About Me

My Story

I’ve always loved being in and around the ocean. I grew up going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where I would spend hours mesmerized by the fish swimming around me. I always attended the show where the diver would feed the fish and talk to the audience. It was my dream to be that diver one day.

I studied marine biology in college at Oregon State University and pursued whatever hands-on experiences I could get, especially diving-related ones. I worked with CIEE Bonaire, USDA, Oregon Sea Grant, and Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Visitors observing a large underwater coral reef exhibit at an aquarium.

Graduate school took me to St Thomas, where I completed my Masters in Marine and Environmental Science at the University of the Virgin Islands. I fell in love with the mesophotic reefs that are so prevalent and the technical diving that allows me to spend time at depth. I have now lived on the island for more than 10 years, and am a hypoxic trimix rebreather diver and USCG-certified captain.

I cofounded a nonprofit, Reefs Unknown, dedicated to studying and spreading awareness about reefs in unexpected places, including mesophotic depths. I also enjoy volunteering for the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), which oversees scientific diving, and AstraFemina, which inspires girls to become women in STEM.

A scuba diver underwater holding a writing board and pen, wearing a wetsuit, mask, and fins.

Photo by Jason Quetel