What Does a Marine Biologist in the Maldives Do All Day? It’s Even Better Than You Think

TURQUOISE AND WHITE might epitomize the Maldives, but dip your head underwater and you’ll find a rainbow world. This Indian Ocean archipelago’s vibrant marine life draws divers, snorkelers and animal enthusiasts from around the globe.

Among them are hundreds of marine biologists, many of them women, who conduct research and educate guests at resorts across the atolls. We spoke to five of them about how they spend a typical day in their underwater office.

Dr. Katrina Himpson

Marine Discovery Centre Manager at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Morning: I get on my scuba gear and buddy up with coral biologist Laura to monitor some of our coral frames. This is an important process that involves taking pictures of the frames in the water to monitor the coral’s growth and survival. We do this once every six months for every frame around the island. With over 5,500 frames planted at this site, it’s no small task!

Afternoon: After a quick break for lunch, I lead the daily snorkel trip to a nearby reef. I decide to take the guests to one of my favorite spots with vibrant corals and an explosion of fish life. We’re very lucky and spot a couple of cute juvenile reef sharks and a curious hawksbill turtle. Back in the office, I purchase new supplies for our marine projects, including a new sea pen for our rescued turtle patients and a satellite tracking tag to follow their movements after they are released. Then, I head to our turtle rehabilitation center to help feed and check on the patients.

Evening: At 6 p.m., it’s time to close the marine center. With that done, I run to catch the next ferry to Kamadhoo, the neighboring island, with some of the other marine biologists. We sit outside under the lanterns in the trees, and I enjoy a dinner of local fish curry.

Miriam Staiger

Project Manager Maldives Manta Conservation Program (Manta Trust) at Six Senses Laamu

Morning: I start the day with a research dive. I deploy remote cameras on our manta ray cleaning stations to study manta ray behavior when we are not around. When I’m lucky, I also get to take an underwater ultrasound scanner of a pregnant reef manta to study their pregnancy. After that, I jump on a guest dive boat to show five guests our beautiful ocean giants. During the dive, I take pictures of the manta rays so that I can give our guests more information about the individual mantas and share photos with them.

Afternoon: I work through the data I collected during the morning dive and conduct a kids’ club session in our marine center, the SHELL. Afterward, I teach them about manta ray biology, they dress up as manta rays and we play other educational games.

Evening: I give a guest presentation to 20 resort guests while they enjoy a drink or an ice cream near the ocean. I teach them about the specific work we conduct at Six Senses Laamu and why it is so important that we keep protecting manta rays in the Maldives and be a role model for other countries to follow.

Nuria Costa

Resident Marine Biologist at Anantara Kihavah Maldives

Morning: As the sun rises, I embark on a research expedition to assess the health of coral reefs. Accompanied by the other in-house marine biologist and my underwater camera, we dive into the ocean monitoring for signs of bleaching or disease. Our mission is to understand the intricate ecosystem dynamics and identify factors impacting reef resilience to improve success rates with our coral restoration program.

Afternoon: In the heart of the day’s warmth, our quest for reef manta rays begins. We scan the ocean floor for signs of movement, and we spot a congregation of teen reef manta rays in the water column. We join them underwater for more than one hour with our guests.

Evening: During twilight, I gather with colleagues for a sunset beach cleanup. We comb the shores, collecting debris and restoring the pristine beauty of our island home. I’m filled with gratitude for the magical experiences and meaningful connections fostered by life as a marine biologist in the Maldives.

Amandine Vuylsteke

Sustainability Manager and Marine Biologist at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

Morning: Each morning, I snorkel around the island to observe the reef. Sometimes, I check corals; sometimes, I assess fish species, looking out for general health. If I spot any diseases on the corals, I look at their evolution.

Afternoon: Upon returning, I transition into an educator, emphasizing responsible snorkeling practices to our marine butler team, like why using responsible sun protection is a must to protect our reef, and that they should snorkel away from the shallows, staying horizontal and not stepping on the reef.

I also conduct immersive workshops for guests. One of the most popular ones is Fish Diversity, where I teach guests to recognize five key fish families that are important for reef health, then we go do a fish survey around the reef, observing what we learned while snorkeling. The other popular workshop is Guardian of the Reef. Guests can choose what they want to become a guardian of—turtles, sharks, or coral—and they learn about the biology and behavior of their selected species. Then we go and observe them in their natural habitat to gather data as citizen scientists.

Evening: In the evenings, I engage with guests at the resort’s Long Bar to discuss the marvels of the ocean. Beyond a job, it’s an opportunity to protect oceans and inspire appreciation for their beauty.

Andreia Tami Akaki

Marine Biologist & Dive Instructor at Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island

Morning: I take guests out diving to two dive sites, one called Blue Caves and another one called Kathifaru. Both dive sites have many types of corals and colorful fishes. If we are lucky, there is always a chance to see a beautiful hawksbill turtle, graceful eagle rays, moray eels, and white-tip reef sharks.

Afternoon: I start my afternoon with a marine talk for the guests. In this talk, I explain the importance of coral reefs and what we can do to protect them. The guests follow me in the water, and while they are snorkeling, they can watch me planting coral on the coral frame. It is one of the ways to regenerate the house reef around Olhahali Island.

Evening: It is always a pleasure to share my knowledge about marine life with kids in the evening. They love fun facts, for example: How long can sea turtles hold their breath? Or how do dolphins sleep? It is a good opportunity to make them interested in marine life and make them aware of which human behaviors contribute to damage to the marine environment.

Lede and hero image courtesy of Anantara Kihavah Maldives.

Written By