INTRO TO
SHARK SCIENCE COURSE

JUNE 12-18, 2027

COURSE OVERVIEW

Join us at the Shark Lab for an Introduction to Shark Science course! Over the past 3 decades we have hosted thousands of students and guests at the field station, providing immersive experiences in the diverse ecosystems surrounding the Bimini Islands. Typically, these courses are organized through an academic institution and are exclusive to their students. However, we also acknowledge that the general public has a deep interest in learning more about shark science and to experience the beauty of Bimini. Therefore, we are offering a general Introduction to Shark Science course for public enrolment. The course features daily lectures, paired with field trips to the diverse marine habitats around Bimini to experience the marine life including several species of sharks and rays. Participants will receive daily lectures from experts actively working in the field of shark science, including Dr. Matthew Smukall (President of the Bimini Shark Lab) and Shark Lab station crew.

The 6 night / 7 day field course will be held at the Bimini Biological Field Station (The Shark Lab), a relatively isolated research and education facility on the island of South Bimini, The Bahamas, 46 miles across the Gulf Stream from Miami, Florida. There will be 14 participant positions available. The course is offered for June 12-18, 2027.

From mangrove forests to seagrass meadows, and shallow sandy flats to rocky shores fringed with coral reefs, participants will gain insight into the role of sharks in these unique ecosystems. Classroom lectures and presentations provide engaging discussions on the biology, evolution, and ecology of sharks, as well as overviews of the research conducted by the Shark Lab over the past 35 years. Participants will interact with dozens of Southern stingrays, watch baby lemon sharks weaving through mangrove roots, and much more.

Please note that activities in the field may be physically taxing. Bimini is a sub-tropical climate, and field activities will be conducted during the hot summer with intense sun, high humidity, and buggy conditions. Field activities will require several hours on small boats and surrounded by water. Therefore, participants should be in good physical health and prepared for long days in the field. While there is no diving or snorkeling experience necessary, participants need to be comfortable in open water conditions.

REQUIREMENTS

This course is open to members of the general public who:

Have an interest in shark science

Are 18 years or older
Have completed high school, and have a basic understanding of general science

Are able to travel through the USA (participants must be responsible for knowing the travel requirements and obtaining necessary documentation)
Are able to swim and use snorkelling gear
Students and participants are expected to bring all of their own snorkel gear (mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit during winter) for the course. They should test this gear prior to arrival on Bimini as there are no local stores to purchase gear.

**We aim to make the course comprehensive but approachable to the non-scientist; thus, a background in marine biology is not required.**

COURSE
DESCRIPTION
& PROGRAM COST

The Program Fee is $3,200 USD.

This fee includes shared accommodation in Bimini, three meals per day, round-trip charter flights between Ft. Lauderdale and South Bimini, professional photos from your experience, and all instruction and field activities. Participants are required to obtain travel insurance that includes repatriation coverage to their home country.

Please note that participants will stay onsite at the field station. Accommodation is shared with fellow course participants and some Shark Lab crew members. The facility is designed to resemble a research vessel, with compact but efficient living spaces. There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a communal dining and living area. Each bedroom contains two bunk beds, accommodating up to four people per room, and participants should be prepared for the possibility of being assigned a top bunk.

Participants will fly roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (Florida) to South Bimini International Airport (SBIM) on an organized charter flight (Tropic Ocean Airways at Sheltair). The Shark Lab will organize the charter flight, however, participants are responsible for their round trip flights to Fort Lauderdale.

Breakfast, lunch and dinners will be family style and served at the Shark Lab. While we are able to accommodate vegetarian meals, due to the limited grocery supplies on Bimini we are unfortunately unable to provide vegan meals or speciality diets. While we take great care in preparing our food, we want to be transparent that we cannot guarantee complete avoidance of cross-contact with allergens due to shared kitchen spaces and equipment.

Field activities are weather dependent and may include:

Interacting with juvenile lemon sharks in pristine mangrove habitat
Snorkelling with free swimming sharks; which MAY include Caribbean reef sharks, blacktip sharks, lemon sharks and nurse sharks
Interacting with southern stingrays on a white sand beach
Snorkelling coral reef, mangrove and seagrass habitats
Snorkelling the famous SS Sapona shipwreck
Potential encounters with spotted eagle rays, Atlantic spotted dolphins, or bottlenose dolphins and more marine wildlife, dependent on natural encounters.

Lectures by Dr. Matt Smukall & the Shark Lab crew will include:

Intro to Bimini Shark Lab
Overview of Research Methods
History of Dr. Gruber and Lemon Shark Research
Introduction to Shark Evolution and Diversity
Shark Ecology
Shark Management and Conservation

(*Note: Due to current limitations and stipulations of research permits in The Bahamas, field courses do NOT include active data collection or hands-on research).

The course package does NOT include the following:

Airfare to/from Fort Lauderdale from your location
Meals/Accommodations during your travel to/from Bimini
Additional snacks, drinks, or extra meals out while in Bimini
Travel Insurance (DAN insurance and SafetyWing insurance are affordable options we recommend) – Travel insurance with repatriation to your home country is REQUIRED.