Hello everyone! My name is Andrew Heaney, an undergrad student at George Mason University (Rising Senior) who is here on the R/V Endeavor cruise. My major is in Environmental Sciences with a Concentration in Conservation. My father, Kevin Heaney, is who introduced me to this cruise. I have been interested in ocean life since I was 10 months old. This is my first official field experience with marine life. (I do have some field experience with land animals, including the endangered Wood turtle, but that’s another story).

I am beyond excited for what is in store for this cruise, and this will definitely be an experience to remember. So far, the cruise is going great. Everyone is nice and interesting, every instruction given is straightforward, and the overall environment of the R/V Endeavor is just so pleasant. I have not seen any wildlife so far, except for a few flying fish as well as some brown pelicans and a species of tern I was not able to identify. I cannot wait for the wildlife to start appearing more!