Expedition Summary
Wild Blue Kids invites you to join your fellow women explorers and the crew of the R/V Tiburon as we experience the natural wonders of the Bahamas Islands.  This week provides an opportunity for you to learn about some of the magnificent marine creatures found in these crystal clear waters, to gain an understanding of the various marine ecosystems and their interactions, and to practice and sharpen those snorkeling/swimming skills.  Most importantly, you will meet and make friends with other girls/women who share your love of the ocean and desire to know more about this beautiful world of the Bahamas. Get up close and personal with the wild Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis),  see sharks first hand from the boat or in a totally enclosed shark cage, enjoy beach bonfires, reef snorkeling, tubing and island explorations.  All these experiences are designed with an environmental and science educational component that empowers the participants.

Christine has been diving for 14 years during which time she has gained experience in many different diving environments, including various parts of the Arctic, the Amazon, the Caribbean, Europe and the East Coast of the USA.

Certifications include: Technical Nitrox, Technical Wreck, Cave Diver, Technical Gas Blender, Technical Supervisor and Divemaster. Very much an outdoors person, she enjoys many sports besides diving including climbing, hiking, cycling and walking her dog endlessly in Central Park.

Christine speaks fluent Spanish, has traveled in over 30 countries and was involved in the years of research and set up that preceded her founding MAD DOG EXPEDITIONS. Prior to MDE, Christine was Head of P.R. and Marketing for a prominent Art gallery in New York.

woman to dive in the Amazon rainforest amongst the giant piranhas and the pink dolphins.

Research Vessel Tiburon Crew and Staff

Expedition Highlights

Expedition Highlights

• Experience close encounters and observe the behavior of animals in their natural environment.
• Marine biology and conservation discussions
• Fish identification training and hands-on surveys activities and games
• Snorkeling training sessions by professional instructors and divemasters
• Scuba Classes and Diving available as an add-on for those age appropriate 10 years and older
• Parent / child expedition-  Share the experience with your children.

Day 1

Arrive in Freeport, Bahamas. Taxi from the airport to Port Lucaya Marina and Yacht club (less than 15 min. away), and board the exploration support vessel Tiburon by 5 pm.  Settle into your stateroom, then join the crew for orientation and a safety briefing at 5:30 pm. Refreshments and hors-d’oeuvres served onboard.  Have dinner at one of Freeport’s many fine restaurants. Spend the evening onboard or at the marina enjoying the shops, pool or the live music in the Marketplace. All aboard by 12 midnight for an early morning departure.

Day 2

Spend the morning practicing your snorkeling techniques, so you will be ready to explore the reefs of the Bahamas.    Learn how these ecosystems help to keep the ocean waters clear, while providing habitats for a diversity of marine creatures.  A training session in fish identification will get you started on a lifetime passion of fish counting, using the REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) survey protocol. Then it is off the reef with counting site in hand to see how many we see. Later that evening we create a roundtable list of everything the group saw.

Day 3

We’ll travel to the dolphin banks, where a population of over 100 wild Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) reside.  Snorkel with these animals is a life changing event.  The are the friendliest in the ocean and spend hours frolicking with snorkelers on this large shallow sandbar.

Day 4

Snorkel shallow reefs off the village of West End.  Learn all about the types of fish that are in the waters and practice our fish identification skills.  Some free time in the afternoon for longing around or tubing around the sallow waters behind the Tiburon’s 18 foot Rigid hull inflatable boat.  

 Day 5

Travel to Tiger Beach, made famous in 2007 March National Geographic magazine, the home of tiger and lemon sharks.  Participate in a shark encounter that will teach children about how these animals are not monsters but amazing beings we must share the planet with.  Shark cages are a part of this experience but not necessary.  Viewing from the top side of the boat is just as amazing.

The evening is capped off by a visit to the local resort of Old Bahama Bay were you can enjoy the amenities of the resort, tour the island town of West End,  or just relax on the boat.

Day 6

Star the morning with another fantastic reef snorkel and then depart for a three hour trip back to Port Lucaya Marina were you can do last minute shopping at the bizarre or hang at the infinity pool on the beach

A farewell dinner is served aboard and the night is spent at the dock for those with flights the following day.

Day 7

Depart Freeport. A continental breakfast is served before leaving the Tiburon by 9AM.

The R/V Tiburon is a 63-foot United States Coast Guard certified passenger vessel designed for research and exploration. She is equipped with state of the art safety gear and electronic equipment and state of the art air and nitrox compressors. Her homeport is Key West, located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  Designed to sleep 14 guest and 4 crew in air-conditioned comfort, each intimate cabin is equipped with TV and vanity, 300 thread count sheets and tempur-pedic mattress pads. Two bathroom/showers are shared along with the common areas that include a salon, entertainment center, galley and outside deck areas.  She carries with her a small fleet of kayaks, expedition tender, snorkel gear, dive tanks and weights.