Articles by panexplore_u6q245

Thoughts on tourism by Captain Eric Loss

I’ve enjoyed our visit to the Dominican Republic, but there is a definite feeling that tourism is an industrial thing here – that as foreigners we should be staying in an all inclusive resort, wearing a wristband, feeding at the buffet trough and going on package tours. Outside of the tourist enclaves the country is vibrant, dirty, beautiful, full of energy, but it seems like most visitors are content to stay in the cocoons designed for them by the tourism industry. I’ll be glad to get back to sea again this weekend.

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Humpback whales: Silver Banks, Dominican Republic

We’ve successfully made it out onto the silver banks, navigating a minefield of coral heads with a lookout up the mast, snorkelled with whales while trying to find a place to anchor, had what appeared to be a mild whale-fight happen just feet in front of the boat, then got the film crew in the water filming an 2-3 day old newborn humpback and its mother…

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Exploration Science: Life on board Space Dragon

We went up and down uncharted rifts in the rock and reached a local destination that had been unknown to the imperium. Our crew consisted of our pilot Laura, chapter commander Eric, Dr. Haywood, forward party leader Shanley, scout Jen, and myself. In the course of our journey today, we utilized our D.I.N.G.Y or durable interstellar navigation gravitational-wave yacht.

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Exploration Science: Marine Protected Area at La Caleta, Dominican Republic

Today was a first for the Marine Protected Area (MPA) here in La Caleta. We met with Dr. Rubin Torres again and conducted the first plankton tow in the park. A plankton tow consists of towing a cone-shaped mesh net alongside the boat. The mesh net is really fine, so that the plankton can be trapped and funneled into a plastic bottle.

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5 Gyres study on ocean plastic pollution in PLoS ONE

Our partner, 5 Gyres, recently release a major study on plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. The study is a very big moment for public awareness around marine debris, plastic pollution, and our oceans.

We’re very happy that S.V. Sea Dragon was lucky to be part of a huge amount of the data collection through several ocean expedition, and we wish to congratulate everyone involved in this massive study.

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