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Job Title: Founding member and principal investigator for the The Aldabra Marine Programme (affiliated to Cambridge University Coastal Research Unit), and researcher at the “Instituto Español de Oceanografia” (Spanish Institute of Oceanography).

Role in the Red Sea Project: Ground truthing ROV operations and dive support, coral identification.

Age: 41.

Home: Costitx, Mallorca, Spain.

Qualifications:

O-Levels - English Language, English Literature, Spanish, Geography, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Human Biology.
A-Levels -. Biology, Chemistry, Spanish.
B.Sc (Hons) 1st class B.Sc joint honours Marine Biology and Applied Zoology.
PhD Marine Science.
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI): Dive Master.

Career path:

Following my A levels I took a year off to travel and to decide what I wanted to do next. During that year I gained sailing experience and decided I definitely wanted to pursue a career in marine science. I then went on to take my first degree in marine science and applied zoology at Bangor University, North Wales. Following my degree I was lucky enough to become involved with a project for Spanish Television making a 14 episode series on coral reefs. I got this job partly from knowing someone involved, and because they were looking for someone bilingual in Spanish/English with a marine science degree and an interest in underwater photography. While I was working on this project I had my first taste of coral reefs and decided I had to work on them. With that in mind I got in touch with several universities and applied for a Commonwealth Scholarship which I was awarded to study in Australia. I spent three and a half years doing my PhD on coral reproduction and taxonomy in Townsville, Australia. Following my PhD I found it hard to obtain employment back in Europe and decided to set up my own business groing water plants and constructing lakes and ponds. This worked well for several years but I missed the sea. Opportunity arose in 1999 to get involved with a project at Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles) on a voluntary basis. After two years we were able to gain funding to pay me a salary and I closed my business to work exclusively on Aldabra. In early 2004 funds were running short so I went back to working on Aldabra on a voluntary basis, and took a job at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography working on baited underwater video surveys of Mediterranean marine parks and currently on the EMPAFISH project that is looking at the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Europe and for ways in which they can be improved.

Interests/Hobbies:

My main interest is undoubtedly photography, I have been taking photographs ever since my father let me start using one of his cameras when I was twelve. Most of my subjects are to do with nature, particularly underwater. I have also had some experience in 16mm cinematography, and more recently have had some work doing digital video work, which I really enjoy. Other interests include biological illustration and gardening/landscaping. Where sports are concerned I regularly practice breath hold diving, and have been scuba diving since I was thirteen (I have been fortunate enough to dive at many different locations). I also enjoy cycling on a regular basis.