Web Manager | Seahawk

Isla Del Coco – January 2026

by Web Manager | Jun 3, 2026 | Fun Trips

Please enjoy this video about Seahawk’s visit to Isla Del Coco in January 2026.

Paradise. Eden. Utopia. Nirvana. Elysium or even cloud nine. These terms are all often used to describe idyllic locations or states of supreme happiness and contentment. All can be used to describe Cocos island. Located 340 nm from our starting point of Papagayo, Costa Rica, this island has everything. The amazing dive sites, the incredible scenery, never ending waterfalls in a luscious jungle background, no inhabitants, just 29 rangers on rotation protecting paradise (and the ‘Horde de Lima’ the pirate treasure that has never been found).

Two boobie birds resting on the pulpit of the boat

When we arrived at Chatham Bay on the morning of the 29^th December the sun was shining and it was almost like arriving in a world similar to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s : The Lost World. I was not surprised that the opening scene of Jurassic Park was filmed here. The sun was shining, we did a check dive and had a visit from the Rangers who presented to us that the wildlife was thriving at the moment. They also highlighted some of their struggles with illegal fishing and unwelcome visitors. Cocos has been a National Park since 1978 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, these labels do not protect the waters or the wildlife from harm but the Rangers do their best to protect what they are most passionate about. It was immediately obvious the love the Rangers and our guide for the trip, Carlos, had for the environment they ardently protect. The sunshine did not last for long.

The heavens opened for nearly 6 whole days. The unique ecology of Cocos means it is the only island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific with a tropical rainforest, which also explains why Seahawk’s scuppers were full and freeing ports overflowing. The spectacle of the island increased no end with huge, powerful waterfalls appearing around each corner, bird activity was still high and the island was thriving……. in dry season. The last time Seahawk visited Cocos in 2021, it was wet season, and yes it was dry and sunny the whole trip! The joys of the tropics!

The weather did not affect morale onboard and the challenging dives kept us focused. A number of dive sites on Cocos are among the most famous in the world. Sharks were abundant on each dive. World famous Alcyone, I believe named after the Jaques Cousteau Society expedition vessel, did not disappoint with lighter current than previously, Dos Amigos was as challenging as ever, Manuelita Gardens beautiful as ever but I feel that throughout the boat everyone looked forward to diving Dirty Rock. From scalloped hammerheads, giant oceanic manta rays to tiny barnacle blennies (Sarah’s favourites), Galapagos sharks, white tips, silkies and much more, Dirty Rock had it all, every time.

However, the special moment for me on this trip was not underwater. I had longed for so many years to dive with hammerheads but this was trumped by a trek to a waterfall. It had adventure about it from the onset. We could not land the tender on the beach and had to swim ashore and then time the beach break to prevent being slammed on the pebbles. This was then followed by a trek through the flowing stream, scrambling over boulders, slipping on smooth submerged rocks. Clambering ever closer until an awesome waterfall appeared with a cool pool to swim in. Never have I felt so close to raw nature as in this moment that very few get to experience. The forest was bustling with life, the waterfall so powerful yet so refreshing, bird calls everywhere, the sound of the jungle deafening yet tranquil at the same time. The island was very much alive. Wading back down the stream towards the pebble beach I turned regularly to catch one more glimpse of Paradise, the Paradise we all need to protect not just the 29 who choose to.

We were soaked through for over a week but hey we are all divers.

Written by Adam Cowley

Chief Officer

Canada – Summer 2025

by Web Manager | Mar 2, 2026 | Fun Trips

Please enjoy this video about Seahawk’s visit to Canada in Summer 2025.

After a year in the South Pacific, Seahawk turned north, swapping warm turquoise waters for the crisp air and long summer days of Canada’s west coast. A brief stop in Ensenada for hull repairs behind us, we crossed into British Columbia and into a dramatically different world.

Pacific white-sided dolphins surfed in our wake, humpback whales breached in the distance, and glacier runoff transformed the sea into luminous shades of turquoise. Logs drifted silently past, curious seals surfaced to inspect us, and the vast forests felt wonderfully untamed.

Ashore, we wandered through Rebecca Spit gathering wild blackberries and kayaked quiet rivers, always mindful that this is bear country. Near Knight Inlet, we observed grizzlies and cubs from a safe distance.

British Columbia’s coastal waters are also home to orcas. The small southern resident population is critically endangered, with only around 74 individuals remaining. Their primary food source, Chinook salmon, has declined significantly, placing immense pressure on their survival. Increased marine traffic and underwater noise add further strain. Without meaningful conservation efforts, their future is uncertain.

In contrast, Bigg’s orcas (also known as transient orcas) appear to be faring better. We were fortunate to encounter a pod near Thurston Bay, easily recognized by their distinctive dorsal fins and markings. It was an unexpected and uplifting moment during our journey south.

The natural beauty is stunning. But perhaps equally impressive is the demeanour of the people. Everyone we have met has been exceedingly friendly, welcoming, and kind. There is also a genuine generosity that transcends the need for conventional transactions. Mostly, though, it is the caring way members of the community treat each other that confirms a superior merit.

The Salmon Story

Salmon are woven into the fabric of this coastline. Local fishermen told us the runs have been thin this year, a reflection of broader declines affecting many species across the province. Fresh salmon was surprisingly hard to come by in British Columbia. We received a few puzzled looks when we asked locals if they had any salmon to spare from their catch. Later, we learned that trading or selling recreationally caught salmon is illegal, which quickly explained the awkward glances.

Wild salmon in British Columbia face mounting pressures: climate change, habitat degradation, historic overfishing, and the ongoing impact of open-net salmon farming. While recreational fishing is generally well-managed and localised, both historic commercial harvest and aquaculture practices have left lasting effects.

Open net pen farmed salmon is widely identified as a significant threat to wild salmon due to disease transmission, sea lice, pollution, genetic impacts from escapes, and other operational risks. It is frequently cited as a contributing factor in the decline of wild salmon populations in southern British Columbia. In response to these concerns, the Government of Canada has announced a plan to transition away from open net pen salmon farming in British Columbia’s coastal waters by June 30, 2029, with the stated goal of protecting wild salmon. More information on open net pen farmed salmon can be found at https://www.wildfirst.ca/issue/

Sources of Salmon:

Best Choice: Opt for wild-caught B.C. salmon certified either by Ocean Wise, the MSC, or Friend of the Sea.

Good Alternative: Choose land-based, closed-containment farmed salmon from suppliers like Kuterra or Sustainable Blue.

Avoid open-net pen–farmed salmon from B.C. due to ongoing environmental and ecological concerns.

Written by Nicola Watton and Kari Morgan

Chief Stewardess / Deckhand, Dive Instructor and Videographer

Palau – January 2025

by Web Manager | Feb 21, 2026 | Charitable Trips

Please enjoy this video about Seahawk’s visit to Palau in January 2025

Children of Palau,
I take this pledge,
As your guest,
to preserve and protect,
Your beautiful and unique
island home.
I vow to tread lightly,
act kindly and
Explore mindfully.
I shall not take
What is not given.
I shall not harm
what does not harm me.
The only footprints
I shall leave are those
That will wash away.
The Palau Pledge is a mandatory, eco-initiative stamped into the passports of all visitors upon arrival, requiring a signed vow to protect the island’s environment and culture.These words encapsulate the beliefs and ideals guiding Palawan people.The Palawan people are deeply connected to nature, practicing animism and subsistence farming. Their culture emphasizes ingasig (compassion), communal living, and, for many, a nomadic lifestyle in mountainous areas.

Seahawk arrived in Palau following a two day passage as the next destination following
her extensive cruise of Raja Ampat. The deep connection with nature and compassion
was immediately felt and experienced upon the first contact with the people of Palau
and in the cleanliness of their waters. The people of Palau care deeply for their
environment.

Recreational diving included reefs, caves and wrecks abound. Malakal and the spectacular Rock islands further south was the base for Seahawk from where dive missions were launched to the Ulong channel, German channel and to the outside of the barrier reef. The dive sites we explored on the outside of the lagoon included the German channel (Manta cleaning station), Big drop oQ, New drop oQ, Blue hole and Blue corner. Spectacular scenery and plentiful life would be an understatement, but dying coral was evident.

The Rock Islands of Palau were formed by a combination of geological processes, including volcanic uplift, coral reef growth, and erosion. Volcanic activity created an underwater mountain range, which was then covered by coral reefs over time. As sea levels changed, the coral-covered mountain range was uplifted, exposing it to the surface and forming the iconic rock islands. Further shaping of the islands occurred through erosion by wind, waves, and biological activity, resulting in the distinctive features like mushroom shapes and undercut bases.

The channel was created in the early 20th century by German colonial administrators to facilitate phosphate mining and transportation. It was built using blasting and dredging methods. Today it is the primary access to the dive sites that bring in plenty of eco-tourism visitors.

Seahawk engaged with the local Palau International Coral Reef Centre (PICRC), to learn more about the land, its people and current science projects. PICRC’s vision – “Empowered Ocean Stewardship that Sustains People and Inspires the World” was very clear and immediately apparent, these guys are serious about taking care of their environment and help to make it more sustainable in a changing world. We learned about the amazing work they are doing, identifying temperature resistant coral species, growing these species and planting them out on their reefs, to assist in making their environment more robust to the coming changes was one of many projects they are busy with. Please look them up and assist if you can at https://picrc.org/

Seahawk hosted a lunch onboard together with a team from PICRC and Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, currently the Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy, Micronesia and Polynesia. It was very informative and it is great to see the collaboration between the two groups today working towards a more sustainable future and assisting their environment to be more resilient to the future.

Written by Captain Jako Fouché

Rotational Captain

Great Barrier Reef 2024/2025

by Web Manager | Feb 20, 2026 | Fun Trips

Please enjoy this video about Seahawk’s cruise around the Great Barrier Reef between October 2024 and January 2025.

There are few places on Earth that feel truly otherworldly. The Great Barrier Reef is one of them.

Stretching more than 2,300 kilometres along Queensland’s coastline, it is the largest coral reef system on the planet, a vast mosaic of over 3,000 reefs and hundreds of islands scattered across brilliant turquoise water. From above, it looks almost abstract. Beneath the surface, it is alive with colour, movement and intricate life.

Seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, sponge gardens and coral lagoons all weave together to form one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs themselves make up only a small percentage of the Marine Park, yet they are its vibrant heart, home to thousands of species that depend on each other for survival.

Established in 1975, the Marine Park now covers 344,400 square kilometres. It is carefully zoned and managed, balancing tourism, research and conservation. Rangers monitor reef health, protect cultural heritage sites and work to prevent illegal activity. But protection alone is not enough.

The Reef is under pressure.

Rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, a stress response that turns corals white and, if prolonged, can lead to their death. Recovery, once measured over decades, is now interrupted by the next heatwave before it can fully take hold. Agricultural runoff, coastal development, overfishing and powerful cyclones all add to the strain.

One of the Reef’s most formidable natural threats is the crown-of-thorns starfish, capable of consuming vast areas of coral during population outbreaks. Targeted control programs now protect hundreds of reefs each year, giving damaged areas a chance to recover.

Each spring, after a full moon and on carefully timed nights, millions of coral polyps release tiny egg and sperm bundles into the sea. The water fills with drifting life. Most will not survive, eaten by fish or carried away by currents, but those that do – settle onto the ocean floor and begin building the next generation of reef.

It is fragile, it is extraordinary, and its future depends not only on local protection, but on global action to address the climate forces reshaping it.

The Great Barrier Reef is not just a natural wonder; it is a living reminder of both the beauty of our planet and the responsibility we carry to protect it.

Written by Nicola Watton

Chief Stewardess

Kalig Coral Research Station – Indonesia

by Web Manager | Nov 26, 2025 | Indonesia, Scientific Trips

Please enjoy this video about Seahawk’s visit to the Kalig Coral Research Station in December 2024.

A Personal Reflection

I am thrilled to be making my first contribution to the Seahawk Mission Logs, and this entry is especially close to my heart.

To introduce myself, I am Sarah, and I work as the Second Stewardess aboard Seahawk. My connection to the ocean runs deep, but it truly began in 2014 when I moved to Australia and experienced my first dive on the Great Barrier Reef, not far from Airlie Beach. It was nothing short of magical. The coral was bursting with colour, and shimmering schools of fish surrounded me. If I told you I felt like I’d been transported into King Triton’s kingdom from The Little Mermaid, it wouldn’t be far from the truth.

But the reality of our changing oceans hit me just a year later. I returned to Airlie Beach to work on a dive vessel, same place, same waters, but a very different underwater landscape. Much of the reef was bleached and broken. There were still pockets of beauty, but large sections reminded me more of the Elephant Graveyard from The Lion King than the vibrant world I had first fallen in love with. (Yes, I’m a passionate diver and Disney enthusiast.)

That moment, ten years ago to the day, was when I truly understood how fragile these underwater ecosystems are, and how quickly they can change.

Which is why I am so proud to share this next chapter: SY Seahawk’s visit to Kalig Reef Station, a project at the forefront of coral research. The work being done here is pioneering. It’s focused on understanding coral resilience in the face of rising ocean temperatures, something that feels deeply personal to me and is urgently necessary for all of us who care about the ocean’s future.

At the Heart of Coral Conservation: Kalig Reef Station

On December 7th, 2024, we arrived at Kalig Reef Station aboard SY Seahawk, deep within the Misool Marine Reserve in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Raja Ampat is one of the most colourful and diverse underwater places on Earth, home to approximately 75% of the world’s coral species. Walking into this remote research station felt like a small piece of paradise, and we couldn’t wait to learn about the important work being done here and lend our assistance.

Kalig is run by the Misool Foundation, Indonesia’s only marine conservation group dedicated to saving these incredible reefs. The vibrant coral here supports an amazing array of marine life, from graceful manta rays and reef sharks to sparkling schools of fish that swirl like living rainbows.

The sheer biodiversity in these waters makes them a critical stronghold for global reef conservation. What is learned in Raja Ampat could inform coral protection strategies for threatened reefs all over the world.

Why Coral Matters, and Why It’s in Danger

You can identify healthy coral as it is full of tiny algae that give it energy and bright colours. When the water becomes too warm, coral becomes stressed and expels the algae, turning pale or white, a warning sign known as bleaching. If the heat keeps up, the coral can die, and with it, the entire reef ecosystem suffers.

These algae, called zooxanthellae, are not just passengers; they are essential partners in coral survival. Through photosynthesis, they provide up to 90% of the energy that corals need to grow and build reefs. When coral loses them, it’s like pulling the plug on a life-support system.

Seeing this fragile process up close was heartbreaking. Coral isn’t just a beautiful part of the ocean; it is the ocean’s foundation. Without it, countless marine creatures lose their homes and food. The work being done at Kalig Reef Station is crucial for giving coral reefs a fighting chance.

The Coral Resilience Trials: Hope in Science

Our visit centred on a groundbreaking project known as the Coral Resilience Trials. Scientists here are working to find out which types of coral can survive warmer ocean temperatures, a question that could determine the future of coral reefs worldwide.

We had the privilege of joining an inspiring team of scientists, including Jaka Fadli and Dzikra Fauzia. To help test coral resilience under controlled conditions, the guests and crew

from Seahawk assisted in the careful collection of coral samples. Two small fragments were taken from the same colony using garden shears, cut low enough on the branch to allow for replanting later. Back at the station, one fragment was placed in a tank set to match its natural ocean temperature. In contrast, the other was placed in a tank where the temperature was gradually increased by one degree Celsius each day, mimicking the heat stress corals may face in the warming oceans of the future.

This controlled trial setup allows researchers to isolate genetic differences in heat tolerance. Some corals bleach within days, while others retain their colour much longer, potentially indicating naturally heat-resistant strains that could be key to reef recovery in a warming climate.

By observing when the coral begins to bleach, turning white as it expels the algae it depends on, scientists can identify which individuals are more tolerant to rising temperatures. These insights help us understand which corals are best equipped to survive in a warming world.

Helping Reefs Heal: Reef Stars

To support coral growth, the team also uses special hexagonal steel frames called Reef Stars. These act like underwater scaffolding, helping broken coral pieces attach and grow back strong. Over time, these “reef spiders” help rebuild damaged areas faster, giving the reef a chance to recover.

Made from marine-grade rebar coated in sand, these structures are designed to mimic the natural reef typography, stabilising loose rubble and increasing coral survival rates. Field studies have shown that coral growth on Reef Stars can reach 25 cm per year, an impressive rate in reef terms.

A Personal Call to Action

One moment stayed with me: the realisation that fish can swim away from warmer waters, but coral can’t. It is fixed in place, vulnerable, and absolutely vital to ocean life.

This work isn’t just science, it is a survival plan. As we sailed away from Kalig, I felt a deep responsibility to share this story. Protecting coral reefs means protecting the oceans we all depend on.

If we want vibrant, thriving oceans for future generations, it starts with understanding and caring for coral today. Conservation isn’t just about saving something beautiful; it’s about saving life itself.