Snorkeling in shallow, crystal clear waters





Students working on the Panterra Expedition 
Workbook after an afternoon of snorkeling





A desert Iguana takes refuge in 
the shade from the heat of the day. 





Surgeon fish and brown sea urchin 







Daisy Brittle Star - low tide exploration





Encounter with common dolphins





California sea lions at their habitat





Exploring the world of fossils.





Thresher Shark - part of "the catch 
of the day" at the fishing village

The 117' MV Narval at sea

The Baja Peninsula was formed approximately 5 million years ago when part of the earth's crust separated along the San Andreas Fault, drifting away from mainland Mexico. After colliding with southern California, an ocean basin was formed. This basin is known today as the Gulf of California, or the Sea of Cortez. The youngest and most prolific sea on earth.

During it's movement fragments of land, broken off in the split, created islands and left behind underwater canyons and troughs reaching depths of 10,000 feet. It is the depth of these structures that cause the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters creating the basis for a highly productive marine food chain. Starting with the simplest of oceanic plant life, phytoplankton, to the top of the food chain, sharks and killer whales, this is where the educational component of our "Journey to the Sea of Cortez" begins.

This 8 day live-aboard expedition takes place onboard a 117' motor yacht, the MV Narval. Each day offers new activities and encounters as we explore the desert islands and cruise through the waters of the Sea of Cortez.

Activities include snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, beachcombing, and low tide exploration. Anticipate encounters with whales, dolphins, sea lions, manta rays, spectacular bird life and an amazing array of undersea life. 

Rich in natural history, unspoiled in beauty, and unrivaled in marine life, the Sea of Cortez is a world of a different time, place and rhythm.

The program offers two options. The first is the Panterra Expedition Workbook which puts the students to work exploring, discovering, identifying, recording and researching the marine organisms encountered. High School students can receive credits for completion of the workbook. The second option is experiential offering the students a Sea of Cortez Expedition Logbook which they can record their encounters and experiences. Either option is a great way for students to explore career interests in the many fields of natural sciences. 

If you would like to learn more about the "Journey to the Sea of Cortez" expedition, viewing the places we visit, the marine life we encounter and the kinds of activities we will be involved in, we invite you to browse through the Daily Journals - Sea of Cortez 2008,  2009 and 2010 section of this website. Past student participants have compiled these photo journals as part of the program curriculum. 

Group size is based on 16 students and 2 accompanying teacher supervisors. For information on program cost please refer to 
page 5 of the Program Outline. (see below)

Please Note: We have removed snorkeling with the California Sea Lions from our Young Naturalist Expeditions. But it has been replaced with 2 wildlife conservation projects. A Sea Turtle Monitoring Program and a Whale Shark Research Program. Please refer to the newly revised (Aug. 15, 2010) Program Outline 2011.

1. Feb. 16 - 23 - booked by LB
 1. Feb. 26 - March 5 - booked by AC   

 2. March 8 - 16 - available
 3. March 19 - 26 - booked by BS  
 4. March 29 - April 5 - booked by MS  

 5. April 9 - 16 - available

 6. July 10 - 16 - booked for SCT

Information:
For more information on the expedition click on Program Outline 2011 (PDF file). The Program Outline is an informational document provided for teachers, parents and students. 

Forms:   
If you are already signed up on the program and require an information form click on Participant Information Form 2011 (PDF). This form must be filled out by all participants. For participants 18 years of age and younger your parents/legal guardians are required to fill out a Consent to Travel form click on Consent to Travel Form 2011 (PDF). 
PLEASE NOTE: Forms for 2012 will be published September of 2011. 

If you are unable to access the PDF files, please contact our office at (250) 656-0633 - Sidney, BC or (403) 225-8327 - Calgary, AB or email us at info@panterra.com.

On a morning adventure a male sperm whale 
swims past the boat. We were eventually 
surrounded by a pod of 50+  whales. 

We have added two wildlife conservation projects to our expeditions and an expedition to the gray whale lagoon of San Ignacio, Mexico.

Sea Turtle Monitoring Program



Imagine being part of a turtle program that 
monitors species, their movement, growth and condition.

We have designed a Sea Turtle Monitoring Program into the "Young Naturalist Expeditions". 

Students will have the opportunity to participate in a program that helps captures sea turtles over a 24 hour period for the purpose of tagging, measuring, weighing and photo ID, weather permitting!

We will be assisting Felipe Cuevas and his father Palo, local fishermen from the fishing village of Isla Pardito, who are responsible for the program. 

Check out these links: Sea Turtles 1 & Sea Turtles 2

Whale Shark Research



Imagine working with, and assisting, a world renowned scientist on Whale shark research. 

We have also added a whale shark research component into our Young Naturalist Expeditions. 

We will be working with world renowned whale shark scientist Deni Ramirez Macias. The research will consist of photo ID, gathering data on size, sex, scars, DNA sample and possibly placing satellite tags. Again, weather permitting! 

Remember whale shark are filter feeders, void of teeth. They are very safe to be around just simply intimidating due to their size.  

The Gray Whale 
Birthing Lagoon of San Ignacio



As parents can you imagine the experience our children would 
have in interacting with babies of a species far greater than ourselves.

For those schools that do not allow nor wish not to live aboard a ship, during their field trip, we have the ultimate in exploring the marine environment with the blessing of living in the company of the great gray whales.

A camp that students can explore the world of the gray whales to include interacting with both the mom and their calves. In this environment there are also mangroves with amazing bird life, beaches loaded with treasures and remnants of life surrounding the lagoon and a lagoon chalked full of thriving marine life.

It also includes (as with all of our other expeditions) "The Baja Gifts Program" where students have the opportunity to provide gifts to kindergarten through to senior high students in the town and lagoon of San Ignacio. This is an optional community service. 

A students thought on our expeditions.

The following is an email received from a high school participant. It pretty much sums up the main goal of our programs; to make a positive contribution and difference in the lives of the students we come in contact with.

"My name is Eric and I participated in the Sea of Cortez Expedition with Meadowridge School this year. I hope it is Lela who is receiving this and if not, I would hope that this would be passed on to her. Thank you.

Lela, thank you so much for this experience. You have no idea how much this trip has opened my eyes to how important the existence and preservation of our environment really is. I know personally that my friends, classmates, and teacher, all enjoyed our stay with you all on the boat. 
Lela - you made the trip fun AND informative. You taught me things that I would not have learned anywhere else. Thank you for teaching me to look, think and experience outside the box and to get out there and  learn about my environment. 
Kareema - What can I say? You are amazing, ha, ha. spending time with you on the boat was not just fun, it was a pleasure. You made me laugh harder than many people can and while doing that, you still managed to teach me a thing or two. I was honored to present your T-shirt to you, because you made my trip THAT much more enjoyable. 
Krystil - you are a lot of fun to be around, even when you and Steve are bugging each other. You helped to ensure that we got the most out of our experience. I sincerely hope that you go great places in your life and I wish you good luck with university. Make the most of it as you can. 
Michele - you were definitely fun to be around. You encouraged me look at things that I wouldn't have even noticed. Listening to you talk about things that I knew nothing about and watching you teach everyone about the world around us. Thank you for that. 
Kelsie and Mr. Davies- thank you both for teaching me so much. You both have done Meadowridge proud beyond what you know. I didn't feel like we were just teacher and students, I felt like you were both there like friends, encouraging me to look beyond what I know and to take steps and risks beyond my boundaries. thanks. 
And Stasia - You are incredible. I had so much fun with you on this trip. Looking up at the stars and encouraging us to think beyond what we can see. You taught me SO much. We laughed like I have never laughed in my life, it took me a few days to stop the lischp from coming back. You are an inspiration and a friend to us all. 
Again, I would just like to thank you all for making my trip much more than I anticipated and I look forward to seeing you again some day.

Sincerely,
Eric (aka: Rico!!)" 

Frequently Asked Questions  |  MV Narval - Ship Information  |   Baja Gifts Program    

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