![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (3) nurse shark Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (3) nurse shark](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-3-nurse-shark-1920.jpg)
A nurse shark resting underneath our Reefscapers coral frames
The past 6 weeks for me here in the Maldives have been a real rollercoaster and a fantastic learning experience. (If you missed it,here’s the first part of my story > Chapter 1.) Adjusting to life on a small island has been easier than I expected, and it’s been good to have time off to explore the island above and below the waves. It is very peaceful here, in stark contrast to many other places around the world. One simple thing I’ve started to enjoy after finishing work is a relaxing cycle ride around Bodu Huraa, exploring the narrow sandy lanes at dusk.
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (12) cinderella frame Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (12) cinderella frame](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-12-cinderella-frame-800.jpg)
Our decorative ‘Cinderella carriage’ originally installed in June 2021
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (13) coral frames Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (13) coral frames](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-13-coral-frames-800.jpg)
Reefscapers artificial reefs create biodiverse coral gardens
Our coral work has really stepped up a gear over the past few weeks. I’ve helped to drop new coral frames on the House Reef and reposition them underwater (physically challenging!), retransplanting corals onto the shallow water frames, and monitoring for signs of coral spawning in the evenings. The coral propagation and monitoring work takes up most of our time, as there is always so much to do. It is encouraging to see how many of our corals have survived this year’s seasonally warm ocean temperatures.
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (14) batfish portrait Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (14) batfish portrait](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-14-batfish-portrait-800.jpg)
The local batfish are very friendly!
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (5) batfish Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (5) batfish](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-5-batfish-800.jpg)
Batfish posing for the camera!
During the coral work, I’ve experienced some special marine sightings, including close encounters with eagle rays, my first guitar shark, porcupine rays and batfish. I have also found some very interesting creatures at the opposite end of the scale hiding amongst the corals, including nudibranchs and tiny coral crabs. Outside of this, my first trip to Bandos on a Shark Safari was very special. I got close to several whitetip reef sharks, and explored giant underwater caverns full of shoals of oriental sweetlips, bannerfish and parrotfish.
I also received a surprise one morning while cleaning the MDC boat… I spotted 15 moray eels (of 3 different species) living in the rocks, uncomfortably close to my leg!
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (9) eels Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (9) eels](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-9-eels-800.jpg)
There are more than 200 known species of moral eels …
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (10) eel Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (10) eel](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-10-eel-800.jpg)
… they may look fierce, but are largely harmless …
just be careful not to stand on one!
Some of my other recent tasks have included:
- creating new environmental enrichment devices (‘pool toys’) for Ari our resident Olive Ridley turtle patient;
- ensuring the turtles pools and aquariums are clean and well-maintained;
- identifying individual dolphins photographed on the ocean cruises, as part of our Dolphin ID Project;
- recoating old coral frames so they can be recycled and re-used;
- removing any invasive species (Crown of Thorns) that threaten the corals;
- my new project, performing transects to quantify the animal species living around our restored reefs.
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (2) spinner Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (2) spinner](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-2-spinner-800.jpg)
Spiner dolphin leaping from the water …
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (2) spinner Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (2) spinner](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-1-spinner-800.jpg)
… they are always entertaining and exhilerating to watch!
In the first week of June, we had World Environment Day and World Ocean Day in the same week, so I joined three different beach and underwater clean-ups. A large group of staff volunteers cleaned up the Sunset Beach lagoon on World Ocean Day, collecting discarded cement bags and trash from the sea floor. We also organised a beach clean-up on Bodu Huraa with the local schoolchildren, where we found a whole discarded bathtub!
These beach and ocean clean-ups are a reminder of the important work needed to conserve our oceans, as there is so much trash and so many coral reefs are on the brink; thankfully, plenty of young people are willing to step up and take action.
It has been very fulfilling to work with a team of dedicated and like-minded people, who also know how to have fun every now and then!
I have been very grateful for the opportunities that I have had to learn and develop new skills, and I hope to keep learning for the rest of my time with Reefscapers.
So long everyone 👋
Callum 💙
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (8) green turtle Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (8) green turtle](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-8-green-turtle-800.jpg)
Green sea turtle on the reef
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (15) ray Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (15) ray](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-15-ray-800.jpg)
A ray feeding in shallow water on the sand flats
![Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (11) blacktip reef shark Marine biology internships Maldives [callumswildlifephotography] (11) blacktip reef shark](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internships-Maldives-callumswildlifephotography-11-blacktip-reef-shark-1080.jpg)
A hungry blacktip reef shark patrolling our coral frames

Do you want to experience life as a marine biologist
here in the Maldives ?
Head over to our Employment page to read about the different ways you can work with us - full time, apprentice or intern.
And see more from our Interns in their very own words & photos as part of our Diary / Blog series.