Looking for some of the best (and worst!) scuba diving jokes? We’ve got you covered with funny scuba diving puns and diving jokes that will make you chuckle or at least, get a groan out of you! Either way, you’ll be the toast of the dive bar at the end of a sweet day of diving!
Or, you’ll be left solo-diving for the rest of the trip when your dive buddies hear how bad some of these scuba diving jokes are!
Best Scuba Diving Jokes
What’s the difference between a scuba instructor and a pizza?
A pizza can feed a family of 4.
What type of plant are you likely to see when exiting a shore dive on a rough day?
Face plant
A friend of mine has been offering me free Scuba Diving lessons for years now and has told me we can start next week.
I’m not going to hold my breath.
I had to quit my job as a deep sea diver instructor.
The pressure was too much.
What do you call a Norwegian scuba diver?
A fjord explorer.
Being a free diving instructor requires you to teach others how to hold their breath under water while not using scuba gear.
It’s a tankless job.
I just took my last dive as a scuba diving instructor.
Why did the stingray have a chat with the scuba diver?
He wanted to have a manta-man talk
When Chuck Norris goes scuba diving
He gives the water the bends.
My SCUBA instructor always stressed that you should never go diving alone.
If you have equipment problems, your buddy can help you. If you run out of air, your buddy can help you. If you meet an aggressive shark, your odds are 50-50 instead of 100%.
Two divers go spear fishing.
They catch a lot of fish and return to the shore. The first one says, “I hope you remember the spot where we caught all those fish.” The other answers, “Yes, I made an ‘X’ on the side of the boat to mark the spot.” “You idiot!” cries the first, “How do you know we will get the same boat tomorrow?”
Why do mermaids wear Sea Shells?
B Shells are too small!
I used to have a scuba diving business
But it went under.
I had a girlfriend that went scuba diving…
One day I lobster and never flounder again.
Did you realize that BOYLES law is actually an acronym?
Breath Or Your Lungs Explode Stupid!
What do you call that warm spot in your wetsuit?
a Urinecline!
What type of Decompression Illness do very wealthy SCUBA divers get ?
Mercedes Bends.
How do you know if someone’s a scuba instructor?
Don’t worry, they’ll TELL you.
What lies on the bottom of the ocean and shakes???
A nervous wreck!
Why don’t skeletons tech dive?
They don’t have the guts!
How do get an octopus to laugh?
Ten tickles.
Why don’t sharks eat clowns?
Because they taste funny!
How do divers communicate?
They use speech bubbles.
What do you get when you combine a scuba diver with a janitor?
Jaques Coustodian!
Did you hear they crossed a snow man with a shark?
All they got was frost bite!
Which dog knows how to swim underwater?
Scuba-doo.
A PADI Instructor, a NAUI Instructor and an SSI Instructor walk into a bar.
The bartender looks up and says, “What is this? Some kind of joke?”
Local dive shop has been closed for a few weeks now.
I’m worried they’ve gone under.
Was out diving once when I heard this wonderful singing.
Turned out it was a choral reef.
AND… the ONLY pickup line that might actually work:
Do you need a dive buddy?
Do you know of any good (or super bad) scuba diving jokes and diving puns? Let us know in the comments below!
Sharks have a strong sense of smell. They have this ability thanks to their nostrils or nares, which are found beneath their snouts. The nares exist only for smelling, not for breathing. Thanks to the nares, sharks can detect tiny amounts of various substances in the water. But how far away can sharks smell blood?
Even when the chance of getting killed by sharks is only 1 in 3,7 million, the fear of the predator is still growing. People believe sharks can smell a tiny drop of blood from miles away, thanks to the movie industry and popular culture. Sorry to blow your bubble, but this ‘fact’ is simply not true. Sharks have a strong sense of smell, indeed, but the common information about it is exaggerated.
The smelling ability of each shark depends on its type. Some sharks can detect a scent of a substance that is several hundred meters away, but most sharks don’t. If a shark is found more than a quarter-mile away, they won’t smell your blood and suddenly decide to eat you as a snack.
Some sharks can smell your blood from a quarter-mile away, but the smell doesn’t reach them instantly. Scents reach a shark through the currents, and it would take time for the scent to reach the shark’s nostrils. It also depends on the motion of the ocean. The faster it is, the quicker the scent will travel either closer or away to the shark.
If you get injured and bleed while swimming in the ocean, you still have plenty of time to swim to the beach safely before any shark decides to attack. But if you are still worried about getting attacked by the predator, you may need to know that contrary to common beliefs. Sharks don’t actually like human flesh that much; they are, in fact, picky eaters. For example, lemon sharks love to eat bony fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Sometimes they also enjoy seabirds and small sharks. But humans are not even on their menu.
No. This is just another example of misconceptions built by the dramatic movies about sharks losing their minds and attacking humans just because they smell a drop of blood. This fact is backed up by an experiment by Skylar Thomas from the White Shark Studio Company. Thomas made a video of himself cutting his wrist while being surrounded by blacktip sharks.
The experiment’s point was to prove that sharks don’t go crazy just because of a drop of blood. They can smell the blood for sure, especially when the blood source is so close to them, but due to their strong sense of smell, they smell not only blood but also everything else in the water. So, it is unlikely for them to drop whatever they are doing to go after the blood.
Some critics of the experiment challenge Thomas to perform the same experiment again, but around a more aggressive species of sharks, but it hasn’t been done yet.
Are Sharks Attracted to Blood?
Yes. Not necessarily just human blood, but sharks can be attracted to blood. A former NASA engineer Mark Rober experimented to find what sharks prefer: human blood or fish blood. The experiment is performed using cow blood instead of human blood because all mammal blood practically smells the same to sharks, says Rober. Rober then releases the cow blood and the fish blood in the same area but at a distance to see which one attracts sharks the most. Based on the experiment, the predator prefers fish blood over cow’s blood, so one point for fish and zero points but a bonus life for mammals.
Do Sharks Attack When They Smell Blood?
Sharks use a different sensory system when they are hunting for prey. Blood can be one indicator that leads sharks to their prey, so if it’s the smell of the prey they’ve been hunting, they will attack for sure. On the other hand, human blood is not as interesting for sharks. Just because they can smell you and your blood doesn’t mean they correlated the smell with food and want to eat you.
So why do sharks attack humans? There are multiple theories for this phenomenon. The most popular one is linked to the environmental damage caused by humans that forced sharks to gather in a larger group in a spot where humans’ appearance is common. Sharks can also attack humans because they have mistaken humans’ bodies as their prey. For example, they hunt for a fish and see the tip of someone’s fin and think it’s a fish. The third is that juvenile sharks tend to experiment to increase their hunting ability. So, they can attack people out of curiosity. Other than that, sharks are usually ignoring humans even when they can smell us. Apparently, we are not as tasty to them.
Sharks have nostrils that work only for smelling. They are called nares. The nares contain a lot of sensory cells named olfactory lamellae. The cells interact with the particles in the ocean water to detect even low concentrations of odors, indicating the presence of prey. This includes the smell of blood and other kinds of organic molecules.
So, sharks can smell blood for sure, but it is not the only thing they smell. The smell of blood is just one odor among every other odor in the ocean, including the one that belongs to their favorite prey. Their ability is not limited only to the capability of sensing a smell but also to finding the source of the scent so it will be easier for them to hunt down their prey.
The smell of the blood also needs some time to reach the sharks because they need to travel in the water. So, this also depends on the species of the shark and how far away they can smell blood. Some sharks are sharper at sensing smells, while other’s abilities are just average, just like any other fish.
Can Sharks Smell Fear?
No, they can’t. The sense of smell of a shark is strong, and they can smell everything that interacts with their sensory cell on their nares, but this doesn’t include feelings such as fear. But you need to remember that sharks don’t rely only on just their sense of smell. They have other abilities, too, such as an electro sensing ability. By using this ability, sharks can detect movement and heartbeats of their prey. This way, they can feel if their prey is scared of them, and it will be easier for them to attack the prey based on their movement.
How to Avoid Sharks Attacks?
Even after we learn that humans are not sharks’ favorite meal, we still need to be careful because shark attacks do occur on a regular basis. Shark attacks have cost many people’s lives, and for those who do survive, the loss of limbs, the creation of scars, and trauma are all possible.
Below are a few things you can try to avoid a shark attack:
Swim in groups. This can help you avoid getting attacked by a shark because sharks like to attack lone prey.
Stay close to the shore.
Avoid swimming at night, dawn, and dusk.
Don’t wear shiny jewelry.
Avoid water with lots of bait fishes because they will attract sharks.
Leave the water immediately once you notice the presence of a shark.
Avoid bright-colored clothing because sharks are sensitive to high contrasting colors.
Reduce water splashing because it can attract a sharks’ attention.
Keep pets out of the water.
Don’t try to touch a shark if you see one.
If you do get attacked, do whatever you can to get away from the shark.
One thing we can do to remain safe from any shark is to stay away from them. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to hate them. The way movies portray sharks as evil predators makes people fear them, and therefore hate them. Sharks are predators indeed, but so are we as humans. We eat other animals as well. We can be cautious and be careful when we are in the water, but there is no need to hate the predator.
Now we know how far away can sharks smell blood and that blood is not the only thing matters for sharks. We can learn so many things about them, and better knowledge will lead us to understand them better.
Let’s face it, there is nothing better than a day out in the sun! And while it is crucial to protect your skin against harmful UV rays, it should not be at the cost of our ocean. Shopping for sunscreen in a flooded market with expensive brands, confusing labels, and scientific ingredients is overwhelming. This is why we have created a roundup of the best reef safe sunscreen to help you navigate your way around the technicalities of eco-friendly sun protection!
Sunscreen products prevent sunburn by protecting your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen works in two ways: by absorbing the UV rays before they can damage the skin barrier or forming a layer and blocking the UV rays that reflect off the skin. This layer prevents sun damage and decreases your risk of skin cancer.
It is easy to find sunscreen products in different forms such as sunscreen, sunblock, lotion, foundation, moisturizer, zinc, tinted creams, aerosol sprays, and more. You will find each sunscreen has either water or oil-based and a rating for SPF protection. SPF is the Sun Protection Factor, and this typically ranges from an SPF 15 to SPF 50, determining how long the product is expected to protect your skin from UVB rays.
What Is Reef-Safe Sunscreen?
A reef-safe sunscreen protects the fragility of the coral reefs by being better suited for the ocean environment. Currently, there is no agreed-upon definition or regulation for the term “reef-safe.” This is why we must be well informed of the ingredients and personally check the label.
The best reef-safe sunscreen uses only physical UVA and UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both mineral ingredients are considered safe for the reefs and work by physically blocking the skin from absorbing the sun’s rays.
Read on to find out more.
Why Do We Need Ocean Safe Sunscreen?
Sun protection is vital when heading out to the ocean, whether you are swimming, surfing, snorkeling, or relaxing on the sand; the sun’s UV rays are harmful to our skin.
Sunscreen will inevitably wash off in water from the ocean or the shower, and the potentially harmful chemicals will also be left behind in the water. Scientists believe that sunscreen chemicals threaten up to 10% of the world’s coral reefs.
Consumer purchasing of sunscreen is increasing rapidly, as is marine tourism such as scuba diving and snorkeling. Sporting events, including surfing and swimming, are popular beach activities. To be considered “sun-smart,” sunscreen is commonly applied before entering the water.
Although there are many sunscreen varieties available in different SPF concentrations, the majority have more than 20 chemical compounds. In most cases, within twenty minutes of entering the pool or the ocean, 25% of the sunscreen applied to your skin will be released into the water.
How Do Conventional Sunscreens Harm The Ocean?
Conventional or non-reef-safe sunscreens typically contain harsh chemicals and ingredients small enough in size that the coral reefs absorb the particles. According to scientists, “we conclude that sunscreens, by promoting viral infection, potentially play an important role in coral bleaching in areas prone to high levels of recreational use by humans.”
There are tourist destinations that have already banned the sale of certain sunscreens to protect the reefs. They include the US Virgin Islands, Hawaii, The Pacific Island Nation of Palau, Aruba, and Bonaire Island.
Certain ingredients may harm the delicate ecosystem of the coral reefs.
Research shows that roughly 6000 tons of sunscreen wash into the reefs each year.
Baby coral exposed to oxybenzone and octinoxate exhibit signs of distress, which can lead to coral bleaching.
Coral bleaching is when corals expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, causing them to turn white; this leads to a higher risk of death due to stress.
Certain ingredients found in sunscreen can harm species of marine life, including marine organisms and certain fish.
Bad Sunscreen Ingredients
Our skin is the largest organ in the human body, meaning it absorbs the products we use, including sunscreen. Not only is a reef-safe sunscreen a better choice for the environment, but it is likely a safer choice when it comes to our health. When shopping for a reef-friendly sunscreen, be sure to check the packaging does not contain the following harmful ingredients:
Oxybenzone (disrupts coral reproduction, leads to coral bleaching)
Octinoxate (causes coral bleaching)
Octocrylene
4-methyl benzylidene camphor 4MBC (an ingredient shown to cause coral bleaching which is allowed in Europe and Canada, not in the USA or Japan)
Homosalate
4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
PABA
Parabens
Triclosan
Any nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium
Any form of microplastic
One major factor to consider when shopping for sunscreen is the size of the particles. When it comes to a reef-safe sunscreen, the nanoparticles play an important role. You need to look for “non-nano” to ensure the sunscreen is safe for the ocean. If the size is too small, below 100 nanometers, the reefs can easily absorb the ingredients, and this is what causes harm to the coral.
Be sure to avoid sunscreen containing petrolatum – also called mineral oil – as it takes years to biodegrade and may be harmful to marine life.
Reef-Friendly Sunscreen
1 – Be mindful of a term called “greenwashing.” This is where companies make you believe they are taking care of the environment as part of a marketing strategy, and it is widely used in beauty products to mislead consumers. Labels and tag words such as eco-friendly, green, sustainable, eco, reef-safe, cruelty-free, and vegan are trending across multiple industries. It is essential to recognize if a brand is genuine. Look for certifications and always check the ingredients.
2 – Look for a water-resistant sunscreen that does not dissolve as easily in water. It is less likely to wash off in the ocean.
3 – Find a sunscreen that is certified biodegradable. This means it will break down safely in the water and cause less harm to the ecosystem.
Best Reef Safe Sunscreen Brands
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Sun Bum Original is an oil-free lotion that is suitable for daily wear. It is dermatologist approved and non-comedogenic with both UVA and UVB protection. The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. Sun Bum is reef-safe and is free from Oxybenzone and Octinoxate.
Price: $$$ We love it because SPF ranges from 15 – SPF 70, meaning this range has something for everyone. It smells fantastic and is packed with nourishing Vitamin E. Find it here
Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Another Sun Bum favorite; however, this mineral lotion is perfect for a natural look. The product is designed to sit on top of the skin and leaves a matte finish. The mineral range is also available in a Face Stick SPF 50 and a Tinted Face Sunscreen SPF 30 (fragrance-free).
Price: $$ We love it because this is a new lightweight zinc-based product range. Simply apply the lotion to your skin 15 minutes before sun exposure and protect yourself naturally from the sun. Find it Here
Ethical Zone SPF 50 Natural Sunscreen Lotion
Ethical Zone is suitable for sensitive skin, made with pharmaceutical grade Zinc Oxide, an Australian made product. It is labeled reef-safe and ocean safe. Ethical Zone uses Certified Natural Zinc Oxide by ECOCert 2020 and certified Cruelty Free by PETA in 2020.
Price: $$$ We love it because the Ethical Zone lotion is 80 min Water Resistant and it magically dries on clear, leaving behind no white tint. The natural ingredients are kind to your skin with a coconut and castor oil base and the addition of french vanilla derived from plant extracts. Find it Here
Amavara Mineral SPF 50 Tinted Sunscreen
This is a product designed for extreme weather conditions. It is long-lasting, water-resistant, and sweat-resistant, yet it is a breathable formula. The Amavara Mineral sunscreen has a natural tint and is made for sensitive and acne-prone skin. There is so much to admire about this product. From its vegan-friendly ingredient list to the recycled packaging, the range is never tested on animals.
Price: $$$$ We love it because Amavara uses a naturally-sourced Non-Nano Zinc Oxide as the only active ingredient to protect the environment. The range includes a Tinted Moisturiser, Sunscreen Face Stick, Mineral Sunscreen, and more! Find it Here
Surf Dirt Original SPF 30 Eco Sunscreen
A premium sunscreen made for the ocean, Surf Dirt is a fantastic sun protection product. It has an SPF 30 and a natural tint from the mineral base ingredients. The new non-nano 23% Zinc Oxide is reef-safe and water-resistant. The sunscreen acts as a physical barrier to the sun by remaining on the skin’s surface.
Price: $$$$$ We love it because The eco-friendly bamboo container is perfect for a day at the beach and traveling. Plus, Surf Dirt contains nourishing antioxidants and food-derived ingredients such as coconut, avocado, and jojoba oil to protect your skin. Find it Here
Final Thoughts
It is a good idea to always use high-quality sun protection, including but not limited to a high SPF sunscreen. The good news is that there are many eco-friendly, low-toxic sunscreens available that are both affordable and kind to your skin.
We hope this article has inspired you to try out a reef-safe option next time you are at the beach.
Today we are scuba diving in India, in the popular local tourist town of Pondicherry!
Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry, is a hidden little gem in India’s southeastern section. Found on the border of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry used to be a French Colonial settlement.
However, even today you can find that the city is wrapped in an air of French legacy as you will see chic boutiques, yellow colonial villas and tonnes of bakeries.
WHY ARE WE SCUBA DIVING IN INDIA?
Pondicherry is known for the best mainland diving India has to offer. With blue waters, colourful marine life artificial reefs and massive wrecks; scuba diving in Pondicherry is a beautiful experience. It is popular with beginner divers, and more experienced divers too.
Diving at Temple Reef in Pondicherry. Photo / Temple Adventures
Pondicherry is best known for its artificial reefs. About ten years ago, Temple Adventures, the first dive center in Pondicherry, decided to build some artificial reefs using pyramid structures and old cars. The result of this being an abundance of marine life, making the artificial reefs their home.
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
There are several ways through which you can enter Puducherry.
If you happen to be coming internationally, then you can take a flight to Chennai and enjoy a beautiful ride to Pondicherry.
If you are travelling domestically, then you can either take a flight to Chennai and take a 2 hour road trip to Pondicherry; or you can drive down from wherever you are located to Pondicherry itself.
WHICH DIVE SITES ARE MUST-SEE?
Pondicherry boasts around 26 different dive sites that range from 12 metres to 50 metres. Few of the popular ones are:
Temple Reef (18mts)
This is the artificial reef built by local dive center, Temple Adventures, and is a home to various fish like jellies, angelfish, scorpionfish, lionfish and many moray eels. During the months of February and March, Temple Reef has whale sharks as visitors. These gentle giants visit Pondicherry every year. This dive site is 18 metres deep and is ideal for conducting Open Water Courses.
Danny’s Eel Garden (18 metres)
Discovered by a local diver, Danny’s Eel Garden is particularly great for drift diving. Photo / Temple Adventures
Discovered by Danny, our Pondicherian scuba instructor, Danny’s Eel Garden is known for the widest variety of moray eels. This particular dive site is also popular for drifting and makes it the perfect site for a Drift Diver course.
Aravind’s Wall (40+ metres)
A local diving legend, Aravind, discovered The Wall, which is deep site and a great training site for the Deep Diver course. Dive centers may also conducts Technical Dives for more advanced divers at this site. This dive site is known for it’s array of sea fans and rock formations and is home to a variety of marine life, some of which includes sea snakes, moray eels, barracudas, scorpionfish and many more.
Sidemount diving is popular in Pondicherry. Photo / Temple Adventures
The Trawler Wreck (40 metres)
This is a more recently discovered dive site. Laying at 40 metres, this massive trawler wreck can be found 26kms from the Pondicherry harbour. The wreck is covered in ghost nets, and dive teams will visit the site frequently to clear off all the nets. A perfect site for the Wreck Diver Course and clean-up dives.
The Quarry
Pondicherry even offers freshwater dives. We have numerous quarries around which are perfect for a whole day of scuba diving and picnics. Pondicherry is a great place to learn diving, as you get to experience both salt water and fresh water environments. The quarry is also a great environment to try out freediving.
Quarry diving in Pondicherry. Photo / Temple Adventures
TELL ME MORE
The salt water dives can be accessed via boats, where divers can either back roll into the water or kit up in the water.
As for the fresh water dives, it is an hour long drive from the main city and is a shore walk.
DO I NEED ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT?
Pondicherry waters are considered to be tropical in nature. With water temperatures being a comfortable 26-30 degree celsius; you can wear a 3mm wetsuit, a rash guard or even just a swimsuit!
Warm water scuba diving in Pondicherry. Photo / Temple Adventures
Scuba diving in Pondicherry can be done throughout the year! During the months of February and March Pondicherry sees a rise in plankton which is great because it is what attracts the gentle giants of the sea, the whale sharks.
WHAT LEVEL CERTIFICATION SHOULD I BE?
Scuba diving in Pondicherry is perfect for all types of scuba divers. From being friendly to Discover Scuba Divers to being fun and challenging for technical divers, Pondicherry has it all!
There are quite a few dive centres in Pondicherry that accept licenses from PADI, SSI, RAID and would be happy to assist you on your scuba diving journey.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
The conditions for scuba diving in Pondicherry varies. While most of the time Pondicherry experiences great underwater conditions, with flat surfaces and good visibility. But during the monsoon months which is October to mid December, the conditions can get a little rough and it can alter the visibility. However, freshwater diving is still accessible, which is what makes Pondicherry such an ideal location for scuba divers.
Amazing creatures can be found here in India. Photo / Temple Adventures
HOW MUCH WILL I SPEND?
Scuba diving in India, and in Pondicherry is priced quite reasonably. Two fun dives in this city would cost a diver around 5,000 INR (roughly 70 USD at the time of writing) which includes all the equipment. For non-swimmers, a Discover Scuba Dive would be a perfect entry into the underwater world and would cost a traveler 7,900 INR (~107 USD)
For people that can swim, they can try out the Open Water course which starts at 26,500 INR.
Scuba divers who would like to continue their dive education can even opt to take the Advanced Open Water Course which is priced at 19,500 INR (~265 USD) or take up a specialty course such as Nitrox (14,000 INR) or the Deep Diver Speciality (16,500 INR).
WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE?
Accommodation in Pondicherry is available for all types of budgets.
Hotels: Hotel rooms can start at 2000 INR and go up to 10,000 INR per night and having a rating between 3* to 5*.
Resorts: If you enjoy living by the sea, then the beach resorts in Pondicherry is just for you! The resorts range from 2000 INR and go up to quite high prices per night.
Hostels: If you enjoy backpacking, then there are multiple hostels all over Pondicherry. The starting price of a hostel here, would be around 500 INR.
WHERE DID YOU STAY?
I live here!
DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Pondicherry is a beautiful city. The locals are extremely helpful and everyone is super friendly. Pondicherry has a lot to offer and it is definitely a place worth checking out if you are interested in scuba diving in India!
Diving off the boat in Pondicherry. Photo / Temple Adventures
WHAT DO WE DO ON SURFACE INTERVALS?
Pondicherry has a number of beautiful beaches like Promenade Beach, Serenity Beach, Quiet Beach, Rock Beach, Paradise Beach and more. Each of these beaches are unique in their own way and tourists really enjoy beach-hopping.
With accessible gorgeous beaches all around Pondicherry, it also makes it an ideal spot for beginner surfers! With many surf shops around, anyone can try out surfing and tick it off their bucket-list.
Tourists also enjoy visiting the very many cafes that you will find in White Town and in the French Colony of Pondicherry.
Since Pondicherry is an amalgamation of Indian and French heritage, tourists get to see some interesting architecture. From interesting temple formations to bright coloured french houses; Pondicherry is very aesthetic to the eye.
To the shoppers and party-goers, fret not! Pondicherry has you guys covered too!
Shoppers can find souvenirs and other things at the famous Sunday Market; whereas party-goers can enjoy dancing at the many clubs, Pondicherry has to offer.
Anna Ortega was born in the USA but spends her summers as a marine science teacher at SeaTrek BVI, a summer camp in the British Virgin Islands. For the rest of the year, she is a graduate student at the University of Western Australia where she is part of a collaboration to save the Eastern Pacific leatherback sea turtle.
Please tell us about yourself!
I was born far from the ocean in Flint, Michigan, but that has yet to stop me from being a marine scientist. I’ve done work on coral disease in Turks and Caicos, climate change in the Great Lakes with NOAA, studied spotted eagle ray behavior in the Meso-American reef, protected Eastern Pacific leatherback sea turtles with Upwell, and my current job is teaching at SeaTrek BVI. There, students are immersed in sailing, scuba, and marine science in the British Virgin Islands. I have taught the marine science part for three years. In that time, I have reinvented the science curriculum, and have been promoted to Program Director and the lead of our science-focused program.
Anna about to release Stella the sea turtle after tagging her off the coast of Peter Island, BVI. Photo / Anna Ortega
How did you get into marine science teaching?
I used to catch snapping turtles in butterfly nets and release them, utterly fascinated to be up close with aquatic life. I fell in love with the ocean on a family trip to the USVIs and begged to spend my summers at science camps (Sea Turtle Camp and COSA). I got my bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan where I studied many things.
Marine science is interdisciplinary, which means that it encompasses more than one field: ecology, physics, statistics, geology, chemistry, biology, scientific writing, and communication, etc. You have to understand the foundations of each before you are able to take “marine science” courses.
My degree is in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, so I was hired by SeaTrek BVI as a marine science teacher for my science knowledge. To teach in a classroom, you would have to earn a teaching certificate by taking specific courses like the foundations of teaching and the history of education and pass all of your teaching exams.
Anna finding an octopus living in a glass bottle during an assessment of Marine Protected Area effectiveness in Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos. Photo / Anna Ortega
What does a typical day look like for you as a marine science teacher?
At SeaTrek BVI, our classroom is a 48’ sailing catamaran. Each day is packed with open-ocean sailing, scuba adventures, and hands-on science activities. One day might start with a hike to study island geology, a morning dive to practice our invertebrate identification, an afternoon sail to a dive site where we monitor the health of the coral reefs, free time for watersports, an evening plankton presentation accompanied by a microscopic plankton survey, and end with a night of stargazing across the Milky Way.
My duties are a lot of behind the scenes work: lesson planning and preparation, cleaning equipment, practicing presentations, participating in the dives and hikes, leading the science activities, and being available for any student science questions. I am also part of the boat crew, making sure the boat sails smoothly from location to location and we are on time for all of our exciting activities.
Floating classroom. The view at SeaTrek BVI right before an evening science presentation. Photo / Anna Ortega
What are some of the highlights and lowlights of your job?
My job is to sail the Caribbean and teach students about the marine world, so the highlights are countless.
My favorite part is that the ocean has no doors, so every splash into the water is an anticipatory “I wonder what we will see today”. Sometimes you drop below the surface and a constellation of sea stars is waiting for you, and sometimes it’s humpback whales.
The hardest part of my job is meeting people that are apathetic and show no concern about the health of our oceans. The biggest challenge I face as a marine science teacher is finding out how to communicate my marine knowledge and passion to each person I meet so that the awe and importance of the marine environment reach them too.
My most memorable project was tracking stony coral tissue loss disease in South Caicos. It was my first official marine science research project and I loved every moment: from the 1 AM coding chaos to the hammerhead shark that surprised us 90 ft underwater while we took pictures of our disease. We got to work in teams, research dive twice a day, and present our findings to the local community, it was such an incredible experience.
Anna halfway done with a 10 km kayak to do Sargassum surveys on Middle Creek Cay, the Turks and Caicos Islands. Photo / Anna Ortega
Are you a scuba diver or freediver?
I am an avid fan of both scuba and freediving, and I am still learning both. I’m PADI Advanced Open Water certified and working on my NAUI Rescue and Master Diver as we speak.
My first ten dives were in 40°F (4°C) freshwater, and the last 150 have been in the crystal-clear, always-warm Caribbean. I love freediving Eustatia Sound Barrier Reef in the British Virgin Islands because it is a massive reef but never deeper than 30 ft, so you can hang out and see some fabulous creatures down there.
My favorite dive is The Grotto in South Caicos where the welcoming committee to 100 ft (30m) includes sharks casually swimming by, a four-foot stingray with no tail, a curious sea turtle, resounding whale songs, and a 3,000 ft wall covered with massive corals… it is absolutely unforgettable.
Enjoying the perks of working on the water! Photo / Anna Ortega
What is the coolest experience you have had as a marine scientist?
I am so fortunate to have so many answers for this question!
The most life-changing experience I’ve ever had was when I got to tag my first sea turtle. To understand sea turtle migrations and life history, the Caribbean has an extensive sea turtle tagging program. Each summer… Read More
