As we all travel around the world, a lot of us come into contact with bodies of water; we might cruise across the vast ocean, swim in a nearby sea, or kayak in our local creek. Thus, we all come into contact with marine life, the aquatic animals and plants that reside below the watery surface. 

With our newest partner, The International SeaKeepers Society, or SeaKeepers for short, we realize the importance of conservationists, marine biologists, and oceanographers. These are the individuals who keep that aquatic life we love to see diving in the horizon or swimming past us on our snorkeling adventures alive for future generations to behold. 

But did you know that a lot of those marine scientists struggle to use their budgets toward the greater good? That’s where SeaKeepers comes into play. We had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Ivonne Gamboa and Aubri Keith about what it is SeaKeepers does to help not only those researchers do their jobs but also spread the word about marine conservation.

ALLMYNE: Hey, Aubri and Ivonne! Thank you for taking the time to talk with us about your incredible organization, SeaKeepers.

Aubri and Ivonne: Of course, we are happy to help spread the word about the importance of marine science!

ALLMYNE: So, SeaKeepers. What is your primary goal for your nonprofit? Give us a little bit about your mission and what it’s trying to achieve.

Aubri and Ivonne: SeaKeepers is dedicated to promoting oceanographic research, conservation, and education by directly engaging the yachting and boating community. Our primary goal is to make the ocean more accessible for scientific study and to foster stewardship by connecting researchers, educators, and yacht owners to advance marine science and protect our ocean. 

ALLMYNE: How interesting. How do you go about doing that?

Aubri and Ivonne: Great question! We do this in two ways: first, we work closely with the boating community to put their resources to good use. By using privately owned yachts as research and education platforms, we can help scientists cut down on vessel costs and focus more on their work. We also team up with government agencies, universities, and conservation groups to spread awareness and push for real action to protect our ocean.

Second, we bring marine science directly to students, giving them hands-on experiences and resources that spark curiosity and inspire them to care for the ocean. It’s all about connecting science, education, and the private sector in a way that makes a tangible difference nad gets more people involved in safeguarding our ocean for the future. 

ALLMYNE: Absolutely incredible. I, for one, love spending time in the ocean, and I’ve seen the impact firsthand of what unprotected waters look like. So, anyone fighting for that cause and finding a way to keep the water clean and safe for not only mankind but aquatic life as well is an admirable person in my eyes. Or persons, of course! 

Aubri and Ivonne: That’s really great to hear! And we hope to recruit more participants that are interested in supporting our programs, specifically: 

• Boat owners or people chartering a vessel that are willing to host marine researchers for a Scientist-Led Expedition through our DISCOVERY Program;
• Citizen Scientists interested in collecting data or samples on their own to help marine researchers scale their work; and
• Volunteers for our Coastal Cleanups.

ALLMYNE: Tell me more about these incredible programs you’ve mentioned. What is the DISCOVERY Program?

Aubri and Ivonne: So, building on what I mentioned earlier about connecting scientists with resources, our DISCOVERY Program is really at core of that. Its mission is to pair marine scientists and researchers with privately owned vessels so they can get out on the water and conduct essential fieldwork. By providing access to these platforms, we take away that huge financial hurdle of vessel costs, which lets scientists put their funding directly into research and really move the needle in oceanography, marine biology, and conservation.

And for vessel owners, captains, and crew, it’s a great way to get involved. They can host expeditions, support citizen science projects, or even participate in education. Signing up is simple: we have a DISCOVERY Application that helps match each vessel with projects suited to their capabilities and interests. It’s a hands-on way for the boating community to be part of advancing ocean science and conservation.

ALLMYNE: That is seriously such a cool concept. And you mentioned earlier about educating students about marine science. Do you have any projects or initiatives revolving around that?

Aubri and Ivonne: We do! We have the Educational Outreach Program, and that brings marine science directly to students by offering hands-on experiences both onboard vessels and in the classroom. We partner with schools and youth organizations to teach marine biology, ocean conservation, and environmental stewardship in a way that’s interactive, accessible, and inspiring. Boat owners can support this mission by volunteering their vessels for floating classrooms, and educators can take advantage of our resources to share them with their students.

ALLMYNE: That would have been such a fun thing to learn about when I went to school. I love that it’s a hands-on experience because that’s truly the only way you’d be able to really learn about something like this. Before we move on, do you have any other projects SeaKeepers is focused on?

Aubri and Ivonne: Actually, yes! We host annual exclusive events around major international boat shows to unite ocean advocates, scientists, vessel owners, industry leaders, brokers, and travelers in support of marine conservation. These gatherings, whether cocktail receptions, panel discussions, or fundraising galas, are designed to spark collaboration, celebrate impact, and build a global network of ocean stewards. By attending or sponsoring an event, guests directly support our mission and help fund scientist-led expeditions, educational programs, and citizen science initiatives.

ALLMYNE: Those sound super exciting! Our audience would love to know whenever your upcoming events will be. Is there a way for them to find out? Do you have any upcoming events our readers should know about?

Aubri and Ivonne: Absolutely! You can find us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. We also have an email newsletter you can join for the latest news and event announcements by signing up directly through our website: SEAKEEPERS.ORG.

And yes, we do have an upcoming event that’s occurring during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. On Thursday, October 30th, SeaKeepers will host one of the largest events of the week to celebrate our SeaKeeper of the Year, Jimmy Buffett; NexGen Awardee, Emily Cunningham, MBE; and welcome our 2024-25 DISCOVERY Fleet. We’d love to invite more ocean advocates to join us and support our mission.

ALLMYNE: Terrific. People can find more information on that at the link here. Finally, let’s wrap up with a recent success story of yours.

Aubri and Ivonne: Recently, we partnered with ICON Yachts to build Project MISSION, a 207′ superyacht, that redefines what it means to be an explorer yacht. We provided insight on her modular configuration including container-based labs to support cutting-edge scientific missions without compromising the design. It was incredible to support the build of a floating platform for discovery. 

ALLMYNE: The pictures you have linked us to truly don’t do it justice. I mean, a superyacht? That’s crazy! And what a brilliant idea, especially with all the accoutrements. I’m sure that plenty of future researchers will be grateful for the access to such a wonderful vessel. Before I let you go, do you have anything else you’d like all of our readers at ALLMYNE to know?

Aubri and Ivonne: Thank you for reaching out and offering to share what we do with all of you. We are excited for this opportunity to reach more people!

ALLMYNE: And we are equally excited to be partnering with you, too!

Support the Cause and Travel Like a Local with ALLMYNE

You can see more about SeaKeepers on the ALLMYNE app, downloadable on the Apple Store and Google Play Store, or by clicking the links throughout the interview. Check out our social media for more information on their upcoming events, as well!

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