Helping you access Virginia's coastal wilderness
The Coastal Research Center provide access for scholars to reach the remote coastal barrier system of Virginia's Atlantic Coast. We have a fleet of shallow-water research vessels that can be reserved to access the barrier islands, marshes, oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, and lagoons to the East of Accomack and Northampton Counties. Our skilled boat operators provide the expertise to safely navigate the shallow and complex coastal system. Our staff can work with you to identify suitable research sites and coordinate tides and travel times to help establish an effective plan for research.
Request a boat trip
Please use the sections on Field Safety and Weather and Tides to begin your preparations. Once you have an idea of what you need, contact station staff to verify that we can accommodate your needs. We are here to help you successfully complete your research while keeping your crew safe. Once we have agreed to a basic plan for research, use the Reservations system to request a boat trip. Be sure to complete all fields and provide enough detail in the notes so that staff can understand your plan. This allows us to correct details, as needed.
For quick reference, the daily low tides at the station (Oyster Harbor) are provided on our public calendar.
