marsh

By Capt. Olivia Biological productivity looks at how much biomass is being produced in a given area. Ecosystems with high bio-productivity appear as lush, thriving environments jam-packed with plants and animals. There are multiple ways to measure bio-productivity, which alter rankings slightly, but tropical rainforests, estuaries (including salt marshes), and swamps consistently rank among the most productive ecosystems on Earth.  Tropical Rainforests Tropical rainforests (e.g. the Amazon) thrive due to consistent, year-round sunlight, heat, and rainfall. These conditions allow life to thrive, and decomposition to happen fast, so that nutrients are rapidly recycled within the system. Because of this they are home to the highest terrestrial biodiversity on the planet, and contribute a massive amount of carbon sequestration, which helps mitigate global climate change.   Estuaries Estuaries are semi-enclosed areas where salt water from the ocean and fresh water from…

Fall is hands down the best time to be in the Lowcountry.   The water is still warm and it’s hot enough to enjoy a beach day without the full summer sauna effect. As an ecotour company, we work long hot hours in the summer and it’s bittersweet the first morning there’s a chill in the air and the first sunset cruise we put on a jacket. (*We’re total wimps – that’s 75 degrees.  We’re used to…

By Capt. Weatherly   Every August, the salt marsh announces the coming of Fall. I have a little flash of excitement combined with sadness when I see the first one: a blade of Spartina grass soaring proudly above the rest. It’s my signal that the long, lazy days of summer are slipping away. Our salt…

By Capt. Weatherly While many people are familiar with the sea turtles that visit our beaches to nest, they’re not the only ones laying eggs this time of year. June also marks the peak of horseshoe crab nesting!  Horseshoe crabs spend most of their lives offshore, but during late spring and early summer they emerge…

Join us for a short kayak tour of Big Bay Creek. We’re more photographers that videographers and are still learning what works, sorry for the wind and camera noise! ‎

Spring in the Lowcountry is a magical time. It only lasts about 2 weeks before the heat turns on so enjoy every minute of it!   New green grass beginning to push up from the pluff mud is always a first sign of warmer weather to come. Azaleas are in full bloom around Charleston and…