The Nautilus Explorer conducted the first boat expedition to Natividad Island in July 2011. The Nautilus visit is part of a project developed by the Fishing Cooperative Buzos y Pescadores (ByP), Comunidad y Biodiversidad (COBI - www.cobi.org.mx), and Reef Check (RC). The goal is to develop low-scale sustainable tourism on the island to compensate part of the investment in two marine reserves established by ByP in 2006.

Accompanying the crew and 13 passengers were two ByP fisher-divers, and two RC staff members. The group logged some great dives around the San Benito Islands before arriving in Natividad. Once there, they dove in the two marine reserves and other sites around the island. The group also went on a tour of the the island's highlights and ate a hearty meal at the local restaurant.

The recertification of eight ByP fisher-divers on the underwater survey methodology was completed right after the departure of the Nautilus. Once recertified and after a well deserved one-day break, the fisher-divers surveyed their two reserves and four control sites (where they do fish) for the 6th year.

We thank the Cooperative Buzos y Pescadores, the Natividad Community, Comunidad y Biodiversidad, Mike Lever and the crew and passengers of the Nautilus Explorer for making this a memorable field season.

Photos by C. Wisniewski and M. Luna