Good morning ocean explorers! I wanted to give an update regarding booking your Floating Lab field trip. Rachel is back from summer break and ready to take your reservation for your schools trip. We will begin running Floating Lab trips beginning in January and end in May, but don't wait to book trips sell out quickly. The best way to get the ball rolling is to email Rachel at rachel.gustafson@sdcoe.net. If email isn't your thing, give her a call at (858) 290-5986
The students today got to observe this Myliobatis californica aka bat ray. The bat ray is found in muddy or sandy bottoms along the eastern Pacific coast.
To learn more about this and the many other inhabitants of San Diego bay, get your class, club or large group to reserve one of our 4 hour labs. For more information contact the San Diego County Office of Education at (858) 290-5986
Instructor Maggie is showing an aplysia californica, or in English a California sea hare. This is a mollusk or also known as a sea slug.
To learn more about the sea hare and other inhabitants of San Diego bay, contact the San Diego County Office of Education and book you class, club or large group on one of our 4 hour labs.
Awesome catch!
We are still in jeopardy of not having vessels to operate the Floating Lab from. This not only effects passenger vessels, it will eventually effect ALL vessels with an internal combustion system:
i.e- outboard motor, jet ski...etc. Please RSVP and help put a stop to the destruction of livelihoods.ACTION ALERT – IMPORTANT VIRTUAL HEARING!
On Thursday, March 24th, the future of commercial passenger boat businesses will be determined.
As you well know, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has drafted passenger harbor craft engine regulations that are structurally and economically infeasible, requiring boats to be removed from service as soon as 2023.
These regulations apply to all commercial passenger boats commonly associated with sportfishing, whale watching, scuba diving and eco-tourism.
The strength of our numbers and message is our only chance to convince the CARB board that lower emissions can be achieved without harming small businesses and coastal economies – and this requires your active participation.
RSVP for VIRTUAL CARB Hearing: www.savefishing.com
Thank you on behalf of boat captains and their crew!
Today at NOON! Come to the Point Loma waterfront and show your support of whale watching, Marine science education trips, diving, fishing and passenger transportation.Join a Save Our Boats Press Conference; San Diego, Sept. 18th
Join the Sportfishing Association of California for a press conference that will draw public attention to the California Air Resources Board’s controversial passenger sportfishing boat engine regulations that are economically unfeasible for family-operated businesses -- and over 20,000 anglers have signed the Save Our Boats Petition!
Passage of these regulations will mark the end for many sportfishing boats, denying anglers access to offshore fishing!
Meet up at H&M Landing in San Diego, Sept. 18th, Noon to 1:00 p.m. to sign a petition that asks Governor Newsom to Save Our Boats. Details/RSVP for this event on the following link.
CLICK HERE bit.ly/2VPA9C0
If you are a San Diego angler, SHARE this post!
I have been very quiet on this page because we are just unsure if we will be able to run Floating Lab field trips in 2022 due to COVID-19 restrictions still in question. I have some upcoming meetings planned and may have a clearer plan in a few weeks.
In the meantime, this is what we are up against now. As a small business that has been shuttered since March of 2020 this would put an end to Floating Lab and this hands on learning experience, access to the vessels that operate the trips would become too expensive for this short field trip. Or if the vessels have to be decommissioned it will limit access to the ocean by boat in California overall. Please check out this flyer and follow this link for much more information than what I can provide in this short post and to sign the petition. www.savefishing.com
The Floating Lab is still on pause for 2021...to say that we are disappointed is an understatement. But in the name of safety for everyone involved we have to do what is right and remain closed.
I have had many groups reach out to me about when we will resume our ever popular field trip and I really don't have an answer...not yet is all I know. With most San Diego County schools still shut down for in person teaching with no end in sight, not yet is the only response I can give.
It scares me think of the future, and to wonder if we will ever be able to run our trips again. I miss them, the staff misses them, even though most have moved on to other means of employment.
I hope you will bear with me, we want to see you, and show you all the wonderful things that San Diego harbor has hidden below it's surface...just not yet.~~Dina
We are thinking ahead to 2021. We will be scheduling trips on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only starting in January. To maintain social distancing we have limited our class size to 30 total participants. If your class, group or club would like to schedule a floating lab for 2021 please email info@sandiegofloatinglab.com, if you prefer to call (619) 889-1212, but know that I am working limited hours so a call back may take a few days.
We are also actively recruiting instructors for the upcoming season. Marine science/biology degree preferred, advanced knowledge of pacific coast animals and environment mandatory. Drug free, clean cut, transportation, all mandatory. Send resume to info@sandiegofloatinglab.com
Good afternoon! Hope you all are staying safe and sane. I wanted to update you on the status of Floating Lab. We are currently abiding by the San Diego and state guidelines and have ceased operations until it is deemed safe to resume.
Many of you may have tried to call the San Diego County Office of Education regarding rescheduling your upcoming Floating Lab field trip. Please know that the SDCOE is closed and all voicemails will not be returned until the office is re-opened. The scheduler has access to her emails and I would recommend reaching out via an email message if you need a quick-ish response. rachel.gustafson@sdcoe.net
We will update as information rolls in, but for now all trips are on pause.
We are in close contact with the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) regarding Floating Lab trips. We will continue to run trips as scheduled until notified otherwise.
Floating Lab is contracted by SDCOE, but we accept all districts and even out of town schools, groups, and clubs.
The boat staff at Floating Lab has been very diligent in keeping everything clean and disinfected by sanitizing between each trip, student and staff safety is and has always been our first priority.#COVID19: San Diego Unified schools will close, effective Monday, March 16, in an effort
to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and will reopen April 6th, unless conditions call for an extension. Later today, we will be providing students, parents and staff with more information on plans to continue providing learning opportunities for students during the closure, including preparing to continue providing nutrition and
other supports through family resource facilities.
We have set up a new website specifically for district updates and guidance regarding the novel #coronavirus / COVID-19. This page will be updated regularly: sites.google.com/sandi.net/covid19/district-policy
Happy Monday from Floating Lab! I know since the weather is warming up, that it's tempting to throw on those sandals and let your toes fly free, but onboard the boat sandals, flip flops, soccer slippers, etc are HIGHLY impractical. Just wanted to remind everyone that closed toe shoes are required for everyone going out on the boats this season. Wet surfaces, non-skid decks, heavy equipment, rocking boats, all require proper footwear.
Last week we found the spot on the Floating Lab. These marine invertebrate are California spiny lobsters, panulirus interruptus.
Learn more about the California spiny lobster and the other inhabitants of San Diego bay on a 4 hour Floating Lab. There is space available for your classroom, club, troop or large group. Call or email Rachel at (619) 590-3911 or Rachel.gustafson@sdcoe.net
This catch was not planned and it did not take all day to pick these up out of the water. All of these expensive tokens of love were found on a 3 hour whale watching trip by @bluehorizonsportfishing Please find another way to show your love to your sweetie, marine life will not appreciate the token when they swallow this thinking it's a shiny fish.
#balloonsblow #dontreleasethem #lovenotesinstead #plantaflower #
I work in the forests of Oregon and started carrying a bag to collect all the mylar ballons I find. I have found over a hundred in the last two years. Thanks for raising awareness! ❤️
Another beautiful creature of the sea the students collected today.
A Flabellinopsis iodinea.
The students this morning were blessed with a horned shark and a banded guitar fish. Does anyone know their scientific names?
These two animals are closely related to each other, but distinctively different. The top is the horn shark and the bottom is a banded guitarfish. Both animals reside in San Diego Bay.
Learn more about these animals and the other inhabitants of San Diego Bay on a 4 hour Floating Lab.
There is still space available for your class, club, troop, or large group. Contact us at (619) 889-1212 or info@sandiegofloatinglab.com for more information.
Nice catch!
The lucky students caught a pipefish (syngnathinae) this afternoon.
This banded guitarfish is part of the Rhinobatidae family and resides in the shallow waters of the Eastern Pacific.
Come check out the banded guitarfish and the other residents of the San Diego Bay on a 3 or 4 hour Floating Lab. For information call (619) 889-1212 or email info@sandiegofloatinglab.com
Almost as good as a pot of gold. Students say we are rich.
Are they going back in the ocean?
The Floating Lab is searching for qualified team members. We are looking to fill 2 positions.
*Floating Lab instructor
*Floating Lab deckhand/assistant
*The Floating Lab is a seasonal program that runs from January-May. This is a hands on, outdoor position onboard a Floating Lab vessel. You must be able to adapt to weather and sea conditions.
*To be considered for the instructor or deckhand position you will be required to pass a pre employment drug test and will be randomly tested while employed.
*The instructor position requires you to have a bachelor's degree and have some marine science/biology/ecology education and experience.
*Deckhand/assistant instructor no formal education required. The position will require you to be able to work independently, lift at least 50 pounds un assisted, assist the lead instructor in class education, tie and untie an 85 foot boat without assistance.
All inquiries send resume to info@sandiegofloatinglab.com
Wow! Summer is almost over and we are starting to get a lot of requests for reservations. The Floating Lab starts back up for a limited fall session from November 1-15 and then full time beginning January 6 and will run through May 31. There are 3 session times to choose from, 8:30 AM, 1 PM, and 5:30PM. All sessions are 4 hours in length and can accommodate up to 40 total (including chaperones and teachers) per vessel.
Give Linsey a call at (619) 491-3183 to reserve your Floating Lab or email linsey.santos@sdcoe.net
This snowy egret is looking for a snack on the back deck of the boat.
Sometimes we see more than ocean life on the Floating Lab. This Navy aircraft was landing as we were leaving San Diego Harbor.
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#flynavy #sandiegoharbor #northislandnas #sandiegofloatinglab #floatinglab #floatingclassroom #marinescience
today I went on the floating lab and saw a huge naval ship and some and some parked submerines
Seahorse is the name given to this species of small marine fish in the genus Hippocampus.
Learn more about the seahorse and the many residents that inhabit San Diego bay on a 4 hour Floating Lab. Call Rachel at (619) 491-3183 for reservations and information or email info@sandiegofloatinglab.com.
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#sandiegofloatinglab #sandiego #sandiegobay #hippocampus #seahorse #oceanodysseysd #oldglory #marinescience #marineeducation #floatinglab #floatingclassroom
The mantis shrimp, or stomapod, are a marine crustacean. Some species have specialized calcified "clubs" that can strike with great power, while others have sharp forelimbs used to capture prey.
To learn more about the mantis shrimp and the many more animals and plant life that live in San Diego harbor call Rachel at the San Diego Office of Education and reserve your classrooms Floating Lab today (619) 491-3183
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#sandiegofloatinglab #sandiego #sandiegoharbor #marinescience #marineeducation #floatinglab #floatingclassroom #outdooreducation
Crayola!!! (That's what we named all the male mantis shrimps) Do you guys still let the kids touch them? They loved that!!
Have you booked your San Diego Floating Lab trip yet? Call the office today and get on the schedule (619) 491-3183. You will not want your students to miss out on this amazing hands on learning experience! You can also email rachel.gustafson@sdcoe.net
The sarcastic fringehead, neoclinus blanchardi, is given it's name due to it's aggressive behavior and distinct appendages over it's eyes.
Learn more about this animal and the many residents that inhabit San Diego bay on a 4 hour Floating Lab. Call Rachel at (619) 491-3183 for reservations and information or email info@sandiegofloatinglab.com