What We Do

With spirit of mission, we perform marine wildlife expeditions for observation and scientific research in the Azores, a mid-Atlantic wildlife legacy to be shared and protected.

 

Sea Colors Expeditions works with general public, students, volunteers, politicians and other scientists for the protection and conservation of the marine environment, increasing awareness of the oceanic species and its threats, studying their social behavior, ecology, health, foraging patterns, monitoring populations and their distribution and helping to implement conservation programs.

 

Sea Colors Expeditions is an alternative for the active, curious and Ocean conservation interested. We aim to make our encounters with the ocean inspiring and fulfilling by including a combination of different elements in our expeditions that are conducted in a responsible and caring manner, benefiting the species, the environment and the people involved.

 

Whales, dolphins, turtles, whale sharks, mantas, fish and birds, a vast number of species, all in a set of blue shades, the unique azorean sea colors.

 

 

 

Our Mission

Sea Colors Expeditions is a high quality operation dedicated to marine life study and conservation. It is our mission to study the marine environment and wildlife, and to increase public environmental awareness, in order to protect and conserve ecosystems and species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marine Conservation Research

Scientific research is the core activity of Sea Colors Expeditions, in order to grow understanding based on scientific knowledge, and to advice conservation.

 

Being attentive to signals displayed by the animals is essential since observing and studying them allows us to get a better understanding of their behavior and threats. In consequence we can therefore take action to protect and conserve them. By participating in the expeditions you are not just taking part in our work but also funding the research work.

 

The ocean is inhabited by mysterious and beautiful creatures and in order to match this, the venture is highly informative. On the expeditions we make efforts to remove encountered marine litter and we also organize coastal and ocean clean ups and educational environment protection actions. We also hold additional lectures to inform more about the topics that compose our work and the species inhabiting our waters.

 

Working Group

Our working team is composed of a group of experienced professionals in ocean exploration and research. We work for a collective result, focused on research and discussion dedicated to marine life protection and conservation. Our core team is mainly formed of marine biologists researchers who also coordinate volunteers, students and internships in partnership with universities from different countries.

 

 

Founders

Sea Colors Expeditions is an enterprise led by Jasmine Zereba and Paulo de Melo, a couple with long sea experience of observing, studying and free diving with cetaceans.

Jasmine is a Swedish MSc marine biologist and Paulo, the captain, was born in the Azores and since very young attached to the sea by sailing and surfing. They are both active nature conservationists involved in several ocean conservation programs. Working in the field for many years has given them the insight that a lot of people are just looking to join their expeditions and support their work, being active, curious and seeking genuine experiences while exploring the ocean and studying marine life.

 

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Captain Paulo and marine biologist Jasmine with their familly.

Paulo and Jasmine live with their two children on board their sailing vessel in São Miguel Island, from where they also operate a 12 person sea rib for marine life expeditions. They are very welcoming and believe that small scale is the right approach to be in contact with wildlife and to give the best personal attention to their guests at the sea. Their philosophy encompasses an open and adaptive approach, optimizing the enjoyment of the journey for everyone involved.

 

 

 

 

Safety

Safety is a primary concern, and the vessels are fully equipped regarding safety equipment as the crew strive for the most comfortable and safe experience. Our team has long sea experience and is trained in Primary & Secondary Care, First Aid / CPR / AED and Rescue Diving. Instructions on safety measures are given before each expedition and a fully stocked first aid kit is available on board.

 

Sea Colors reserves the right to cancel any expedition because of weather, unsafe conditions or any other circumstances that could endanger the safety of our guests and crew.

 

 

Where we Are

Sea Colors is based in São Miguel island, in the Azores archipelago, mid-Atlantic.

 

Nine seamounts rise out from the Azores Plateau, an oceanic platform that lies less than 2,000m below sea level, and form solid ground, the Azores islands. An oasis created by volcanic activity and an hotspot for a vast number of marine species.

 

Sea Colors is land based in the marina of Ponta Delgada and also in the marina of Vila Franca do Campo.

 

The nature is absolutely fantastic. Huge strato volcanoes are embedded in vivid vegetation formed by a mix of native, endemic and imported species. Green hills and black cliffs stretch out towards the surrounding blue ocean. A color skim also enriched and varied according to the season depending on different blooming periods. The air is moist and holds a comfortable temperature throughout most of the year.

 

The Azores is a splendid and peaceful isolation, a prefect destination for anyone who wants to rest actively, learn about marine life and get recharged by nature.

 

 

 

Testimonials

Gregg R

Saving our Sea dwellers for future generations
Walking down the Ponta Delgada Marina, I came across the Sea Colors Expeditions stand, a high quality operation devoted to marine wildlife. During my conversations with Paulo and Jasmine, I learn that they perform observation expeditions and scientific research in the Azores base out of Ponta Delgada, in a effort to keep track of whales, turtles, dolphins, and birds, among a vast number of others, in a non-intrusive manor to the species. I found this refreshing, and welcoming from a company. I book us for a trip and can report that we did actually see several Sei whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Common Dolphins, Risso´s dolphins, a Loggerhead turtle, and several other bird species. The boat, a high speed rib, was extreme comfortable and through the expeditions, we were kept inform on the various species spotted, there habits, and migration patterns. I highly recommend the group for anyone interested in observing the planets sea life in a non destructive manor that will ensure they are here for future generations.

Michele S

Cape Cod, MA
Respectful, safe and knowledgeable 
We were looking for a company that put respect for the sea and it’s lovely creatures first. That’s what we got and more! In a fine vessel carrying 12 passengers we headed out to look for whales and dolphins while the captain and his mate collected data for their research. Our nibble vessel and astute captain allowed us to view a humpback whale, a fin whale chopping on krill and a small pod of graceful bottle nose dolphins. I highly recommend Sea Colors Expeditions over the large commercial companies. They care and their research counts. Great experience!

Rob R

Rehoboth Beach, DE
Words don’t do justice to experience
We booked two trips with Sea Colors Expeditions and each was utterly unique, informative and breathtaking. Jasmine is the perfect guide, as she has complete respect for marine mammals and their conservation. She was as knowledgeable as she was gracious and approached her tours with a respect and understanding of all cetaceans that foster an appreciation for every moment you spend out on the water with them. It was a highlight to a trip that was already magnificent and we will certainly be returning.

KaydeeF

England
Informative and up-close encounters with experts
Due to poor weather conditions I only managed to schedule 1 out of 5 whale watch trips with Jasmine and Paulo of Sea Colors Expeditions. They have such great reviews and I wasn’t disappointed for my single trip. Marine Biologist Jasmine gave an excellent briefing before the trip, explaining what might and might not be expected in terms of whales and dolphins. Once out at sea she happily answered any questions and told us all about the species we were watching – we had amazing encounters with both Bottlenose and Common Dolphins within 5 minutes of the shore. They were jumping and leaping all around us, which was so thrilling, as the boat – a small ‘rib’ – lets you sit very close to the action, while securely seated or standing and fully waterproofed with their complimentary waterproof suits. We ventured further out to follow up a report of a whale sighting but unfortunately did not see anything. Conditions were a bit choppy but Paulo skippered the small craft brilliantly, bringing us back transversely across the lumpy and bumpy waves for a relatively smooth ride back. I look forward to experiencing more of their marine expertise on my next visit.

Dasha T

Moscow, Russia
For true lovers of sea animals!
The biologists share such incredible level of knowledge with their clients!!! They organize the best experience not only for visitors but also for the animals, which I personally appreciate the most. They allow the animals to feel completely comfortable by not chasing them, not agitating them, not being persistent..
they allow to interact only with those animals that are interested in us, which also makes safer for tourists!!
want to be a part of their expedition again and again.

Pam

Vilamoura, Portugal

Highly recommend these guys!
We really hoped to find whales, although we knew October would make it more difficult than the summer months.
Capt. Paulo and Jasmine were the perfect hosts. Totally dedicated to the cetaceans, and their environment.
We traveled quite a way, eventually finding dolphins. They were happy to swim along with the boat.
We were on our way back to base when they received a radio message that whales had been spotted, almost where we had just come from. They turned around and we went back out to sea.
They found a number of Sperm whales and a Fin whale (2nd largest animal on the planet!).
Their dedication is unbelievable.
If you want to see these creatures, you should find Sea Colors in the Marina. They never give up!

Greta Paula

Vilnius, Lithuania
Just Fantastic!
If i’d go again for whale watching – no doubt – only with Sea Colors crew!!! If to recommend- go if you want to see the passion and love for what people do! The attitude to their clients and the sea world is the example of how one should treat people and environment we live live in and with. Thanks once again for unforgettable experience !!! And for those who’s curious did we sea the whales – Yes! Blue whale and Humpback whales and dolphins!!

Andrew Jackson

Solihull, UK
Really recommend this trip….

We did several trips over our week in Ponta Delgada and this was definitely the best one.   If you want to do a whale and dolphin watching trip I would really suggest doing one with Sea Colors.

We did the whole day trip that is a split of a sailing trip (with Paulo) and time on a rib (with Jasmine).   It was pretty calm on the day we went, so the sailing was a bit slow but it meant that the rib trip was fairly calm.   Obviously seeing anything from a boat under sail is pretty hit or miss (we saw a shy beaked whale from a distance, but not much else) but it was still enjoyable. On the day we went, a small group went sailing first and another group went on the rib first – we then met up at sea and swapped boats.  The advantage was that when we met up with the rib at lunchtime we were able to go straight to the area where Jasmine had seen whales that morning (and be the only boat there for quite a long time).  We saw sperm whales, Atlantic Spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins and lots of playful Risso´s dolphins, and a couple of shark dorsal fins. While we did a full day trip, I think that the shorter half-day trip that they also do would also be an excellent experience.

Jasmine was great at being in touch before our visit and we really liked the ethos of the company – these are people who do research about the whales and dolphins, and going with them funds this as it allows them to undertake research on the day of the trip (identifying which individual whales are seen) and provides revenue for their ongoing research. This is different from the other commercial boats.   If you are interested in supporting this work, and want to go on a trip with really lovely knowledgeable people then we would recommend this trip.   When we re-visit the Azores we will book with Sea Colors again and would genuinely recommend them to anyone visiting.

Nina987

Ljubljana, Slovenia
Truly an amazing experience with knowledgeable and dedicated owners

This tour was an incredible experience, not just because of the actual watching and swimming but because of the people involved. The boat is small, the seats are the banana boat type, and depending on the weather the ride can turn rough, but it’s all worth it because of the knowledge and the dedication of the owners and the experience as a whole.

You could feel the love they have for the ocean, the sea life and nature preservation in general. Jasmine is a marine biologist and she treats the ocean with respect. They will not promise you that you would get to swim with dolphins, they will tell you that that will be entirely up to the dolphins to decide. Personally, I think that is the only nature friendly way to approach any creature – with respect, understanding and a care to not disturb or stress the animals. Some of the other companies that offer swimming with dolphins will just charge into a pod and release a number of humans on them not caring about how that might scare, stress or otherwise disturb the cetaceans. With this company you actually get to learn about sea mammals and their behavior, observe them in their natural environment and see their behavior for yourself, and, as a bonus, if you are lucky, the dolphins might let you swim with them for a bit. That’s it.

Personally, I would recommend this to anyone genuinely interested in and respectful of sea life but also willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort for a truly educating and amazing experience.

Jacqueline F

Dothan, AL

 

Excellent Responsible Whale Watch
This company is great. They give an educational briefing before and after the tour. The boat is small. The experience is run by biologists who make sure animals are safe and feel comfortable instead of worrying about tourists enjoying their experience. It was sad to see larger boats that didn’t make nature a priority. I believe since the guides study whales and dolphins, it made our experience much better. They knew when the whales would dive and told us when to expect it and were as thrilled with the experience as us. They took us away from the larger group and we were able to have one of the best whale watching experiences. We saw sperm whales and bottle nose dolphins.

PeanutH_B

Nieuw Vennep, The Netherlands
Amazing company with love for the whales and dolphins!
We went out with Sea Colors 5 times late April and it was truly an amazing experience! Having watched whales in quite some places, this company really stands out! Paulo, Jasmine, Clara and Miguel (also thanks to Emese for helping out getting prepared for the trips) have really gone the extra mile for us, literally. We have had trips that turned out as long as 5,5 hours, because they always want to give their passengers the best experience. If that means traveling a bit further, that really is not a problem for them! On our five trips we have seen sperm whales, humpback whales, fin whales (no blue whales unfortunately), common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead turtles.. They respect all the cetaceans by keeping a good distance. Each trip was a real adventure!
You ride a small zodiac, with 12 passengers maximum. The benefit of a zodiac is that you are way closer to the water, and especially the dolphins love hanging out with the boat. Also, it’s not so crowded as the other boats (although it does give you a bit of a pain in the behind). Before you sail, you are given an introduction about the marine life (mainly about dolphins and whales).
If you’re looking for a zodiac tour, then book it with these guys rather than other companies. You won’t be disappointed!

Greg K

Concord, CA
Wild and thrilling ride with A++ staff
We choose Sea Colors from among many whale watching tours in the quaint Azores town of Ponta Delgada. And how happy we are to have made this choice. I was expecting a large boat that we could walk around in, chill, maybe eat or grab a beer. I am 71 and the 12 of us ranging in age from 73, my sister in law to grandson age 5 filled up the entire inflatable dingy. The charming and bright biologist Clara welcomed us and was in absolute control throughout. My daughter was most impressed to learn that Clara had spent every day over the last eight years on the sea (except for occasional vacations). It showed. Paulo captained the boat and he was a maniac (in a good way). Two things I’ll never forget are a baby sperm whale who gently swam right up to our boat and Paulo jamming right into the teeth of decent size waves hitting us in the face with enough water to make our lips really salty. And the wind.
Daunting, not for the weak of heart, but the real deal. It blew me away that we sped down (or up?) the coast for 1 1/2 hours, stopped and within a minute or so, the sperm whales began spouting and appearing.

Chiara Meow

We did a whale watching with Sea Colors a few days ago. We were looking for reliable people and above all respectful of the sea/the animals we were going to watch. And we definitely found them! The team leader is a marine biologist, she’s very careful and she knows A LOT about whale and dolphin behaviour. During the activity we saw few sperm whales and lots of risso’s dolphins and they also collected some plastic bags in the ocean (this let you know how much they care about the environment). Amazing experience!