“I saw hope, personified,” said Cindy Wright, describing the journey she recently took with her husband, Bosley, to Trindad as part of an Oceanic Society volunteer tour. There they supported Oceanic Society’s local partner, Nature Seekers, with sea turtle research and conservation.  Trinidad is home to one of the world’s largest nesting populations of leatherback turtles. “Most of the people in this town, Matura, [Trinidad], work with the turtles as guides or in tourism,” she explained. But the relationship between people and leatherbacks was not always harmonious. Leatherbacks, which hav ..read more

We are excited to announce that, after nearly three years of work by dozens of sea turtle experts worldwide, sea turtle Regional Management Units (RMUs), or subpopulations, have been updated and published. This monumental effort was led by the Marine Turtle Specialist Group (MTSG) with support from Oceanic Society’s State of the World’s Sea Turtle (SWOT) program as part of the Seventh Burning Issues Initiative (BI-7). The Importance of RMUs Because sea turtles have enormous ranges and are highly migratory, they pose unique challenges to monitoring, assessment, and conservation. For example, pr ..read more

At Oceanic Society, we work hard to maximize the impact of every contribution we receive. We take responsible financial stewardship seriously, and our steadfast commitments to effective management, transparency, accountability, and impact have earned us the highest recognitions from third party charity evaluation organizations. We are proud to announce that we have achieved the following accreditations. Charity Navigator: 4-Stars (100%) Oceanic Society has been awarded the prestigious 4-star rating, achieving a perfect score of 100%. This designation as a “Give with Confidence” nonprofit unde ..read more

In spite of its small size (roughly that of West Virginia or Denmark), Costa Rica is home to nearly half a million species, making it one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. And within Costa Rica, there is one place that stands above the rest when it comes to biodiversity: the Osa Peninsula. Covering an area of just 700 square miles along the Pacific coast, the Osa Peninsula hosts half of Costa Rica’s animal and plant species among its spectacular rainforests while covering only 3 percent of the country’s land area. National Geographic went so far as to call the Osa Peninsula the most ..read more

What is it about sea turtles that captivates our attention and compels us to witness them up close? Maybe we hold images from grade-school science classes of baby sea turtles making their way to the sea, or perhaps we’re drawn in by the idyllic sandy beaches they visit. Whatever the reason, witnessing a sea turtle nesting, hatching, or swimming is a bucket-list item for many travelers. In many cases, watching a sea turtle while nesting is the most accessible way to observe these creatures, but it’s also when they’re the most vulnerable. Given that sea turtles are threatened with extinction, it ..read more

We are pleased to introduce you to one of our newest corporate supporters — Plaine Products. Founded by two sisters, Lindsey and Alison Delaplaine, Plaine Products is a personal care company that began with a dream to have less plastic waste in the world. To learn more about their work and mission, we sat down for a Q&A with Plaine Products CEO and Co-Founder, Lindsay Delaplaine. Here is what she had to say: What was the catalyst for creating Plaine Products? For 10 years I lived in The Bahamas doing environment education work. In addition to being a gorgeous place to live, it also exposed ..read more

Although the Caribbean may be known for all-inclusive resorts and massive cruise ships, with just a bit of guidance it is easy to escape the crowds and immerse yourself in some of the most diverse—and beautiful—coral reefs in the Caribbean. Are you ready to discover the aquatic wonders of the Caribbean? Get your mask and fins ready as we explore some of the most exciting and under-the-radar Caribbean snorkeling destinations. Cuba: Gardens of the Queen A beautiful reef scene in Gardens of the Queen. © Keoki Stender For many, Cuba remains shrouded in mystique due to its decades-long isolation ..read more

We are delighted to share a new educational video all about sea turtles and plastic pollution. This short film is the first episode in our new “Sea Turtles: Deep Dive” series, an educational YouTube series produced by our State of the World’s Sea Turtles (SWOT) Program with support from Seiko. Our aim through this series is to provide high-quality, factual information about sea turtles and the threats they face in ways that are easy to understand and share. Additional episodes will explore other timely topics in sea turtle biology and conservation. Watch: ‘Sea Turtles: Deep Dive — Plastic Poll ..read more

Fiji may be best known as a honeymoon getaway thanks to its stunning beaches and high-end resorts, but hidden beneath the waves are some of the most beautiful marine ecosystems in the world. Over 4,000 square miles of coral reefs sprawl across more than 300 islands offering unforgettable island hopping adventures brimming with snorkeling opportunities.  Whether you want to snorkel in Fiji’s palm-shaded lagoons or amongst walls of soft-coral plunging to ocean depths, there’s an adventure for all experience levels. Planning for Snorkeling in Fiji Mild year-round climate, refreshing water-te ..read more

Members of the Oceanic Society team recently traveled to Pattaya, Thailand to lead a behavior change training workshop for sea turtle conservation professionals who were gathered from around the world to participate in the 42nd International Sea Turtle Symposium. The workshop, titled “Developing Behavior Change Strategies for Sea Turtle Conservation,” was organized and led by Team BEACH, a partnership between Oceanic Society, Human Nature Group, and Disney Conservation. With support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Sea Turtle SAFE program, we c ..read more