A defining experience – honorary DRC team member for three months
My name is Marcus, I love the ocean and my life has been centred around it for as long as I can remember (and even before according to my parents). I had always dreamed of becoming a marine biologist and pursued that dream through getting a BSc in marine biology, followed by multiple experiences in research and conservation. Nowadays, back home in Geneva, I work as an educator in marine biology and ecology for the Geneva Ocean Academy. My goal is to inspire people in Switzerland, a landlocked country, to love and care for the ocean, and help them realize how their choices can have repercussions for species and ecosystems they have discovered and fallen in love with. For the past year I have truly enjoyed how much impact I can have through that medium and concluded that research might not be the path for me.
Marcus out in the field with the DRC. Photo by Nico Fassbender | © Save Our Seas Foundation
However, that idea of research was never fully extinguished, and when I heard I could be eligible to temporarily join the team at SOSF-DRC, I realized it would be an incredible opportunity to get a true taste of world class marine science in an organization at the forefront of elasmobranch research and conservation. Sharks and rays being central to my passion for marine life, I have been following the foundation’s activity for a significant amount of time, which further increased my enthusiasm. After many emails and multiple (quite stressful) interviews, it was confirmed, I would be joining the team for a period of three months, during the busiest period of the year!
Helping Nico with BRUVs deployments on DRC's "Creature". Photo by Nico Fassbender | © Save Our Seas Foundation
My experience here can be summarized in three words: Paradise, Rigor, Family.
The natural beauty that everyone describes about this place, that can be seen from pictures, does NOT do it justice, it’s even MORE stunning. Underwater, just like on land, the incredible colors and patterns, and incredible biodiversity has left me in awe since day one.
The work here has been nothing short of fascinating. Never have I seen or heard of a research centre with such an assortment of long term operations, all performed at the highest level of thoroughness. I am incredibly thankful and proud to have contributed to many of these such as sea turtle tagging and monitoring, juvenile reef shark mark-recapture, acoustic receiver and temperature logger dives, manta ray surveys, and reef fish and benthic surveys.
I also assisted visiting researchers with fascinating projects, such as Renato Morais’ reef fish biodiversity study, Rachel Newsome’s manta tagging efforts and Nico Fassbender’s photogrammetry dives and BRUV deployments.
Marcus assisting Dr Renato Morais with his deployment of oceanographic instruments at St Joseph. Photo by Ellie Moulinie | © Save Our Seas Foundation
While there was a lot of field work there was a proportionate amount of office work as well, which was great, providing me with top class experience in both facets of the job. All in all, I can confidently say that I have never learned so much in such a short time span.
Finally, an aspect I didn’t specifically expect or think about when coming to D’Arros is how caring and genuine the team members are. Everyone refers to the team as their “island family”, fittingly so. Rob, Hen, Ellie and Dillys are incredible scientists, of course, but also happen to be fantastic people, who will make any temporary team member feel at home. Sunday brunches, movie nights, Hen’s tasty baking. Away from home they have managed to create an impressive homely vibe, vital to fostering a happy team!
Amidst the island family after a long day in the atoll. Photo by Henriette Grimmel | © Save Our Seas Foundation
What else is there left to say? Thank you SOSF and DRC, thank you for the opportunity first of all, thank you for the incredible experience, the knowledge I have gained, and the life long connections I have made. Throughout this internship I have been inspired to drive change through research, in addition to education, and am more motivated than ever. I have decided to pursue a master’s degree and hopefully I’ll soon work with SOSF again, perhaps studying spotted eagle rays in the Seychelles!