About

Our mission

We are a team composed by marine scientists who firmly believe that knowledge is the best way for Galicia´s marine ecosystem conservation. We want to transfer the message of how important is the ocean in our lives by using citizen sciece as a powerfull tool that brings marine research closer to society.

Our mission will be achieved by creating tourism and educational experiences framed in marine scientific projects throught which citizens will be able to collaborate with marine research public institutions.

The team

This project is lead by Diana Zúñiga, an oceanographer from Galicia that has developed her research career in different national and international marine research institutes since 2001. As a marine scientist, her work focuses on study the role of the ocean in climate regulation and the importance of plankton on Galician´s marine ecosystem sustainability.

Her passion for dissemination of marine research led her in 2019 to obtain the official guide certificate of the Marine and Terrestrial Atlantic Islands from Galicia National Park.

PUBLICATIONS

Zúñiga, D., Sanchez-Vidal, A., Flexas, M.M., Carroll, D., Rufino, M., Spreen, G., Calafat, A., Abrantes, F., 2021. Sinking diatom assemblages as a key driver for deep carbon and silicon export in the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean). Frontiers in Earth Science, 9:579198. doi: 10.3389/feart.2021.579198.

Zúñiga, D., Kaal, J., Villacieros-Robineaur, N., Froján, M., Alonso-Pérez, F., De la Granda, F., Castro, C.G., 2019. Tracing sinking organic matter sources in the NW Iberian upwelling system (NE Atlantic Ocean): Comparison between elemental, isotopic and molecular indicators. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 139, 114-122.

Zúñiga, D., Santos, C., Froján, M., Salgueiro, E., Rufino, M.M. De la Granda, F., Figueiras, F.G., Castro, C.G., Abrantes, F., 2017. Diatoms as a paleoproductivity proxy in the NW Iberian coastal
upwelling system (NE Atlantic). Biogeosciences, 14, 1165–1179.

Zúñiga, D., Villacieros-Robineau, N., Salgueiro, E., Alonso-Pérez, F., Rosón, G., Abrantes, F., Castro, C.G., 2015. Particle fluxes in the NW Iberian coastal upwelling system: Hydrodynamical and biological control. Continental Shelf Research, 123, 89-98.

Zúñiga, D., Castro, C.G., Labarta, U., Figueiras, F.G., Aguiar, E., Fernández-Reiriz, M.J., 2013. Biodeposits contribution to natural sedimentation rates in the Ría de Ares-Betanzos (NW Iberian Peninsula). Aquaculture. 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2014.05.026.

Zúñiga, D., Froján, M., Castro, C.G., Alonso-Pérez, F., Labarta, U., Figueiras, F.G., Fuentes-Santos, I., Fernández-Reiriz, M.J., 2013. Feeding between physiological activity of Mytilus galloprovinciallis Lmk and biogeochemistry of the water column: microbial plankton as a tracer for food quality. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 476: 101-114.

Zúñiga, D., Alonso-Pérez, F., Castro, C.G., Arbones, B., Figueiras, F.G., 2011. Seasonal contribution of living phytoplankton carbon to vertical fluxes in a coastal upwelling system (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain). Continental Shelf Research, 31: 414-424.

Zúñiga D., Sanchez-Vidal, A., Calafat, A., Flexas, M., Coenjaerts, J., Company, J.B., 2009. Particle fluxes dynamics in the Blanes submarine canyon (NW Mediterranean). Progress in Oceanography, 82 (4): 239-251.

Zúñiga D., Calafat A., Heussner S., Miserocchi S., Sanchez-Vidal A., Garcia-Orellana J., Canals M., Carbonne, J., Delsaut, N., Saragoni, G., 2008. Compositional and temporal evolution of particle fluxes in the open Algero-Balearic Basin (Western Mediterranean): the relevance of aeolian supply and hydrological features. Journal of Marine Systems, 70:196-214.

Zúñiga, D., Price, B., Calafat, A., Sanchez-Vidal, A., Heussner, S., Miserocchi, S., Canals, M., 2007. Particulate organic carbon budget in the open Algero-Balearic Basin, Western Mediterranean: an assessment from a one year sediment trap experiment. Deep Sea Research I, 54(9): 1530-1548.

Zúñiga D., García-Orellana J., Price N.B., Calafat A., Adatte T., Sanchez-Vidal A., Canals M., Sanchez-Cabeza, J.A., Masque, P., Fabres, J., 2007. Late Holocene fine-grained sediment of the Balearic Abyssal Plain, Western Mediterranean Sea. Marine Geology, 237: 25-36.

Our values: sustainability and ecotourism

Our commitment to prevent greenhouse gas emissions encourage us to strictly follow United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13, which calls to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, and Goal 14, which seeks to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/).

North wind philosophy is based on the idea that it is possible to enjoy sailing minimizing our carbon emissions footprint, and thus our impacts on the marine environment and those who lives in. In order to reduce negative effects on our beautiful ocean we are profoundly focus on avoiding plastics onboard. We are aware that sometimes this is a difficult task, but all our efforts will always be focus on getting better solutions.

Policies Cancelations & Reservations

Enjoying this activity savely depends on weather conditions, thus meaning that North Wind reserve the right to cancel the trip at the time and place of departure. In case of bad weather conditions we guarantee you a full refund, or, if possible, the trip will be rescheduled at your convenience.

North Wind works with different boat companies and for that reason we will inform about the reservation rules depending on the selected trip.

COVID latest information and advice: https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/atencionCiudadana/Crisis-sanitaria-COVID-19.html

Contact us

Diana Zúñiga
Email: info@northwind.gal

+34 605 89 51 83
Baiona, Galicia, Spain

GPS coordinates: 42.110654, -8.833467