You’re considering taking the plunge and embarking on an adventure of a lifetime with Oceanic Society. Undoubtedly, you have questions. Although there is no “typical” day and each individual tour is different, below we address some of the most common queries – starting with the big picture then outlining specific FAQs. In case we missed something, or if you have questions regarding a specific itinerary, do not hesitate to contact us directly.
Ecotourism. What is it? Why Oceanic Society?
Ecotourism, also called sustainable tourism or responsible travel, is a unique type of travel that focuses on providing immersive, educational experiences in nature, while equally supporting environmental conservation, community well-being, and sustainable economies.
Oceanic Society is a pioneer in designing ecotourism experiences, having launched our expeditions program in 1972. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, our motives are a bit different than your typical for-profit travel business. We see tourism as a unique opportunity to build a global community dedicated to protecting our planet. Our work supports local economies to value wildlife as an asset rather than a consumable, funds critical conservation programs (such as for sea turtles), and each traveler directly sponsors the removal of 200 lbs. of plastic waste from oceans. Altogether, each booking supports ocean conservation in the destination, as well as groundbreaking global programs.
Read our code of ethics and about our unique sustainable travel model to understand more about how your adventure with Oceanic Society is both meaningful for you and good for the ocean.
Education & Interpretation. Who leads the trips? What will I learn?
Since our origins leading sailing expeditions in the late 1960s, Oceanic Society’s trips have been led by passionate researchers, conservationists, and environmental educators with deep knowledge, dedication, and experience. Our naturalist guides are a big part of the Oceanic Society experience, and over the years we have cultivated a collection of local and international guides who help make each trip educational, safe, and memorable.
A typical Oceanic Society tour will include one or more international/global naturalist(s) who bring a worldly perspective on marine conservation and biology and stay with the group throughout the trip, as well as one or more local researchers and/or naturalists, who bring an unmatched understanding of the communities and ecosystems we explore. We will often engage additional local experts while visiting parks, communities, or engaging in specific activities depending on the nature of the trip.
Most of our travelers are deeply curious about the world and eager to learn about marine biology, ocean conservation topics, and the people and places we are visiting. We therefore make a concerted effort to provide nature interpretation and to offer additional opportunities for learning through presentations and discussions during the trip.
Our mission as a nonprofit is to deepen the connections between people and nature, which is best done by allowing travelers to experience the marvels of nature firsthand, as part of a community, while offering the opportunity to learn about and discuss those experiences after they are over. We won’t lecture you, but education is interwoven throughout the journey and facilitated by naturalists who understand the latest field research.
Get to know our team.
Trip Design. What can I look forward to?
On every Oceanic Society trip, you can look forward to immersive natural experiences that bring you close, ethically and sustainably, to wildlife wonders. Nature operates on its own schedule, making certainty of wildlife encounters impossible for any tour operator to promise. However, our trips are specifically timed and designed to put our travelers in the best places and at the best times to experience (to the highest level of certainty possible) wildlife.
Many tours also include intimate experiences with local communities and cultures, many of which have long-standing ocean traditions. Wherever possible, we hope that our travelers experience unique ways of life and gain a greater appreciation for the past, present, and future connections between people and the natural world.
Our tours have earned many awards over 50 years, including six trips named on National Geographic’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime and Oceanic Society nominated for Conde Nast Traveler’s Best Ecotourism Operator.
Activity. How busy is a trip? What are the physical demands?
Activity levels vary from trip to trip, but as an overall ethos, Oceanic Society tours focus on immersive activities while providing enough “down time” between experiences for rest and soaking in the setting. Over the years, we’ve found that most of our travelers prefer to be active, enjoying lots of activities with occasional downtime. Travelers can always opt in or out of any activity, depending on their energy levels or preference.
Excursions are not typically physically demanding – nothing is arduous – but they are active. Some activities, such as swimming with whales in Tonga, require you to be a strong swimmer, but most activities, like snorkeling at coral reefs, only require basic swimming competency.
One concern we often are asked about relates to getting in and out of snorkel/dive boats. All of the tender boats we use are equipped with sturdy ladders, and guides are always at the ready to help snorkelers handle their gear and safely re-enter the boats. We are never in a hurry.
For each trip you can request a detailed itinerary on the trip webpage, which provides additional detail about trip activities, or you can always contact our travel staff directly with specific questions. We can often accommodate travelers with physical limitations and are happy to discuss your specific abilities and needs to help make sure you select the right trip and have the best experience possible.
Who. Am I the right fit? Average age? Group size?
Oceanic Society trips are for anyone curious about nature. Most important is a spirit of adventure, a curiosity about the world, and care for the wellbeing of the environment.
Most of our travelers are 50 and over, and a mix of couples, solo travelers, family members, and small groups. It is not uncommon to have a range of ages, from 20 to 80-year-olds, on the same trip. Our family trips are specifically designed to make sure all generations have age-appropriate activities, including young children. In addition, custom private trips can be specifically tailored to the ages and interests of your group, and such trips can often be arranged at little additional cost from our normal group rates—contact us to discuss your needs.
We are big proponents of small groups, and offer some of the smallest group sizes out there, with our tour groups rarely exceeding 12 people. Small groups make for better experiences for our travelers, while also helping to minimize our impacts on the environments we visit. Some trips have smaller sizes than others, which is often dictated by the size of the liveaboard ship or other accommodation or transportation constraints.
Insurance & Safety. Do I need traveler’s insurance? What protocols are taken during the tour?
Firstly, we closely monitor the safety at each destination and never visit any places that are considered unsafe. We collaborate with reputable in-country operators with safety protocols in place, and are experts in the environments we visit, ensuring that our trips are safe for both travelers and the wildlife they see. That being said, accidents can happen anywhere in the world – which is why we require all individuals to have travelers’ insurance.
Traveler’s insurance must be acquired independently; see our recommendations. Insurance provides peace of mind in case of the unexpected, protecting you and your investment under a range of circumstances that include flight delays, cancellations due to sickness, or serious medical emergencies.
In addition, we also strongly advise all of our travelers to purchase a Divers Alert Network (DAN) Membership. DAN membership (for divers and non-divers) offers $150,000 Medical Evacuation Coverage on any trip taken while a member travels more than 50 miles from home (including for all listed family members with a family membership), assistance through DAN TravelAssist®, a subscription to Alert Diver magazine and access to DAN’s insurance services. Membership is just $40/ year for individuals and $60/ year for families.
For questions regarding scenarios related to specific itineraries, please contact us.
Accommodation. Types of accommodation? Mobility limitations?
Accommodations on our trips are generally mid-range to high-end. Depending on the trip this could be Master or Deluxe cabins on a liveaboard boat, beachfront cabanas at resorts, or more modest bunk rooms at research stations. In all cases our focus is on maximizing the wildlife experiences. As such, we are often taking travelers to remote corners of the world, which on occasion can limit the presence of modern conveniences.
If you have questions regarding a specific trip’s accommodation, accessibility, bathroom specifications, or sleeping arrangements, please contact us.
Food. Special dietary needs? Menus?
Food, while not the focus of our trips, is a very important consideration, and depending on our location you can expect a diverse selection of international favorites along with choice local cuisine.
Some tours include a mixture of pre-arranged meals as well as free time for travelers to explore the setting and dine where they wish. For set menus, we can almost always accommodate special dietary needs—such as food allergies or preference—with advanced knowledge. For a seamless experience, please inform our team of any dietary restrictions before the tour. When dining independently in a host community, our guides can help you find a restaurant that suits your specific needs.
Costs & Logistics. What is included in the price? What do I need to plan?
Cost inclusions and exclusions vary by trip. The prices listed on each itinerary include most or all costs associated with the trip, but never include: your airfare to/from the tour start and end points; tips for your guide(s); travel insurance; or travel incidentals.
Travelers are responsible for arriving at the destination (we will arrange for airport pick-up once you arrive). For almost all our trips, expenses like park fees, accommodations, guided excursions, and dining – unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page – are already paid for and organized by Oceanic Society. We always work to have our trip prices be as inclusive as possible, for example including all meals and soft drinks, gear rentals, and special activities. That said, occasionally there may be additional charges for gear rental, trip extension, or special activities. Our team is happy to provide you with details about cost inclusions/exclusions for any of our trips, and this information is typically provided on our detailed itineraries, which are available on request.
We always provide trip-specific guidance regarding tipping and cash needs so that you can plan ahead and avoid any surprises.
Terms & Conditions. When are payments due? What is your refund policy? Where can I see the fine print?
To see all of our terms and conditions in detail, including details about payment schedules, refunds, cancellations and more, please review our Expeditions Terms and Conditions. Note that there are separate terms and conditions for our Farallon Islands (California) whale watching day trips (available here).
More Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you offer custom/private trips?
Oceanic Society arranges many custom/private trips and safaris for our clients, typically traveling in groups of four or more, for nearly all our itineraries. In addition, our Galapagos Islands cruises are available for individuals, couples, and groups on almost any date. Contact us directly if you are interested in a planning a custom trip.
Do you offer SCUBA diving as an experience on tours?
Yes, Oceanic Society offers scuba diving on several itineraries. Travelers who wish to participate in scuba diving must already be dive certified. If you are interested in learning about which trips include diving experiences, please contact us.
I’m a solo traveler. Can I have my own room? Will you try to match me with another solo traveler?
It is almost always possible to have a single room/cabin for an additional fee (single supplement fee). If you prefer to be matched with another solo traveler to avoid paying the single supplement fee, we are happy to assist in matching you with a roommate of the same gender, if available. Communicating your preference ahead of time will allow for us to best arrange for your specific needs.
When can I book my international flights? Do you help travelers with flight bookings?
Travelers should wait until they receive a final trip confirmation from Oceanic Society before booking their international flights. Your departure will typically be confirmed 4 months prior to the trip’s departure.
We do not book international flights for travelers. However, we are happy to offer flight advice, review your options prior to booking, or refer you to a travel agent.
What if there are not enough people on the trip?
If a trip is undersubscribed, we may offer the option to pay an additional small group surcharge so that the trip can run as planned, receive a full refund, or transfer your full payment to another Oceanic Society expedition. In any event, your trip fees are refundable in the event that Oceanic Society cancels the trip (for undersubscription or any other reason).
We always do our best to fill our trips and provide as much advance notice as possible in the event of undersubscription. It is rare for an Oceanic Society tour to be canceled.
Do I need my own snorkeling gear? Do you provide rentals?
We strongly recommend that travelers bring (and test in advance) their own snorkeling or diving gear for any trip that includes these activities. This will ensure the best fit, comfort, quality, and overall experience.
If you require rental of equipment, we can almost always arrange this with advanced notice. In this case, please contact us directly ahead of your planned trip. Before each trip we will provide you with a trip-specific packing list to make sure you are fully prepared for your Oceanic Society adventure.