Cayo Santiago

Boat schedule

Users will make every effort to abide by the existing boat schedule to and from the island in order to avoid wasting time and effort of both staff and other investigators. The boat will depart promptly as scheduled. To avoid being left behind on the dock, allow sufficient time to travel to the dock. For safety and legal reasons, only the staff of the Caribbean Primate Research Center will operate boats. Any extraordinary trips should be approved by the Colony Manager and/or the Resident Scientist. Noncompliance with the boat schedule may be grounds for the suspension or termination of a study protocol

Bad weather days (rain, heavy winds and storms)

June 1st marks the official first day of the Hurricane Season. Please expect that there will be days when the weather or waters will prove unsafe to go to CS or may require an early departure from Cayo Santiago. It is the Capitan's responsibility to make the decision whether sea travel is safe. It is frustrating to lose time for data collection; however, the safety of the Capitan, passengers and boat is our priority. The decision of the Captain is nonnegotiable, failure to comply with the Captain's decision can lead to the termination of your research protocol.

If the boat is at the dock (such as during heavy rains)

Please wait under the roof of the building near the dock until the captain has determined the rain has gone away long enough to make the trip.

If the boat is not at the dock

You will need to go to the office and verify if going to CS will be possible. The Capitan will monitor the weather conditions, to determine whether it is safe to go to CS. If it is indeed safe, the Capitan will indicate so, and a boat will leave a few minutes later.

Communication: when weather turns bad once on Cayo Santiago

If already on CS and the Captain has determined that the weather could be turning bad later, everyone should report back to the shop at 11:20 AM to verify the conditions are favorable for staying at CS.

For your safety, there will always be a designated walkie talkie available for your use. It is kept in the shop.

In case of the need to return to the mainland, the Capitan will sound the blow horn or go directly to inform people that it is time to go. Once informed you must prepare to leave immediately and go to the dock ASAP.

Alone on Cayo Santiago

You must be accompanied by at least one other person while on CS.