By Cooper Stevenson
Published May 19, 2014 at 8:00 am

Marine research crews aboard the Sea Dragon, a 72ft expedition ship, departed Bermuda on Saturday for an eight-day voyage into the Sargasso Sea hoping to learn more about how plastics are distributed throughout ocean depths.

Also aboard is Bermudian conservationist, 24-year-old Winston Godwin, who was given the chance to tag along on the expedition after the Sea Dragon crew found themselves without a Bermudian on board.

The expedition hopes to further aid the research of Boyan Slat, who in 2013 presented a TED Talk on a device he hopes could remove 20 billion tonnes of plastics from the world’s oceans. The Sea Dragon crew hope to gain further understanding of how plastics are distributed vertically throughout the ocean’s depths.

A recipient of the Steinhoff Scholarship by Bermuda Zoological Society, Mr Godwin had been working in Vancouver after graduating from Guelph University in Canada with a degree in geography and environmental studies last year. He has previously volunteered at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, BZS, the Bermuda Turtle Project, and the park rangers.

Winston Godwin with a turtle during a previous research
and conservation initiative. Photo by Akil Simmons

After successfully applying for a volunteer position at the Aquarium, he decided to return to Bermuda after learning that he had secured a spot aboard the ship.

“I saw the opportunity online and applied on a whim. They got back to me two weeks later or so saying I was selected, so I jumped at the opportunity,” he said.

Such expeditions are expensive to go on, especially for graduates still only finding volunteer work. A spot aboard the Sea Dragon on this expedition would have cost Mr Godwin $2,250.

But when Weldon Wage, founder of Bermuda Ocean Explorers, found out he would not be able to go on the trip, administrations coordinator for the Sea Dragon Kate du Plessis felt it was crucial to have a Bermudian on the ship.

With the help of Pangaea Exploration, operators of the Sea Dragon, and Weldon Wade, founder of Bermuda Ocean Explorers, Mr Godwin received a $750 grant toward paying for the trip.

Grant: Weldon Wade, from Bermuda Ocean Explorers, presents Winston Godwin with a $750
grant towards the cost of his place on the Sea Dragon’s research mission. Also pictured is
Sea Dragon administrations coordinator Kate du Plessis. Photo by Akil Simmons

While $1,500 is still a large sum, the chance to partake in the biggest ocean clean up project in the world is one very few conservationists would forgo. Despite his need for a paying job, Mr Godwin felt returning to Bermuda for the chance to go on the expedition was well worth it.

“Through working at different places and connecting with different people I’ve been able to weave my way in. It’s really hard. Literally, from eight years old until now it’s just a slow ball that’s been rolling and it’s still going, slow, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s stuff that I enjoy. It doesn’t feel like work. Going in and feeding sharks and stuff, it’s kinda cool. It’s really enjoyable and it’s great being able to be a part of this project. I’ve done a little bit of [this kind of research] with BIOS, but not to this extent.”

The research he and the Sea Dragon crew will be conducting is crucial to Mr Slat’s Ocean Cleanup Project.

Ms Du Plessis said: “In order for him to do this, he needs to do some background research. Where are the plastics found in the ocean? So what we’re working on is establishing at what level in the water column are we going to find the most plastics.”