San Diego Floating Lab

I have received many phone calls and emails regarding Floating Lab trips this school year. I have debated it, talked it over with many people, debated some more. I have even gone as far as scheduling trips only to move and reschedule them, and ultimately cancel. I have received such a lukewarm response that I have decided running trips for a couple of weeks before we shut down for the summer just doesn't make sense. It's incredibly disappointing for me and all the student...s that have spent a long year of distance learning to not get outside and learn hands on in front of a teacher. But on the boats, safety of staff and passengers has always been our number one priority. So even though I want to open, I have to think of the bigger picture and not run trips this spring. The San Diego County Office of Education has given a tentative 'yes' to scheduling trips for 2022 winter/spring season. I expect to get a much better response in a few months as restrictions continue to loosen. And when inter state travel restrictions loosen, we will begin seeing our schools from Arizona and Nevada aboard the boats. Please know that the San Diego Floating Lab isn't going anywhere, we are just on pause. We have been teaching students since 1981 in San Diego and a global pandemic isn't going to shut us down. It might take a little longer than planned to get going again, but we will be here doing what we love...next year. ~~Dina Grivetto See more

The Floating Lab is still on pause for 2021...to say that we are disappointed is an understatement. But in the name of safety for everyone involved we have to do what is right and remain closed. I have had many groups reach out to me about when we will resume our ever popular field trip and I really don't have an answer...not yet is all I know. With most San Diego County schools still shut down for in person teaching with no end in sight, not yet is the only response I can give. It scares me think of the future, and to wonder if we will ever be able to run our trips again. I miss them, the staff misses them, even though most have moved on to other means of employment. I hope you will bear with me, we want to see you, and show you all the wonderful things that San Diego harbor has hidden below it's surface...just not yet.~~Dina

The San Diego Floating Lab is actively recruiting instructors for the upcoming season. Marine science/biology degree preferred, advanced knowledge of pacific coast animals and environment mandatory. This will be a part time position in 2021 from January-May, with the option for full time in 2022. Drug free, clean cut, transportation, all mandatory. A pre employment drug screen will be required and references reviewed. Send resume to [email protected]

We are thinking ahead to 2021. We will be scheduling trips on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only starting in January. To maintain social distancing we have limited our class size to 30 total participants. If your class, group or club would like to schedule a floating lab for 2021 please email [email protected], if you prefer to call (619) 889-1212, but know that I am working limited hours so a call back may take a few days. We are also actively recruiting instructors for the upcoming season. Marine science/biology degree preferred, advanced knowledge of pacific coast animals and environment mandatory. Drug free, clean cut, transportation, all mandatory. Send resume to [email protected]

The San Diego Floating Lab was formed in 1981 by a very determined lady that had seen a similar field trip in Los Angeles. She wanted to provide this experience in San Diego so she went to the San Diego County Office of Education and pitched her idea to the superintendent. San Diego had no interest or resources to offer this experience and wouldn't for many years down the road. But that didn't stop that determined lady, she went to the Los Angeles County Office of Educatio...n and asked if they would book trips for her in San Diego since they were already doing the same in LA. They agreed and San Diego Marine Science Floating Classroom was born. That determined lady that wouldn't take no for an answer is my mother Sandy Grivetto. I have since picked up her torch and ran with it, keeping her dream alive. Since 1981 we have taken hundreds of thousands of students from all over the US and Mexico out on the water to teach them about the inhabitants of San Diego Bay and the surrounding waters. In it's 39 year history in San Diego this field trip has not changed much, we have not advanced to digital technology to teach the students as we feel they experience enough screen and tech time without seeing it here also. We keep it simple with plain old fashioned hands on education and manual measuring tools. With the mandated 'Stay at home' order that went into effect in March, the Floating Lab has been shuttered. Unfortunately, the San Diego County Office of Education will not be sponsoring any type of field trips for 2021, but that doesn't mean we won't be available for trips, it just means that when you would usually call the SDCOE to reserve your trip...you will now have to call the Floating Lab directly, but not yet, I am still working out a reservation system that will be time and cost effective for me. In the meantime, please know that we are not closed, just on pause for now. I will be sending out notices when I am ready to take reservations for your trip. The earliest trips will resume is January, and we will probably be at a slightly reduced capacity per boat. We cannot wait to see you again!~~Dina Grivetto See more

That beautiful bioluminescent wave is making for a stinky situation.

https://neal.fun/deep-sea/

Good afternoon! Hope you all are staying safe and sane. I wanted to update you on the status of Floating Lab. We are currently abiding by the San Diego and state guidelines and have ceased operations until it is deemed safe to resume. Many of you may have tried to call the San Diego County Office of Education regarding rescheduling your upcoming Floating Lab field trip. Please know that the SDCOE is closed and all voicemails will not be returned until the office is re-opened. The scheduler has access to her emails and I would recommend reaching out via an email message if you need a quick-ish response. [email protected] We will update as information rolls in, but for now all trips are on pause.

Due to public health guidelines, all Floating Lab trips are suspended until April 1 or until San Diego County advises public gatherings may reconvene.

We are in close contact with the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) regarding Floating Lab trips. We will continue to run trips as scheduled until notified otherwise. Floating Lab is contracted by SDCOE, but we accept all districts and even out of town schools, groups, and clubs. The boat staff at Floating Lab has been very diligent in keeping everything clean and disinfected by sanitizing between each trip, student and staff safety is and has always been our first priority.

Happy Monday from Floating Lab! I know since the weather is warming up, that it's tempting to throw on those sandals and let your toes fly free, but onboard the boat sandals, flip flops, soccer slippers, etc are HIGHLY impractical. Just wanted to remind everyone that closed toe shoes are required for everyone going out on the boats this season. Wet surfaces, non-skid decks, heavy equipment, rocking boats, all require proper footwear.

Last week we found the spot on the Floating Lab. These marine invertebrate are California spiny lobsters, panulirus interruptus. Learn more about the California spiny lobster and the other inhabitants of San Diego bay on a 4 hour Floating Lab. There is space available for your classroom, club, troop or large group. Call or email Rachel at (619) 590-3911 or [email protected]

This catch was not planned and it did not take all day to pick these up out of the water. All of these expensive tokens of love were found on a 3 hour whale watching trip by @bluehorizonsportfishing Please find another way to show your love to your sweetie, marine life will not appreciate the token when they swallow this thinking it's a shiny fish. #balloonsblow #dontreleasethem #lovenotesinstead #plantaflower #

Another beautiful creature of the sea the students collected today. A Flabellinopsis iodinea.

The students this morning were blessed with a horned shark and a banded guitar fish. Does anyone know their scientific names? These two animals are closely related to each other, but distinctively different. The top is the horn shark and the bottom is a banded guitarfish. Both animals reside in San Diego Bay. Learn more about these animals and the other inhabitants of San Diego Bay on a 4 hour Floating Lab. There is still space available for your class, club, troop, or large group. Contact us at (619) 889-1212 or [email protected] for more information.

The lucky students caught a pipefish (syngnathinae) this afternoon.

Great morning catch for the students this morning.