Seacology, Yahoo’s 2006 September Pick for Good (websites chosen because they make a positive impact on the world), has one goal: to preserve the endangered biodiversity and cultures of islands.
Adventurous travelers are lining up to join Seacology’s island expeditions. The ecologically minded who prefer armchair travel can enjoy by osmosis; simply visit Seacology’s website to read travel dispatches and look at photos from Fiji or some of the other 80plus islands where there are Seacology projects.
Island Expeditions with Seacology
Seacology’s island expeditions are “win-win” for travelers and local communities. During each one, whether the goal is to help islanders create a faux eco-reef to set near a dying reef, or help with a water purification tank installation, travelers combine vacations on intriguing islands with a chance to help locals. Each Seacology expedition is chock-full of cultural experiences. But, don’t envision staying in primitive lodging all the time because some of the trips include accommodations at premier properties, such as the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort.
Types of Trips
A variety of island expeditions are offered each year, to such diverse places as Zanzibar, Tanzania, New Guinea and Fiji, so check the schedule on the website. The 2008 trips include one to the Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Island Resort, Aug. 11-18, to visit two remote Fijian villages for the official opening ceremonies of Seacology funded school; and a dive/scuba trip off the coast of thailand in early November.
Who Should Go?
Anyone who read Robinson Crusoe and has dreamed about visiting remote islands – including some where few outsiders have visited. Travelers seeking to go scuba diving with whale sharks in the Galapagos or Manta ray in Yap, or wants to observe rare wildlife, such as Komodo Dragons in Indonesia and Hainan Gibbons in China. These island expeditions are for travelers who want to learn about millennia-old ceremonies and celebrations, such as the Sumazou “bird dance” in Borneo or a kava ceremony in the South Pacific. And certainly, the trips are for people willing to give their time to work on projects to benefit others.
What’s It Going to Cost Me?
The cost varies -- from $2,000 to $6,000 per person, double occupancy, per week, according to the trip. This includes a donation to aid the work of this non-profit organization. Even if you're only an armchair traveler and enjoy the dispatches and pictures, you can make a donation on the website.
Contact Information
For more information about this unique non-profit organization visit Seacology. The trips are not always listed on the website, so call 510-559-3505 for the current list. Travelers who have already been on one of Seacology’s island expeditions receive invitations to other trips via mail.
