9] guided scuba dives (tiger sharks and reef)

• 32% Nitrox tank for each dive (3/day)

• Hawaii tiger shark science presentations and identification methodology workshop

• Tiger shark photography workshop

• Lunch sandwiches, snacks, fruit, and drinks on vessel

• Inclusion as volunteer in research paper and publications

• Crew gratuity

• Rental gear: mask/snorkel/fins, 3mm full wetsuit, bcd, and regulator with computer.

• Guided tour of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site

 

Not included:

• Air travel to and from Kona airport (KOA)

• Lodging * see note for discounted rate

• Travel insurance: mandatory

• DAN insurance: mandatory

• Car rental

• Breakfast and dinners during expedition.

• Food and drinks outside of expedition.

• Concierge activity services.

• Manta Ray and Blackwater night dives are available at an additional discounted cost.

 

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ITINERARY

Three [3] vessel days with three [3] nitrox dives/day
The vessel is 32’ x 14’ with ample room for scuba operations and comfortability
Each day’s expedition itinerary:
08:00: Embark at resort pier
Nature presentation as we motor to the dive site.
Tiger shark dives (first two dives)
Lunch on vessel
"Customer’s Choice” dive: a third dive to explore coral reefs, dolphins, mantas, hammerheads, etc…
15:00: Disembark at the resort pier. Free time in town or resort activity.
Manta Ray and Blackwater night dives available at extra cost

 

- Guided tour of Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site: We will select a day where the National Park Service will give us a guided tour of the shark heiau at  Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site. This US National Park is free and is perfect for late afternoon visits and sunset views along the Big Island's gold coast. https://www.nps.gov/puhe/index.htm

MINIMUM:
A minimum of six [6] paying divers are required for each expedition. To reserve your spot, we ask that deposits of $500 are received by

Oct 31, 2021 and the remaining payment of $2500 be paid by Feb 1, 2022.
Deposit and payments are non-refundable. However, if SRI cancels the expedition due to not having six divers, then the deposits and payments will be returned in full. Again, we will refund 100% of the money if we are not able to conjure six to more divers for each expedition.