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This special guest blog was written by Dr. Gregory Barord and his Marine Biology students at Central Campus. They share highlights from their unforgettable 2025 Field Studies Expedition to Fiji, where they studied the endangered Nautilus and other sea life in their natural environment.

Introduction by Dr. Gregory Barord, Central Campus Marine Biology Teacher

Back in 2014 when I first started at Central Campus, one of my WILD goals was to provide opportunities for students to actively participate in our nautilus research, both in the lab and in the field. Students worked on lab research in my first few years, but the field research was a bit trickier to coordinate. We have offered an annual Field Studies Expedition each year, traveling to a coastal destination within the United States to provide students with opportunities to “become marine biologists”… Each year, the students continued to exceed expectations during the expeditions so much so, that after last year’s highly academic and advanced expedition to the East Coast, I knew it was time to bring our students out to the field, to Fiji.

The purpose of the Fiji Expedition was to provide students with opportunities to assist conservation organizations, work together in high stress situations, and learn about a new culture, community, and history. We traveled to Fiji from 28 March 2025 to 09 April 2025, with me traveling a few days early to set up final logistics. We stayed in Pacific Harbour, Fiji for five nights and then near Lautoka, Fiji for two nights.

“The purpose of the Fiji Expedition was to provide students with opportunities to assist conservation organizations, work together in high stress situations, and learn about a new culture, community, and history.”

Preparing for the Fiji Expedition

Lots of preparation went into making this trip happen. First, we attended informational meetings to gain perspective on the work that was required not only in Fiji but at home first. We used an app called GooseChase and started completing missions to gain points. Our personal favorite missions were, “Spread the Word” it made us think creatively and connect with the public. “Let’s dress nice” got us excited for the upcoming flights. “Fijian Words” allowed us to learn a new language and connect with people from Fiji. “UN Ocean Decade” was an accomplishment to be recognized on a global scale. And “Lab Volunteering” allowed students to come in on weekends/holidays and feed different tanks not usually assigned in class rotations.

Day 1: Travel Day

Suitcases were packed and we said our goodbyes. Our first flight was Des Moines to Dallas/ Fort Worth, TX where we had a layover, so we split into groups to get food before going to LAX for another layover. Take off to Fiji was smooth and the majority of us took the chance to catch up on sleep before we landed. This was just the start of our expedition. Dr. Barord had flown to Fiji a few days early to get things setup and be ready to roll right when we arrived. #OceanDecade #Savethenautilus #SaveDr.Barord

Day 2: First Day in Fiji; University Visit

After landing, we went through immigration and customs, exchanged currency, and met Dr. Barord at the Nadi International Terminal! We took a group picture before loading our bus and starting the drive to our first destination, Uprising Beach Resort in Pacific Harbour, Fiji. We saw lots of pretty sights and occasionally caught glimpses of the ocean. We made it to our housing and got food first as a late lunch before splitting up to get room assignments. Later we went to visit their local college USP (University of South Pacific) and got a tour around in our business casual learning about their marine science programs and about their students� work. After we got rained on as we practiced our writing skills preparing for the boats, we made observations in our notebooks while either swaying or standing on one leg.

“We practiced our writing skills preparing for the boats, we made observations in our notebooks while either swaying or standing on one leg.”

Day 3: First Day of Nautilus Research

Starting the day, we went for a beach walk after the night’s rain had lightened up. After eating breakfast, everyone loaded onto the bus to head to the Royal Suva Yacht Club and then boarded the boats. Arriving at the first buoy, students on the research boat took turns pulling in the trap which, with the help of Dr. Barord all the nautiluses were measured and had samples taken. By the time we arrived at the second buoy, half of the students had begun getting seasick and had run to the sides of their boats. A smaller boat helped pull the trap up this time, giving the sick and tired students a chance to recover. When the second trap was reset, all students jumped into the water to release the 14 nautilus that had been caught. After getting to land, students loaded onto the bus again, where they were taken to a mangrove forest and told stories based on their knowledge of the Mangroves. After finishing the day, students ate dinner at the resort, watched the fire dances, and took photos with the dancers afterward! Even though this trip was a work trip, all the hard work and fun made it feel like a vacation.

Day 4: River Tubing and Village Visit

Today we had a rest day from the work boats. Like the mornings before, we got up at 5:30 am, went on a beach walk, and ate breakfast. But after that our day was unique. We had an hour of free time (I swam in the ocean the whole time) and then packed our things, lathered on sunscreen, and took a 40-minute van ride. We then split into groups of 5-6 and took a 20 km boat ride through a river, passing by gorgeous mountains as green as you can imagine, and ended up at a Fijian village called “Sabata�.

We toured around and learned about their culture, and then after an hour said “Moce!� (goodbye) and boarded the boats. We travelled down river some to a walking trail that led up to a humongous waterfall. We got to jump in and swim around the basin for 30 minutes and then boarded the boat once more to get lunch. After lunch, we got in tubes and floated down the river for about 6 km. When tubing was over, we got on the boats once more and finished going back to our starting point. We thanked our guides and took the vans back to our resort. At the resort we participated in moving mangroves into planted pots, helping the resort with their mangrove restoration program, and giving back a little for all the generosity they showed us. There was another hour of free time for dinner, which I again spent in the ocean. Then everyone had dinner, we did an evening beach walk, and it was off to bed to recharge for the next day.

“We then split into groups of 5-6 and took a 20 km boat ride through a river, passing by gorgeous mountains as green as you can imagine, and ended up at a Fijian village called ‘Sabata’.”

Day 5: Nautiluses and Coral Reef Snorkeling

We kicked off Day 5 bright and early with beach yoga at 5:45 a.m., led by chaperone group leader Mandy. We practiced with our feet in the ocean as the sun rose—definitely one of the most peaceful moments of the trip so far. After yoga, we took a two-mile beach walk, chatting with friends and picking up trash along the way. Then it was a quick breakfast before heading to Suva Marina.

Once we arrived, we got our new boat assignments: those who were on the big work boat on Day 1 switched to the smaller observation boats, and vice versa. Before heading out, we took part in the traditional harbor opening ceremony, where each boat sails past the yacht club commander and receives a blessing with holy water by a priest for safe travels.

Out on the water, the first nautilus trap was brought up by hand while the rest of us jumped in the water with our snorkel gear to watch. Inside were four nautiluses, five prawns, and a tiny green-eyed shark! After we learned a bit about it from Captain Lyle, the shark was safely released—though it gave a few swimmers a good scare as it darted past them. The second trap, pulled up by the “party� boat, had four more nautiluses, eight prawns, and one crab. After observing and documenting everything, we all got in the water with snorkel gear to release the nautilus and watched them gently sink back down into the deep. It was a really special moment.

By this point, all the boats had earned their own nicknames: The big work boat stayed the Work/Big Boat. The Maxine became the Depression Tub after a rocky first day left over half the students seasick or asleep. The Falhook was called the Normal Boat—not too exciting, not too crazy. And the last one, known for playing music and being the only boat without any seasickness, was officially named the Party Boat. We finished the day with a snorkel at a coral reef where we spotted moon jellyfish. The reef was beautiful, but the jellyfish gave most of us “micro stings,� and life jackets made it tough to move around freely. After dinner, we ended with a long beach walk to reflect on the day. That’s when we realized we were all seriously sunburnt. Bright red backs, shoulders, and legs all around. Safe to say, no one forgot their UV shirts after that!

“The first nautilus trap was brought up by hand while the rest of us jumped in the water with our snorkel gear to watch. Inside were four nautiluses, five prawns, and a tiny green-eyed shark!”

Day 6: Nautiluses, Museum Visit, and Rainforest Hike

We woke up bright and early at 5:45 to do our daily beach yoga, watch the sunrise on the beach and prepare for the day. We headed out to the boats for the morning to continue doing our nautilus research! After a long morning on the boats, we headed to a local mall to eat lunch and try new foods on our own. Shortly after lunch we headed to the Fiji museum where we learned about the culture of Fiji and all the history Fiji has. Our day was not quite over as we headed to Colo-Suva Forest Park for a hike in a rain forest! It was hot but we all persevered. For dinner we went to a plaza with a bunch of restaurants and had lunch on our own in groups. We ended our night doing our nightly debrief and beach walk before getting some rest from the long day ahead.

Day 7: Final Nautilus Research and Island Transfer

We woke up bright and early to head to the boats for the last time to hurry and pull up the traps and take back for the last time. We ended up having 16 nautiluses to tag and identify while we’re in a hurry to make it back to the bus to catch the ferry for our next hotel! After quickly tagging and identifying all 16 nautiluses and pulling up our traps we hurried back to our hotel to grab our stuff and prepare to move to our next hotel on an island. After a long bus ride, we made it to the docks where the boats would take us to our resort. After a calm relaxing boat ride, we made it to the beautiful beachcomber island with clear blue water and white sand. We spent some time walking the island and finding all the washed up coral and little critters to prepare for trivia with the group. We ended the night with limbo and a bunch of other games before debriefing and preparing for the fun next day.

Day 8: Snorkeling Adventure and Karaoke

We woke up and had our usual morning yoga at 5:45 A, and then we individually found 5 different things along the beach to draw in our notebooks and then drew one as a chaperone team in the sand. After breakfast we had some free time around the island. Most of us went off to snorkel off the beach, around 8:30-10:30 AM in smaller groups we went on a small boat off the island to snorkel giant coral reefs. We got to swim and snorkel in these reefs, which were beautiful.

After our time was up as groups snorkeling, we went back to the island by boat, where we snorkeled around the beach again. We watched as a whole group a demonstration of making (fish food name), which is fish marinated in vinegar and lime juice, mixed with onions, coconut milk, tomatoes, and cucumbers, and we all got to try some. Then it was lunch at 1, after lunch we got to see the turtle conservation work they were doing on the island. After the turtles, we all met at the pool to watch them climb a coconut tree and husk a coconut. Next, we went for a whole group snorkel around half the island, we used the buddy system during that. Dinner was next, followed by some karaoke that we all did in our chaperone groups, even Dr. Barord sang a song himself. Ending the night on a fun note, getting ready for the next long day.

“We went on a small boat off the island to snorkel giant coral reefs. We got to swim and snorkel in these reefs, which were beautiful.”

Day 9: Farwell to Fiji

We woke up at 5:45 AM for yoga and then had breakfast and finished packing. We had to check out of our rooms by 10, so we could leave the island on the boat by 11. Once we got back, we met up on our bus from Beachcomber Island and went on our way to Walt Smith to learn about coral and fish conservation and collection. There we got a tour of their facility and got to learn about their shipping process, how they maintain the health of their fish, and how they make their cultured rock. After that we went to the garden of the sleeping giant, where we saw their plants and went on a hike to a lookout point. They had over 2,005 orchids alone. Then we made our way to the airport to get ready and board for our nighttime flight from Fiji to LAX.

“‘You only realize what you have once it’s goneâ€� is an emotion in itself, which we heavily anticipated… it definitely hit us hard the few days following,” said students about missing Fiji.

Reflections: Post Fiji

We all somewhat anticipated the disdain of returning home, which, to most didn’t quite last long at all, as we slowly reconnected with the friendships we have here. The writer of this short reflection believes they can speak for everyone when they say the 2025 Marine Biology Field Studies Trip allowed the group to form a familial bond like no other. As sappy as it is, you can’t quite help it when you’re nearing the opposite side of the world with a total of 37 students thousands of miles into the South Pacific. Of course, returning from any trip of this distance, the return home isn’t always fun. The dread of this trip’s end was a unique pinpoint we can all look back upon and truly realize how meaningful every single obstacle was.

‘You only realize what you have once it’s gone� is an emotion in itself, which we heavily anticipated, nearing the full day of flying, and it definitely hit us hard the few days following. “Just knowing, like, I won’t see over half these people when we leave, after we’ve formed all these friendships� -Leo Ryan (yes, a student on the trip). If you were to ask each attending student today how they feel about being back, you’ll hear diverse stories and emotions, but I doubt the majority will overlook and cease to acknowledge the facts of these bonds, and how extremely grateful the group is for the extraordinary opportunities to preach and perform on this trip. The greatest takeaway is the appreciation we can only finalize after we’ve gotten time to reflect.