Most people correctly assume that SCUBA diving has been a life long passion of mine. Many people may not have guessed that I began diving at the age of 10 and was literally writing my certification test on my 12th birthday. To say that I was a little over eager to get underwater would be a massive understatement! In a desperate attempt to Read More
2017 was a very interesting year for me in terms of photography. I was afforded opportunities to travel to locations that I do not always travel, experiment with new photographic techniques, and focus on a few underwater critters other than manta rays (clearly no offence intended). I also changed camera systems for the first time in 20 years, which was quite Read More
http://www.queenofmantas.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Intelligence-in-the-Ocean.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBBC’s revelatory new documentary on ‘Sharks’ is getting praised around the world for its thoughtful presentation of a traditionally maligned group of animals. Personally I found it so refreshing to be apart of a series that explores something more than shark’s skills as predators or the occasional negative interactions rays have with humans. Those of us Read More
http://www.queenofmantas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Women-in-Science.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadGender related topics almost invariably come up when I talk about my work as a scientist. Conversations that start about my work with manta rays always seem to circle around to probing questions about the challenges of being a female researcher. I find people’s interest in this subject perplexing. Sure, being a field researcher is hard…but Read More
An almost palpable momentum for elasmobranch conservation continues with a clean sweep at the Convention for Migratory Species CoP in Quito Ecuador today. MMF Ecuador’s team was on the floor as 21 species of threatened sharks and rays are successfully listed on the appendices of CMS. With so many species nominated, sharks and rays came away as the big winners at CoP11. Read More