NATURALIST
COURSE
JULY 19th - 25th, 2026
ABOUT THE COURSE
Join us at the Shark Lab this summer for a crash course in the general biology of sharks! The Naturalist Course features daily field trips, presentations and personal encounters with several species of sharks and rays. Participants will receive daily lectures from experts actively working in the field of shark research, including Dr. Dean Grubbs, Associate Director of Research at the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory.
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. Course dates are July 19 - 25, 2026. There will be 14 participant positions available.
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 snorkelling experience necessary, participants need to be comfortable in open water conditions. Snorkel gear can be provided for those who may not have their own.
REQUIREMENTS
This course is open to members of the general public who:
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Have an interest in marine biology
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Are 18 years or older
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Are able to travel through the USA (participants must be responsible for knowing the travel requirements and obtaining necessary documentation)
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Are able to swim and use snorkelling gear
**We aim to make the course comprehensive but approachable to the non-scientist; thus, a background in marine biology is not required.**
COURSE LEADER
This course is taught by Dr. Dean Grubbs - a fish ecologist based at the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Lab. After completing his studies at the University of Miami, a PhD through the College of William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and a post-doctoral stint at the University of Hawaii. He now leads a very active lab of bright graduate and undergraduate students at FSU and works with collaborators worldwide on a number of different projects.
Dr. Dean Grubbs' current research focus is geared towards providing answers needed for the sustainable management and conservation of coastal and deep-water sharks and rays. After studying sharks and rays for more than 25 years and having tagged and released more than 10,000 sharks from over 40 species, he is the perfect leader for this course.
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COURSE COST & WHAT'S INCLUDED
The 6-night / 7-day course package is valued at USD $3,300 per participant. This package includes:
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Accommodation on Bimini
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All meals during the course
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Round-trip charter flights from Fort Lauderdale to South Bimini
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All instruction, lectures, and field activities
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE COURSE PACKAGE
Participants will fly round-trip from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) via the Sheltair terminal to South Bimini International Airport (BIM) on an organized charter flight operated by Tropic Ocean Airways. The Shark Lab coordinates these charter flights; however, all participants are responsible for arranging and funding their own round-trip travel to and from Fort Lauderdale.
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Accommodation is provided in a shared rental house within walking distance of the Shark Lab (typically two twin beds per room, shared bathrooms, and shared common spaces).
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served family-style at the Shark Lab. Vegetarian meals can be accommodated; however, due to limited grocery availability on Bimini, vegan meals and specialized diets cannot be accommodated.
All participants must carry travel insurance that includes medical evacuation and repatriation to their home country.
FIELD ACTIVITIES
Field activities may include (weather dependent):
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Interacting with juvenile lemon sharks in mangrove habitats
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Snorkelling with free-swimming blacktip, lemon, and nurse sharks
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Interacting with southern stingrays on a white sand beach
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Snorkelling coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass habitats
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Snorkelling with sea turtles at the SS Sapona shipwreck
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Potential encounters with spotted eagle rays, Atlantic spotted dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and other marine wildlife
LECTURES
Lectures by Dr. Dean Grubbs and Dr. Matt Smukall will include:
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Elasmobranch evolution
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Chondrichthyan diversity and taxonomy
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Diversity of elasmobranch reproduction
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Fisheries management and conservation
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History and methods of Bimini’s juvenile lemon shark research
COSTS NOT INCLUDED IN COURSE PACKAGE
The following costs are not included in the course package and are the responsibility of the participant:
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Airfare to and from Fort Lauderdale from your home location
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Meals and accommodations during travel to and from Bimini
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Additional snacks, beverages, or meals outside of scheduled course meals
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Travel insurance (Affordable options we recommend include DAN and SafetyWing. Travel insurance with repatriation is required.)
