Hi, my name is Stephanie, I’m from France and I am the new intern for Reefscapers at Kuda Huraa. 👋
I’ve just finished my first month with the team and I can assure you that it’s been an intense and eventful month! I’ve been lucky enough to be able to discover the marine world in the Maldives, and also to realise the vital emergency that corals are currently facing as a result of climate change and the El Nino phenomenon.
At the Marine Discovery Centre, we offer guests the chance to make their own coral frame, to help restore the corals around the island, and also to raise awareness of the benefits that corals provide for the whole marine ecosystem.
Experiencing coral spawning for the first time 💜
MAW, our rehab Olive Ridley turtle, wearing harness
Each snorkelling trip is uniquely magnificent, taking place at different sites around the islands and reefs of the atoll, allowing us to see different animals such as rays, turtles, sharks and even dolphins! The team gives a 30-minute presentation before we set off, to make guests aware of the marine life they could encounter, and also to reassure them about swimming with sharks (I was also apprehensive the first time, but the presentation really helped me to swim with confidence).
My daily commute with colleagues
We check for the presence of maturing pigmented coral eggs
During special night snorkels, we have been monitoring for the presence of coral eggs to predict the timing of the next coral spawning… and hopefully to witness this exciting natural phenomenon! Despite living close to the Mediterranean Sea in France, I had never seen this spectacle.
The mass release of coral eggs occurs just once or twice per year, at low tide, at night, around the full moon period. It’s a magnificent and timeless event. We identified the different colonies that spawned, using their tags and photos, and then measured them individually.
Mature gamete bundles in corals on the reef
Corals on the point of spawning
The Reefscapers team is really fun, passionate, and multidisciplinary, with people from different countries of the world. Each of my work colleagues has been teaching me so much over the last month, things that will be useful for the rest of my career. I’m very grateful to be able to assist with each of their specialised projects:
- Thais, our resident turtle veterinarian, taking care of Maw, a double-amputee turtle who is staying with us. From feeding and caring for her, to cleaning her pool. We also work on the photo-identification of different turtle individuals around the Maldives (mostly green turtles and hawksbills).
- Alex, our marine biologist, photo-identifies the cetaceans we encounter, thanks to their unique dorsal fin patterns. To date, more than 400 cetaceans have been identified since 2018, and I’ve been able to identify and name four new individuals in the last month, including: Barbie, Ken, Olala and Zinzin.
- Shona, our coral biologist, setting up coral frames, transplanting fragments, and frame monitoring. We take four photos of the coral frames (from different angles) every six months, to see how they have grown, and to send out to our kind sponsors. Many of the coral fragments grow and flourish over several years, whereas other corals die off for various reasons (disease, warm temperatures, being eaten…) and are replaced.
- Carlo, our coral assistant, teaches me how to identify the different coral species on our frames and on the wild reef, and I have been learning to manage the coral databases.
- Charlie, Manager of the MDC, has arranged scientific dives for me, and given guidance on my personal project, which I will be setting up next month (… to be continued!)
Lots of time underwater
Spotted! Wild green turtle on the reef
Dolphin excursion – taking ID photos
It’s reassuring to know that the creation of our coral frames is helping as a nursery for varied species of fish and other stealthier individuals such as octopus. The spectacle of seeing the corals fluoresce at night with a specialised torch and seeing the bioluminescence they produce is just indescribable.
The marine world is full of surprises, and I can’t wait to continue my experience to discover more and help maintain this ecosystem.
À bientôt: chapter 2
Stephanie 💙
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.