5th February 2021, London: Aurora Expeditions, Australia's pioneering expedition cruise operator is offering a unique opportunity to meet and explore Baja California with world-renowned marine conservationist, biologist, oceanographer and explorer Dr Sylvia Earle.

Dr Earle will be a special guest on a 9-day sailing in and around Baja California and the Sea of Cortez (4-12 May 2022) onboard its new, small expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle, named to honour of Dr Earle's long-standing commitment to ocean conservation and marine regeneration.

Dr Earle has a deep personal connection to the Sea of Cortez. In 2009 it was nominated as the first 'Hope Spot' for Mission Blue and The Sylvia Earle Alliance. Since then, Mission Blue has created a global network of 136 marine protected areas, vital ecosystems that are critical to the health of the ocean.

Expeditioners joining the voyage will enjoy fascinating once-in-a-lifetime on-board talks given personally by Dr Earle and have the opportunity to join her on immersive excursions both on land and water in the Gulf of California.

The voyage offers the chance for explorers to see and learn about this extraordinarily rich and biodiverse marine environment and begin their personal journey as 'ambassadors' for ocean conservation. Dr Earle will share her views on the significance of climate change and why the Sea of Cortez, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was her first designated Hope Spot.

Aurora Expeditions and the new ship Sylvia Earle will support Mission Blue's conservation efforts with wildlife mapping and location photography and video, above and below the water. Onboard 'Citizen Science' projects, run by the expedition team leaders will support marine research to ensure the critical health of the ocean.

“By travelling with Aurora Expeditions on Sylvia Earle, I feel it is an incredible opportunity for people to learn about these extraordinary marine habitats in situ, and as a result, become ambassadors for protecting them,” says Dr Earle.

“Ninety-seven per cent of the Earth's water is the ocean, it is our life support system, and we need to learn everything we can about it,” she adds. “I see great synergies in working closely with a company that shares my vision for the future and which is, from the top down, passionate about the marine environment.”

Aurora Expeditions is planning voyages to other key 'Hope Spots' including:

• Costa Rica (Golfo Dulce) and Panama (Coiba Island)
• Raja Ampat (Coral Triangle and Misool Private Marine Reserve)
• North-West Passage
• Svalbard (Spitsbergen)
• Canada (Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef)

The David Attenborough of the marine world, Dr Sylvia Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; has been a National Geographic explorer-in-residence since 1998, and was named by Time magazine as its first 'Hero of the Planet' the same year.

“Our goal is literally to inspire a network of hope – one place, one community, one vision at a time – but together around the world,” says Dr. Earle. “And by linking people, sharing stories, and carrying evidence of success or problems from one place to another, we get this global 'brains trust' working to get us from where we are to a better place.”

For further press information please contact Cedar Tree Public Relations:
Frangelica Flook: Frangelica.flook@cedartreepr.com
T: +44 (0)20 7978 4534, M: +44 (0) 7747 606 898

Notes to Editors

Imagery:

External renders can be downloaded here. 

Internal renders can be downloaded here. 

Headshots of Dr Sylvia Earle can be downloaded here

Itinerary images can be downloaded here.

About Aurora Expeditions

Aurora Expeditions is an Australian-owned adventure company founded by renowned mountaineer and explorer, Greg Mortimer, and his wife Margaret. Over the past 29 years, it has become the leader in small-group, expedition-style travel to polar regions and other wild, remote places including Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands, the Arctic (European and Canadian), Alaska, the Russian Far East, Costa Rica, Baja California and West Papua.

Aurora Expeditions offers its passengers intimate experiences in remote destinations through a range of flexible, innovative itineraries. Some voyages offer a range of experiences including mountain climbing, sea kayaking, camping, photography, polar snorkelling and scuba diving. Aurora Expeditions' expert naturalists, geologists, historians, guides and crew help unlock the wonders of these special places through a range of lectures, discussions and land or zodiac excursions. 

Committed to the preservation of the environment, Aurora Expeditions was one of the founders of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), which created the environmental protocols for all commercial visitors to Antarctica. It is also a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO). In doing so, Aurora Expeditions encourages its passengers to respectfully visit the planet's wilderness areas and return as ambassadors charged with protecting these important regions. 

Aurora Expeditions has recently updated its health and safety protocol, as well as implementing a new deposit protection scheme. Further information can be found here: https://www.auroraexpeditions.co.uk/why-travel-with-us/health-safety/

For Bookings:

For more information or to book: www.auroraexpeditions.co.uk

Telephone: 0808 189 2005

Email: info@auroraexpeditions.co.uk

Sylvia Earle, The Ship and The Explorer

Due to sail on her maiden voyage in November 2021, this new ship honours the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Dr Sylvia Earle. As the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and named by Time Magazine as its first 'Hero for the Planet' in 1998, this vessel, named after her, pays tribute to Sylvia's long-standing conservation efforts for marine protected areas and ocean wildlife. Dr Sylvia Earle is actively involved in the development of her namesake.

The 'Sylvia Earle' is the second small expedition ship to join the Aurora Expeditions fleet and features the patented ULSTEIN X-BOW®. This unique bow design in combination with Rolls Royce dynamic stabilisers offers unrivalled stability and comfort* on ocean crossings. The X-BOW® cuts through the swell, minimising vibrations and disturbances, and makes quicker transits through waves. This helps reduce fuel consumption by up to 60%*.

The ship will visit many new destinations within the Aurora Expeditions program including Alaska, Baja California, the Russian Far East, Raja Ampat and West Papua.

For more information visit http://www.auroraexpeditions.co.uk/