Dolphin Research Charter

Join us for our exclusive offering as part of Sunshine Coast Marine Bioblitz 2024 and collaboration with University of the Sunshine Coast!

Our on-water training workshop will teach you about our current dolphin research projects and train you to become a dolphin spotter citizen scientist. We’ll set out to find our local dolphin populations – identify the species, determine group size, and collect behavioural, environmental, and anthropogenic data to advance our knowledge on these charismatic marine megafauna. With your new skills, you can collect data anytime you spot a dolphin from the headlands, on a boat, or simply walking the beach that will contribute to advancing our understanding of and our ability to protect these iconic coastal animals. 

Expedition Highlights

 

The Researcher

Dr Alexis Levengood is a research fellow at UniSC. Her work focuses on understanding the behaviour, ecology, genetics, and health of marine megafauna, with a focus in marine mammals. Dr Levengood has over 15 years of experience studying coastal dolphins and has worked with five dolphin species across 6 countries. She recently developed the Dolphin Research Project Southeast Queensland and was just awarded a grant to commence a Dolphin Spotter Citizen Science Project along our SEQ coast. We are incredibly honoured to have her facilitating this research expedition as part of the Sunshine Coast Marine Bioblitz 2024! 

 

The Charter

Once departing The Wharf, researchers will be given information booklets and data collection sheets to record sightings. Dr Levengood will explain the crucial elements of data collection once dolphins are spotted- after enjoying the interaction of course! Binoculars and cameras are encouraged, and all levels of research experience is welcomed! After exiting the Mooloolah rivermouth, all participants can begin looking out for signs of dolphins while we comfortably cruise through the water on our fast rigid-rib vessel called Tsunami. We will spend around 2.5 hours out at sea, travelling anywhere from Mudjimba Island to Caloundra! 

Please note: while we will do our very best to spot dolphins during the charter, they are wild animals and we cannot offer any guarantee. If no dolphins are spotted, we will use our newly acquired skills and apply them to humpback whales sighted on the day instead! 

Our responsibility

All encounters are conducted in accordance with the Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching (2005) as well as our own strict Code of Practice which has been developed with whale researchers and experts.