Imagine uncovering a new whale species or rescuing parakeets from extinction as part of a yacht charter. Citizen-scientist initiatives have been gaining traction in the charter industry, offering experiences ranging from part-time activities like counting sea turtles to providing onboard space for scientists to conduct important research in remote areas.
“There is definitely more interest in the science and conservation aspect,” says Ben Lyons of EYOS Expeditions in an interview with Robb Report. Lyons mentions a client who chartered the explorer yacht Legend to Antarctica and invited scientists from Conservation International to give onboard seminars. During the same trip, the client sponsored photographer Paul Nicklen to create a public-awareness campaign for Marine Protected Areas and hosted a Rolex Our World-Underwater scholar for three weeks to study penguins.
Other clients, according to Lyons, are willing to swap a luxury superyacht for time aboard a dedicated research vessel.
On a recent journey aboard the Pacific Yellowfin to the Great Bear Rainforest off British Columbia, a Cookson Adventures charter tracked spirit bears, recorded whale sounds, and learned about the commercial fishing practices that threaten the environment. “Having insights from a 20-year expert who can provide scientific context to what guests are seeing leaves a lasting impression,” says Nick Davies, managing director of Cookson Adventures, in a conversation with Robb Report.
A Pew Research Center study indicates that 14 percent of young U.S. adults participated in a citizen-science project over the past year. However, one of the main challenges for yacht charters is finding science projects that are both meaningful and enjoyable for guests, especially those with limited time.
Tagging manta rays and whale sharks in Indonesia offers instant excitement, while studying water samples under a microscope may not be as thrilling. “We’ve found that merging a luxury yacht experience with educational initiatives about the environment has the greatest impact,” says Steve Ebsworth, cofounder of Rascal Voyages. Their Exploration charter itineraries feature experts in various fields. Rascal’s first Conservation Voyages will partner with the Indonesian-based nonprofit SEA People in early 2025 to help restore coral reefs in Raja Ampat.
Some charters even add a second support vessel alongside the main yacht to accommodate scientists. For instance, Cookson’s five-week trip to Greenland this summer includes a support vessel with a helicopter. “With a heli, guests can dine on mountaintops, reach ice caps, and engage in studies on glaciology and polar bears,” says Davies. Activities include fitting satellite collars on polar bears and conducting aerial surveys to understand how the population has adapted to climate change.
In the Galapagos, Cookson worked with the national park and Darwin Research Center to relocate 500 tortoise hatchlings by helicopter as part of one client’s itinerary. Another charter involved an expedition to Wolf Volcano, where the guests’ helicopter allowed scientists to establish a research center on the caldera rim to monitor the pink iguana.
This cooperative arrangement extends to submersibles as well. In July 2023, a family who owns a submersible but not a yacht chartered a support vessel to transport their sub for conservation activities around Costa Rica. A scientific permit is required to operate a submersible in Cocos Island, but by partnering with the marine biology nonprofit Misión Tiburón, Origen Escapes arranged for the family to enjoy multiple underwater dives in exchange for allowing scientists to use their sub. “The biologists joined the guests and gathered valuable data on water temperature and shark behavior,” Origen Escapes managing director Gemma Cope tells Robb Report.
Since opening its waters to foreign charter yachts in 2021, Costa Rica has become a superyacht destination. Recent visitors include the motoryachts Baca and Lady B, with Christina O scheduled for a charter later this year that combines diving with conservation. “It’s a particular type of client that chooses to charter in Costa Rica,” says Cope. “Often, families want to develop skills for their kids, so we link exciting experiences to scientific projects with a positive, sustainable, and conservation-focused approach.”
The Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica, a key breeding ground for hammerhead sharks, offers guests the chance to tag juvenile sharks from June to September. “Kids love it, as they can track the sharks online for up to two years before they venture into open water,” Cope adds.
In some cases, conservation efforts depend on the support of yacht charters. “Without human intervention, the Vini Lorikeet [a parakeet species] in French Polynesia will go extinct, so if a yacht charter can help fill the $800,000 funding gap, it’s a win-win,” says Duncan Over, founder of Joro. His company’s partnership with Burgess Yachts combines Joro’s specialized land-based excursions with yacht charters.
Incorporating conservation into a charter does increase costs. For example, donations to Origen Escapes can range from $2,000 to $10,000 per experience. The company sees more participation from charterers than from superyacht owners.
One client has visited Costa Rica by yacht seven times. Another family charter included three conservation projects within a seven-day itinerary, such as reforestation projects, turtle conservation along the Osa Peninsula, and setting up cameras in the treetop canopy to study spider monkey behavior.
While these activities are thrilling for guests, the most significant impact on conservation comes from funding. A Joro charter to Papua New Guinea resulted in scholarships and funding for local children’s education. Others pledged $50,000 after spending a morning planting coral in French Polynesia. “What one client donates to conservation during a single charter is equivalent to what large commercial expedition cruise companies raise in an entire year,” notes Lyons.
