People who love dolphins, coastal Georgia, the marine environment,  enjoy being outdoors and wish to actually participate in scientific field research are ideal candidates for The Dolphin Project. The Dolphin Project seeks to add more members to its all-volunteer force which surveys along the coastal waters of Georgia and the southern portion of South Carolina. Scientific experience is not necessary to participate in TDP’s long-term, year-round study of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. While TDP's field research is concentrated in Georgia, membership is open to all. Our members are primarily from the southeast but there are some from many other areas of the US and other countries.

The Project needs skippers (with their own boat), photographers (with their own film or digital SLR-type camera with a 300 mm or longer optical lens) and data recorders. TDP is also looking for members willing to train to become team leaders after their initial experiences in any of the other positions. 

Members cruise the estuarine waterways 11 weekends a year to record dolphin population data as well as other information. Photographers record individual dolphin fins to note unique markings which help to match them with animals observed on previous surveys and track them in space and time. Skippers are responsible for running the boats safely. Data Recorders keep the official records. Team Leaders make sure TDP procedures are followed, the Marine Mammal Protection Act is observed and all the data is valid.

Members need to train in their position prior to going out on their first survey. Training workshops are held in both the Atlanta and Savannah areas.  An orientation for those interested in learning more about The Dolphin Project begins about 9:00 a.m. on the listed training dates. Actual training for those wishing to participate in the field surveys follows and concludes by about noon.

There is no charge for the orientation or training. Members
do pay their own survey expenses and those costs
will be explained during the orientation. 

For more information about our organization or about becoming a member, you can send your request to the address listed, or download our Membership Form. (Adobe Acrobat)

The Dolphin Project
Post Office Box 10323
Savannah, Georgia 31412