On the Expedition

Swimming with colorful reef fish to investigate their ecology.

You will snorkel in calm, blue water to observe coral reef fish and how they use their habitat. A highlight will be seeing "cleaner fish" remove parasites from host fish. You may also help set up experiments to help understand the relationships between parasites and their hosts. When you're not doing research, the island offers extensive beaches and trails for your exploration.

Meals and Accommodations

You will stay at an established research station on the secluded southern shore of St. John. Your team will stay in screened-in cabins with common bathing and toilet facilities, both divided by gender. The station provides well-balanced meals, and includes an open area for campfires, basketball, volleyball, or just hanging around.

About the Research Area

St. John is located east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea and is part of a chain of islands that form the US and British Virgin Islands. It is a dry tropical island approximately eight miles long and one mile wide. Two-thirds of the island and its surrounding waters is a National Park, so much of the original fauna and flora is intact.

It is an especially interesting island from an ecological standpoint because it consists of a wide variety of terrestrial and marine habitats in a relatively small space. There are tropical moist forests at high elevation, tropical dry forests surrounding them, and habitats with wind-exposed scrub and sparse vegetation at low elevation. In a matter of minutes, you can travel from a lush tropical forest to areas where the majority of the vegetation is cactus and agave.

The marine environment is also diverse and easily accessible from shore. Snorkelers can find rocky and coral reefs, seagrass beds, and extensive sand flats from most beaches. Air temperatures average in the upper 70s°F at night and upper 80s°F during the day. Water temperature during the summer averages above 80°F.