We're excited to invite you onboard the mighty research vessel Toftevaag to join our quest to regenerate Mediterranean biodiversity! Together with a crew made up of scientists, sailors and volunteers we explore ocean ecosystems in the Balearic Sea.
Sea turtles, sharks, whales, dolphins and tunas inhabit all our oceans, yet they are endangered. To help protect them, we investigate the factors that threaten their survival and search for innovative solutions. At sea we monitor marine species, conduct field studies, surveys and coastal activities. Thanks to modern technologies we are able to explore these species and their habitats in new, exciting ways, unraveling the mysteries of their underwater lives.
The results are shared with local communities and policy makers to help regenerate biodiversity and ensure sustainable management of marine protected areas.
Involving citizens in the stewardship and discovery of marine life is key to its protection. We want citizens from all over the world to understand the challenges our planet faces, in all of their complexity. Scientists alone cannot solve global issues like plastic pollution, or overfishing, but an educated and informed population can lead the way towards a greener and more sustainable lifestyle.
Our ship can now proudly say that since 1989, 4.000 volunteers from 98 nations have been part of her crew, with of people of all ages (from 3 months to 90 years old). We invite anyone who with an interest in marine science to join us. Pack your bag and come on board, not as a passenger, but as part of our research team. You don’t need any experience sailing or in science, just a positive spirit and a desire to learn.
Artists, students, photographers, dreamers and doers are welcome to discover the real Mediterranean with us!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE OUR EXPEDITION DATES FOR 2020
Learn more about the expeditions we have planned for the summer of 2020 by clicking on "Know more" below the dates that suit you.
WHERE: Crossing from Menorca to Mallorca
LENGTH: 9 days
START: Mahon, Menorca
ENDS: Palma de Mallorca
CONTRIBUTION: 1200 Euros
INCLUDES: Food, accommodation, all activities
« Las calmas de enero » is what we call the periods of calm seas that are common in the Mediterranean this time of year. We take advantage of these rare days to collect data in the winter months, adding a larger sample to our database. This expedition begins in the port of Mahon, Menorca. We work our way south, either to the east or the west of Mallorca, depending on the forecast. The expedition ends in Palma de Mallorca. The first couple of days are spent preparing the Toftevaag after her wintering period. An excellent adventure for classic sail lovers!
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
All little pirates welcome for our traditional family Easter sail, on-board our magical Toftevaag. Our ship is a great place to learn about marine science and sailing. Every Easter, we love to prepare for our season by inviting families and their little one for an Easter sail in the beautiful waters of the Balearic Sea. On good days we will sail the calm Mediterranean waters in search of wildlife, and on windier days we stay on-board, going on hikes and beach cleans, sharing seafaring tales of adventure and preparing delicious Mediterranean meals in the galley. If you're looking for an adventurous and educational getaway with your family, this is a perfect way to start the summer.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 8 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew.
At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
A special expedition with Save the Med elasmobranch experts on-board, looking to find out more about the elusive and threatened Mobula mobular population in the Mediterranean Sea.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew.
At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
This expedition is reserved for the students of our Changemakers At Sea competition.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
No experience necessary!
Living on-board the magical Toftevaag, our flagship vessel, you will learn about marine science, biodiversity and how to conduct field surveys, both in the open ocean and by the coast. As part of our team, you will help us collect data and monitor the health of the Balearic Sea. When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca. If you like sleeping under the stars and close encounters with marine life, this is the adventure for you.
This expedition takes place on-board the Aurora Boreal catamaran. A purely sailing survey over the abyss of the Emile Baudot Escarpment, zooming into the open sea ecosystem, tracking whales, dolphins, turtles, devil rays and seabirds.
Nine days on-board the Aurora Boreal catamaran, a modern age « Kon Tiki » that was used to design five Marine Protected Areas around the islands of Cabrera, Malta and Gozo between 2013 and 2017. Your Principal Investigator will be Ric, with Captains Kiko and Anna sailing the vessel. This expedition is for those volunteers who want to experience getting lost and drifting with turtles and jellyfish away from land, listen for whales on the hydrophone and observing the ecosystem in detail, from the tiniest plankton to the largest sperm whale and majestic giant devil rays.
Location: Cabrera National Park or waters around Mallorca
Duration: 9 days
Departure: Palma de Mallorca
Contribution: 1200 Euros
What's included: Food, accommodation on ship, all activities
A special Autumn expedition in the warm waters of the Balearic Sea.
When the days are calm, we will sail the beautiful azure waters of Cabrera National Park, on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seabirds and sea turtles. We also keep a lookout for plastic pollution, and remove what we can from the water. On windier days, not suitable for surveying, we carry out microplastic analysis educational snorkels and nature hikes, learning about species identification and Mediterranean biodiversity. During these, volunteers receive survey training, through marine science presentations and demonstrations from our expert crew. At night, we moor in the natural shelter of the island of Cabrera, a unique natural reserve, or in the serene bays of Mallorca.
Get ready for a real adventure!
Find out more about our expeditions with our Frequently Asked Questions and follow news about our seafaring adventures on our Instagram.
Contact Jasmine at jasmine@savethemed.org for more information.
