Azores expedition 2026: Arrival

Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles

A blue whale swimming in the ocean
Blue whale

Sometimes the hardest part of an expedition is starting, and this naturally means departing. Which isn’t always straightforward.

I was aiming to leave home on Friday 13th. That day, I woke up to a blanket of snow, followed by a power outage and then our first lifeboat call-out of the year on Loch Ness. First steps are not always easy!

A whale blowing air and water
Blue whale blow
Blue wail tail as it dives
Blue whale fluking
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Azores expedition 2026: Preparations and heading ‘home’

Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles

A pod of dolphins in front of Pico island
A pod of dolphins in front of Pico island

Planning has been underway for several months and next week the Azores Expedition begins.

This marks the 20th expedition in the Azores. So, it’s time for the initial introductions. I am Craig Turner and I’ll be your expedition leader.  

Expedition leader Craig Turner standing at Horta harbour, with yachts in the background
Craig Turner
Continue reading “Azores expedition 2026: Preparations and heading ‘home’”