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This week’s night sky gave us a spectacular show,  the Harvest Supermoon, which peaked on the evening of October 6–7, 2025. The Harvest Moon is a full moon that gets its name from the extra light it once gave farmers to finish gathering their crops after sunset. This year’s event was extra special because it…

Calling all ocean lovers, quizmasters, and trivia buffs — join us Wednesday, October 8th at 6:30 PM for Marine Trivia hosted at Islander 71, and lead by crew from Barrier Island EcoTours. Gather your smartest team (2–6ish folks), flex your fins and facts, and compete for bragging…

Did you know that we take school groups on an unforgettable adventure into Charleston’s wild side! These 3–5 hour excursions mix hands-on science with sandy toes and salty breezes, giving students the chance to learn while exploring. We start our trip by boating through winding tidal creeks, where our guides pull up crab…

Did you know September 4th is National Wildlife Day? It was founded in 2005 by wildlife advocate Colleen Paige to raise awareness about endangered species and the urgent need for conservation. It also serves as a day of reflection on the incredible biodiversity that makes up our planet and the role humans play in protecting…

Did you know our waters are home to several species of cartilaginous fish belonging to the subclass Elasmobranchii? This unique group includes sharks, skates, and rays. Within it, rays and skates form a group called the Batoid fishes, instantly recognizable for their “dorsoventrally flattened” bodies — think of a swimming ravioli gliding through the water!…

Black skimmer!               With their striking black-and-white plumage and bright orange bills, Black Skimmers are often mistaken for the American Oystercatcher. But look a little closer, and you’ll spot a key difference…how they feed and fly! Unlike the Oystercatcher, which severs oysters open with its strong beak during a lowish…

Boating is one of the best ways to soak up sunshine and scenery, but safety should always come first. Before heading out, check the weather forecast, your vessel’s fueled up and in working order, and pack essential safety gear—like life jackets for every passenger, a throwable flotation device, and a whistle or horn. Make sure someone on land knows your plan (where you’re going and when you’ll be back), and never forget sunscreen, plenty of water, and a fully charged phone or radio in case of emergencies. Required Safety Equipment: life jackets and throwable floats fire extinguishers visual and sound signaling devices (whistle or horn) navigation lights anchor first aid kit. Make sure your boater registration is also up to date! Whether you’re paddling a kayak or cruising on a motorboat, always follow local navigation rules and speed limits, especially…

Bonnet head shark captured and released on of our shark fishing trips! One of the apex predators of the tidal salt marsh is the shark! In South Carolina waters there are about 38 species of sharks, skates, and rays. These are all cartilaginous fish—the same squishy stuff that makes up your nose & ears. Though…

  The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000-mile inland navigation route that weaves its way along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, offering a protected path for commercial and recreational vessels alike. The ICW starts technically in Boston, Massachusetts but federally maintained around Norfolk, Virginia.  Its origins date back to the early colonial period, when natural inlets, rivers, and sounds were used by traders and fishermen to move goods while avoiding the dangers of open seas. But it wasn’t until the early 19th century, with the rise of canals and a push for internal improvements, that the dream of a continuous waterway truly took shape. The modern ICW was largely shaped by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1919, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began to seriously connect and maintain the route as a federal…

There are several species of animals that have migrated back to our coasts for the summer months. If interested in citizen science projects with wildlife reporting, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and other organizations have several different wildlife surveys you can be a part of. (These can be reported year round but are typically found in SC during the warmer months!) Below are important wildlife hotline numbers if you come across injured, live, or stranded wildlife: Injured sea turtles, manatees, & dolphins call be reported to this 24-hour number (SCDNR): 1-800-922-5431. Other marine mammals like dolphins with injuries can be reported to this NOAA number: 877-942-5343. The low-country marine mammal network (LMNN) is also a great resource for marine mammal questions!  Links to report live animal sightings: Manatees: https://survey123.arcgis.com/…/bbfdac2dc65e443a98d2d02f… Sea turtles: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a7c87e03d4b541c38667c0e80193f02c Diamondback Terrapins: Survey123 app  Citizen…

The official hurricane season is June 1st-November 30th and this specific timeframe was chosen by the National Hurricane Center. During this time is when about 97% of hurricanes and tropical storms occur in the Atlantic. (en.wikipedia.org+2foxweather.com+2weather.com+2.) Early-season storms (occurring in May) or late-season storms (occurring in December) can form but, the majority of storms happen…