![Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] Artemis Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] Artemis](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internship-Maldives-Monica-1-1080-1.jpg)
Artemis, the hawksbill turtle patient at our Rehabilitation Centre
Hi! I’m Mônica, the new marine biology intern at Landaa Giraavaru. I was lucky enough to cross the entire Atlantic to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. I’m still in my first few weeks of working here, and some days I still can’t believe I’m in the Maldives, working every day in the turquoise ocean. Since I arrived, I have been learning a lot about the different conservation programs.
Sea turtle conservation is one of my passions, and here at our Rehabilitation Centre taking care of the turtles is one of my daily jobs. They need to be fed twice a day and their pool kept spotless, a tricky task because they love playing with the vacuum hose while I’m cleaning! We currently have five patients, one juvenile and two adult Olive Ridley’s, an adult Hawksbill and a small green turtle. Unfortunately, three of them cannot ever be released back to the wild due to permanent damage caused by entanglement in fishing gear. This is a sad example of how humans as a species are negatively affecting the oceans and dooming the marine fauna. Landaa’s turtle veterinarian and I are looking for new homes for them in aquariums around the world through the “Flying Turtle” program, so they can have a permanent home with a better quality of life.
![Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] collecting coral fragments Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] collecting coral fragments](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internship-Maldives-Monica-4-1080.jpg)
Collecting coral fragments of Acropora sp. at the house reef
I’ve learnt a lot about the most common coral species here in the Maldives. With the coral biologist, I’ve been collecting coral fragments from the house reef, building coral frames, and monitoring and maintaining the existing frames around the island, surprisingly around 4,500 in total! We want to maintain the colour and life in the ocean, providing habitats, shelter and food for many marine species, and protection for the coastlines against storms and erosion.
![Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] coral frame Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] coral frame](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internship-Maldives-Monica-3-1080.jpg)
Transplanting one of my first coral frames, on the deck outside the MDC
On 8 June, we commemorated World Ocean Day with a clean-up at the house reef, where we spent one hour collecting all anthropogenic materials that we found. I was very happy to get involved in this important activity to remind us of the importance of the oceans in everyday life and the impact of human actions. The oceans produce most of the oxygen we breathe, regulate our planet’s climate, and provide important livelihoods for coastal communities.
![Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] World Ocean Day Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] World Ocean Day](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internship-Maldives-Monica-2-1080.jpg)
World Ocean Day clean-up: the ocean currents carry marine debris far and wide
I also need to share my most incredible moment so far… an encounter with manta rays. One morning, we sighted mantas swimming right here on our house reef, so we quickly put on masks and fins and swam out to the reef. I swam with six of them in the middle of a plankton soup where they were feeding. Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi) are huge animals often spotted feeding along reefs, but like most marine megafauna, they are sadly threatened by fishing and human activity.
![Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] manta Marine biology internship Maldives [Monica] manta](https://marinesavers.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Marine-biology-internship-Maldives-Monica-5-1080.jpg)
Snorkelling with Mantas feeding in a soup of oceanic plankton
It’s been a great experience so far and I’m excited for more. Keep an eye open for updates on my journey.
See you soon
Monica 🌊

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.