MOOREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA

In January, students travel to French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean to study tropical biology at the Gump Marine Station on the island of Moorea. This lab is operated by the University of California at Berkeley, and is located in Cook’s Bay, within walking and swimming distance of lagoon, seagrass, and mangrove habitats, providing unlimited access to these marine habitats. An offshore fringing coral reef provides superb diving and snorkeling.

Moorea is one of the Society Islands, located 9 miles northwest of the main island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and approximately midway between South America and Australia. Surrounded by a well developed coral reef and lagoon system, Moorea is a high, 1.2 million year old volcanic island with freshwater streams that flow year-round. A range of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats are located close to the station. Air temperatures will be in the 80 – 90° F range, accompanied by the trade winds.