Hi everyone, my name is Kathryn! 👋 I’ve been at Kuda Huraa for 2 months now, so it’s time for an introduction!
I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, nowhere near the coast. On a whim, I got my scuba certification in a murky lake outside of the city. I was seventeen during my first open ocean dive, surrounded by almost a dozen bull sharks in Mexico. I was in complete awe of the beauty and mystery encompassing the underwater world, and after that, you couldn’t keep me out of the water!
Diving in the Kuda Huraa House Reef
Colorful visitor during nursery maintenance
I went on to study Environmental Science with a focus in Marine Science at the University of Texas. Immediately upon graduation, I made my way to Florida where I spent 8 months doing coral restoration in Key Largo. I had learned so much about coral reefs during my classes, it was amazing to work in the field with them for the first time. I vividly remember outplanting my first coral and the sense of excitement that came along with it.
However, shortly after my arrival, the Florida Reef tract experienced a mass bleaching event. I watched in horror as the corals thriving only weeks earlier turned a ghostly white. It felt like every step we took forward with the corals, we took a hundred backwards. Yet, I was learning so much about different forms of restoration from aquaculture and ex-situ nurseries to outplanting methods to ideas of “super corals”. Hope prevailed, despite the circumstances. (See our Reefscapers climate page for background details.)
Propagating corals on Reefscapers frames (House Reef site)
Attending a hands-on coral spawning workshop,
led by Dr. Peter Harrison at the Maldives Marine Science Institute
I joined Reefscapers fully aware that the Maldives were expected to face a mass bleaching event during 2024. I wanted to bring that same hope with me that I carried from Florida. And that hope is still very much alive as the corals here are fighting these high temperatures with all that they have. On one hand, the corals on the Reefscapers frames that were moved to deeper depths have adjusted well. Conversely, bleached corals were still observed to spawn; an extremely energetically intensive process. The corals are not giving up and neither are we. The finish line to this bleaching event is near, and I’m looking forward to observing the recovery of the corals in the upcoming weeks, as the ocean temperatures return to normal ranges.
Spawning event in healthy corals
Spawning event in bleached corals
Speaking of recovery, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time working in the turtle rehabilitation center. The turtles’ journeys from entanglement in ghost nets to healthy and releasable are truly inspiring. Their resilience is impressive. I was lucky to be a part of Kunnu’s release – it was indescribable watching him dive into the sea and return home. These full circle moments are really what makes the job special.
Up close and personal with Maw, resident sea turtle
Holding a sick baby green sea turtle, in our rehabilitation centre
Overall, it has been a wonderful few months with the Kuda Huraa team. We have a busy agenda coming up, so stay tuned for what’s next!
Kathryn x 💙
See you in Chapter 2 at Reefscapers.com
A wild hawksbill turtle swimming over Reefscapers coral frames
Clownfish with anemone, on the reef
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.