The most important thing to bring is a jacket and a hat and sunscreen. Visit our What to Bring page for more information.

US Coast Guard approved Type 1 lifejackets will be provided to all students. Students will not be allowed to wear personal lifejackets.

The program can be modified to accommodate all weather conditions. There are very few spaces available for rescheduling, so we respectfully request that you commit to your date.

Class cancellation policy: Class cancellation due to dangerous weather conditions is at the discretion of the captain and will be communicated to teachers 24 hours prior to their OSO trip. The teacher will be responsible for communicating this information to their chaperones and class. If the teacher has to cancel their trip, please communicate this to OSO staff ASAP. We kindly request 30-days notice for cancellations. There is no guarantee that we can reschedule your trip during the OSO fall or spring season.

Class cancellation policy: Class cancellation due to dangerous weather conditions is at the discretion of the captain and will be communicated to teachers 24 hours prior to their OSO trip. The teacher will be responsible for communicating this information to their chaperones and class. If the teacher has to cancel their trip, please communicate this to OSO staff ASAP. We kindly request 30-days notice for cancellations. There is no guarantee that we can reschedule your trip during the OSO fall or spring season.

The O’Neill Sea Odyssey works with classes of students from Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Clara County.  While we welcome applications from all organized groups of students, we prioritize classes that meet the Sea Odyssey mission of reaching students that would not otherwise have the opportunity to access our coasts and ocean.  Please contact the OSO Program Manager if you have further questions.

We have a number of ways for people to get involved and support the Sea Odyssey program.  We are always looking for volunteers to help in the office and onboard the Sea Odyssey program.  Check out the Volunteer Page for more information.

The O’Neill Sea Odyssey is part of the harbor community of businesses.  There are a number of benches around the harbor where students can enjoy their lunches.  You can eat on the benches at the end of the building, or at the picnic tables near the Beach Market.  But please remember, chaperones are asked to supervise students at all times and to keep voices low to not disturb other businesses.

O’Neill Sea Odyssey staff is not able to provide any over-the-counter medications during your field experience with us.  If you have concerns about your student, please discuss with your classroom teacher in advance.

If you are not able to access the Monterey Bay for a single day field trip, consider a virtual program and bring the ocean to your students!  O’Neill Sea Odyssey staff has developed a series of virtual programs that mirror our traditional program.  Contact the O’Neil Sea Odyssey Program Manager for more information and to discuss scheduling a time.