Italy - Liveaboard Dolphin Research Expedition

We were on the water with only the sail up - no motor running. It was so peaceful with the water hitting the sides of the boat, Captain Angelo softly playing the ukulele, and quiet conversation in Italian. We were watching the water for animal activity and relaxing in that setting. It was wonderful!

The whole trip was amazing, but last day was especially magical; we saw so many sperm whales and dolphins and the sunset was beautiful. The atmosphere was so joyful and thrilling. The crew was amazing, knowledgeable, and very good cooks! I would 100% recommend to any marine enthusiast out there.

seeing the dolphins out in the wild has only been a childhood dream for me. The first week we once saw devil rays, which was pretty shocking to me as I didn't think they would be present in this area/Mediterranean. After a week of seeing no dolphins we started off the second week with a group of dolphins catching fish behind a fishing boat. the sighting continued for about 1 hours and 30 mins. We saw them jumping and swimming all around us, it was my childhood dream coming true followed by a really intresting lesson on identification and sorting the pictures. On the last day out we saw a devil ray jumping out of the water 2 times!! which also was incredible!! <br>3 sightings in 2 weeks was not much however, animals stay unpredictable which makes these sightings so extremely special!! some people might be dissapointed ass they expect to see many dolphins and whales however, the crew is so extremely welcoming and kind. they make you feel like you are part of their team, after two weeks of beeing together almost 24/7 you create a special bond and saying goodbye will be the last thing you want to do. when weather doesn't let us go out in the field you get really interesting classes on cetaceans, acoustic sounds ect. my experience was beyond great and I will definitely come back ;)

The most memorable moment was the amazing cetacean sightings we experienced. We saw a record number of fin whales - the second largest animal in the world. They came right up close to the boat. Making eye contact with a wild animal, especially an animal so huge, is a moment ljke no other, and one I will remember for the rest of my life.

Volunteering in Ischia, Italy, on dolphin and cetacean conservation was nothing short of life-changing. From tying knots and learning to echolocate sea animals to sipping espresso, indulging in homemade Italian meals under the sun, and soaking in natural thermal springs, every moment was unforgettable. The friendships I made, morning yoga, Angelo’s cooking, and the beauty of Italian life and embracing my roots will forever have a place in my heart. I’ll miss it all— except the mosquitoes. Until next time, Ischia!

Living on a vintage sailboat is absolutely incredible, the views I wake up to every morning, the traditional Italian food the captain prepares, going out to sea and seeing biodiversity at its finest. It is definitely an experience I will never forget!

Amazing crew and living in the boat was definitely a nice experience. After a couple of days not seeing anything, we finally got a chance to see many Sperm Whales, which made up for the other days. Kudos for the team, it was a great family for a week!

The best experience being emersed with the Italian culture, for example one night we bought the local fish from the fishing boat stationed next to us. Angelo was an excellent cook !!!! The entire trip was an incredible experience!

Our first day out on the water was incredible! We saw dozens of dolphins - 2 different species - and that is a sight I will never forget!! It was amazing to see them frolicking in their natural habitat. That one day was worth the entire trip and the long journey to get to Casamicciola and the Jean Gab.

The live-aboard dolphin project in Ischia, Italy truly changed my life. Each day we set sail and interacted with pods of dolphins and whales, as well as encountered mobula rays, sunfish, and a few species of sea birds. The generosity of spirit and openness to volunteers and participants from all cultures made the experience even more enjoyable and important to me. When not on the water, we spent time in Ischia, getting gelato, pizza, and exploring the hot springs and beaches. I would highly recommend this project to people from all walks of life, students, families, travelers, photographers - anyone will have a great time here!

We met the most incredible people and were lucky enough to see pods of dolphins during our trip. Captain Angelo took us to Ventotene Island for two nights and it was so beautiful. I'm so happy we were able to experience that Island and had THE best time.

On the last day, having 6 different encounters with sperm whales; very sociable, coming towards the boat and diving right next to us, as well as shopping and side rolling, both very social behaviors. It was very special.

Volunteering through GoEco has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met people from so many different countries, was forced out of my comfort zone, and learned skills in a field that I might go into after college. This was an experience I will never forget!

Personally, I enjoyed the project very much and would definitely do it all over again. Communicating with people all over the world and learning about different cultures is eye opening. The bond between volunteers on the boat always created a good atmosphere which made the experience a lot more enjoyable. I have learned a lot by living on a boat; from tying different knots, cooking on rocky waves and witnessing the true beauty of dolphins and the sea. Researching and searching for Dolphins is intriguing but words cannot explain the moment you lay eyes on a blue, graceful mammal flipping and jumping in the clear water. Something I will never forget. Ischia is an island that really connects you with nature. The lemon, orange And fig trees scattered around with bright colourful flowers is just wonderful. Our evenings would consist of buying fresh meat and vegetables and cooking on the boat. Everyone would help and our conversations would last until everyone was yawning. The most enjoyable part about the project is the social interaction with people from different countries that share the same interests as you. Creating a bond with the crew and captain is essential on the boat and our trust in each other was always present. It was upsetting to say goodbye to my new friends. Nevertheless, I loved this trip and it was totally worth it!

I loved our project manager, Mark. He was a true inspiration. (And very funny) I also loved that we got to work at a school. The children were wonderful. It was really rewarding to see the difference we made. We were well taken care of. The accommodations were clean and comfortable if simple. The people working the project were friendly and kind. Our direct organizer was inexperienced and dis organized and I was glad our volunteer group consisted of mostly take charge mature adults. In their defense, the normal team leader was on vacation. The school we worked at was 60 years old but the children were sweet and polite. I was glad our work schedule wasn't too many hours a day because the heat was considerable. We grew to admire Mark and his partner's organization and their commitment to giving back. What remarkable young men!! When we finished painting the school room Mark had all the children thank us personally and it deeply touched all of our hearts.

Long story short: it was life-changing. The experience I had during the two weeks I spent on the boat was unforgettable. I met amazing people, the crew was so nice and welcoming. I learnt a lot about dolphins, whales, birds, sailing, cooking… Everyday was a new adventure filled with beautiful dolphins, amazing food, great company and breathtaking views. I’ve always been interested in marine biology and wildlife, but this trip really proved to me that I’m definitely passionate about it. Nothing compares to sighting over eighty dolphins and spending two to three hours photographing their beauty, observing their habits, recording their acoustical data and filming them underwater. Whenever there was a sighting, everyone on board had a special task to do, whether it was sailing the boat, filming, photographing, recording sounds or just simply observing. This project really immerses you into the Italian lifestyle, which is truly amazing because it’s something new and exciting that you get to experience and enjoy. Even if the waves were too high and we wouldn't sail out that day, there was still plenty of stuff to do! You could either take the day off and go explore the island, stay on the boat to work on analyzing data/pictures or even take a day-trip to a neighbouring island! We would do sunset yoga every night, eat gelato on the island, go to the thermal baths, go on adventures up the mountain to get groceries, drink wine and espresso all day, eat amazing homemade dinners, and so much more spontaneous little things on the island that made the trip even more worthwhile! I became very close with all the people on board and it was very difficult to leave, but I am definitely planning on coming back in the future as well as staying in touch with all the phenomenal people I met on the boat. Words cannot describe how unique of an experience it was, I highly recommend it for anyone who's looking to do something new, different and fun.

This was a once in a lifetime chance to contribute to dolphin conservation in one of the most stunning spots in the world. Ischia Island is a beautiful paradise, and being able to contribute to cetaean conservation while also surrounded by constant beauty was a true gift. Go Eco was immensely helpful in helping me book my trip and I would definitely book through them again. The people onboard the boat were warm and welcoming and they made my experience quite pleasurable. My only complaint is that I would have liked more hands on aspects to the actual research being done. That being said this project may not be the best bet for a science major looking for research experience but it would be great for anyone who wants to contribute to cetacean conservation while also having a relaxing vacation.