Isla Mar Research Expeditions Reviews

We had such a great time with Chelsea and Evan!! They made us feel very safe with good gear and a clear explanation of how to use it. They never rushed us and their marine biology expertise made the experience much more interesting than just swimming around looking at things. They were very patient and seemed genuinely happy to answer any and all questions we had. Highly recommend this as a snorkeling option!!

What a great experience... Chelsea and Evan are a class act. Their knowledge and passion for what they do was always evident during our snorkel tour. They took the time to answer plenty of questions and gave good guidance to our kids who hope to enter a field in the biological sciences one day. We wouldn't hesitate to spend time with Isla Mar research expeditions again! Follow them on Instagram...support what they do!

We went snorkeling with Chelsea and Evan with Isla Mar Research Expeditions and had a wonderful time. They were fun, informative and so passionate about their work. We saw so many different kinds of fish and sea turtles and squid. We also saw many different kinds of coral. It was a fun day! We highly recommend Chelsea and Evan for a great snorkeling tour in Rincon.

My husband and I had the recent pleasure of taking a Tres Palmas reef tour with Evan of Isla Mar Research Expeditions. It was fantastic! We'd been to the Rincon area several times before but had never really explored the reef via snorkeling. When our hostess at Tres Sirenas told us about this opportunity ,we jumped (in the water!). The various projects that Evan and his wife Chelsea, both Ph.D marine biologists, are involved in are extremely admirable. This young couple hold the future of seeing that our precious natural resources are taken care of and appreciated through the education they seek to bring to others. Evan was a fantastic guide. He made sure of our ability level, gave us properly fitted equipment, a brief run through, and answered any questions before we headed towards the water. Throughout our 3 hours together, he shared fascinating information, safely picked up various creatures to show us and allow us to hold, and pointed out so much that we never would've known if snorkeling on our own. It was a highlight of our trip! And no worries if you are not an advanced snorkeler or swimmer; they will adapt to all levels. We highly recommend this educational, fun, and exciting adventure when in Rincon!

Nothing is more valuable to an aspiring field biologist than first hand experience and I must say, getting to work alongside esteemed scientists like Evan and Chelsea was the experience of a lifetime! They were able to pass along so much knowledge in such a short time frame. They introduced us to the aspects of a life of research and adventure. It's hard to pick favorites, but diving the caves and arches of Desecheo Island, hiking to secluded waterfalls, and getting to work underwater performing fish surveys and coral reef assessments were definitely just a few of the highlights of this trip.

Evan and Chelsea Tuohy of Isla Mar Research are an excellent team. Their hands on approach teaching students how to measure reef rugosity, perform transect lines, and how to quickly and accurately identify fish species was invaluable. In addition to their hands on approach students are taught how to compile and actually use the data collected with programs like R-Studio and Image J. Highly recommended for anyone interested in fisheries or any aquatic science field.

I have taken a course through this company twice in my college career and both times were well planned and tons of fun. As a student I was able to learn a lot through many hands-on experiences in the field, along with participating in various classroom talks and in-lab activities led by various researchers. As a group we were able to work together and learn various skills, which we applied underwater by conducting surveys at various reefs through scuba diving and snorkeling. Along with the coursework, there were various opportunities to explore the island through day trips to places such as El Yunque National Forest, Cabo Rojo Lighthouse, Desecheo Marine Reserve and San Juan. I would highly recommend taking a field course through Isla Mar Research Expeditions to anyone interested in exploring Puerto Rico and the amazing marine environment surrounding it.

I first met Evan and Chelsea back in 2014 when they acted as guides for a field course I went on to Puerto Rico. The following year they formed Isla Mar, and I returned for another 2 week trip led by their company, followed by a short internship that they set up for me. They are hard-working, smart, kind people with great inside knowledge on all of the best spots in Puerto Rico. We travelled all over the island, exploring and learning in a variety of ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine. I learned a ton on both trips and got to experience so much of the island, its reefs, and its culture. Do yourself a favor and work with these people and this company, you won’t find anyone better! And they’ve got an awesome hashtag... #letsdosomescience

Chelsea and Evan of Isla Mar Research Expeditions are fantastic! They put together fun and educational activities to explore the flora and fauna of Puerto Rico. They can also assist in planning activities or running experiments. I highly recommend Isla Mar Research Expeditions!

The 2 weeks I spent with Isla Mar were an amazing experience. They brought in all aspects of island marine ecology by bringing in experts and physically showing us. The hands on field experience they provided was invaluable. Overall this course has left a lasting impression on me and I hope to one day come back.

This was one of the most unique and rewarding experiences I have ever had. I was so lucky to be able to go on this trip. Not only did Isla Mar show their knowledge and experience out in the field they also brought along other experts in other fields to expand our experience even further. I would reccomend this experience to anyone! I would love to go back again.

Isla Mar Research Expeditions
Taking an expedition with this company has been one of the best experiences of my life, and hands-down, I would recommend them to anyone looking to go on a research expedition to Puerto Rico. They are amazing people who know the island so well, and they clearly know what they are talking about. It was the best experience with the ocean I've ever had. Before going, I was low-key afraid of the ocean. Not majorly, but it made me uncomfortable and I never wanted my feet off the ground. The experiences I had last summer with Isla Mar, though, totally changed that. We saw things I never thought I'd be able to see, and did things I never thought I'd have the opportunity to do. I'm actually considering going back and auditing the course the next time my university offers it. If you have the chance to go on a Research Expedition with Isla Mar, absolutely take it. You won't regret it.

Chelsea and Evan are the best people to work with. Extremely knowledgeable and very fun to be around. I would recommend Isla Mar to anyone looking for an expedition group.

Isla Mar Research Expeditions' knowledge of Puerto Rico and the native flora and fauna are invaluable for aiding college ecology courses wanting to move from inside the classroom/textbook ideas to the field and hands on experiences! Chelsea and Evan, both stellar scientists in their own right, have spent countless hours in developing this business and it shows through detailed itineraries and connections they have made with other organizations/local communities around the island. For me they have helped to organize a two week Tropical Ecology course for a small midwest university and even taught a few ecology lessons from topics that I chose. They are very comfortable leading the field excursions or teaching lectures, or even making sure that you have what you need to do it yourself. I highly recommend Isla Mar Research Expeditions!

Dr. Chelsea Harms-Tuohy and Evan Tuohy (soon to be a Dr. as well) are both experts in coral-reef biology. The services that they provide through their novel company, Isla Mar Research Expeditions, are outstanding. I have been collaborating with them for over ten years and this collaboration has been enriched, enhanced, and advanced, especially with the inception of Isla Mar Research Expeditions a few years ago. They are such a dynamic couple of fine young scientists; they keep adding new and emerging study sites and topics that make a field course in marine sciences one of its kind in the tropics. I have never been confident in bringing less experienced undergraduates to remote places, but, with Evan's and Chelsea's experiences in these areas (e.g., less accessible caves and reefs) in Puerto Rico, my initial concerns have been mitigated. Isla Mar has taken care of providing comfortable accommodations and local guides to me and my students. Isla Mar has a variety of field opportunities that could be tailored to the specific needs of any field course. They also have access to sight-seeing sites, mostly inaccessible to tourists, that a natural-history class may enjoy. I highly recommend that you use Isla Mar Research Expeditions for your field research and education needs in Puerto Rico.

Isla Mar Research Expeditions provides an experience that you will remember forever, especially if you are a student. They are so much more than excursion facilitators. They are teachers, with the ability to really engage their students with real scientific research in a gorgeous setting. The courses and expeditions they provide are totally immersive. What you learn in the classroom setting you are recalling and using that same day. Bringing in local experts and providing students with a wide range of biological and ecological experiences makes the whole course very well-rounded. What's also great is that you don't even really need to be a hard-core biology or marine science major, you can come from any background and still gain something out of the experience.