Here you can find a short description/introduction from the people who are going to join us on our marine life survey expedition in January 2008. Some people presented only a short introduction on the GVI website. So more information and hopefully pictures are to follow.

 

Peter Zoon »

I will start with introducing myself pending information from fellow group members. My name is Peter Zoon and I’m 29 years old. Unlike some other members i’m not on a gap-year I studied chemistry at the University of Amsterdam, during my masters project I became enthralled by the interaction of light with molecules. This inspired me to start a PhD fellowship, at the same university, and study this interaction at the most highest sensitivity possible: single molecule spectroscopy. After this I wanted to move from this rather fundamental topic to something more practical. Currently I’m working on a Post-Doctoral fellowship at the biology department, where we are developing a new kind of microscopy to lengthen the time live-cells can be studied under the microscope. I learned diving in 1995 at the beautiful island of Isla Mujeres, just of the coast of Cancun. After a rather long period of inactivity at this front, I picked up the diving virus again in 2005. During a holiday in Mexico, Jessamijn and I ended up in the rural town of Mahahual, visiting some family friends. With this magnificent reef just off the coast how could one resist diving ? Her I did my advanced open water course. In February 2007, we badly needed a holiday. After some thinking we quickly realized that a diving trip to Egypt was just what we needed. While laying besides the pool at our hotel, we already fantasized about future trips. During this holiday I saw a GVI advertisement in a diving magazine. So back at home I decided to have a look at this website. Then I found outthere was another marine life survey project, and of all places it was in Mahahual !

I had already decided in Egypt, after talking with another Dutchman with whom we shared the dive boat, that I also wanted to dive in the Netherlands. So one thing lead to another and we are on the list to go Mahahual and are happily diving in the Netherlands. There is much more life than I ever expected. The water is bit more murky and greenish than in the tropics (typical visibility is up to 5m, but 30cm isnt unheard of either). After getting some experience with diving in the colder, darker and lower visibility waters here, it was time to extend the education with a Rescue Course. During this course we calmed, dragged and performed CPR on a bunch of Tech divers (as can also be read on the homepage). Recently, we acquired our own gear and are now practically diving every weekend. Before we leave to Mexico in January, we do have a nice little week of diving planned in Croatia. Where we probably are gonna see some beautiful wrecks.

Hope to see you all soon in Mahahual.

Cheers,

Peter

 

 

Jessica Hopf »

Hi everyone! My names Jess and I`m originally from Melbourne in Australia. I am currently studying marine biology at James Cook University in Townsville in Queensland, Australia and absolutly loving it!! I am really excitied about this expedition and exploring mexico and its surroundings…..

 

Alexis Tannock »

Nickname is Lexi or Lex. 27yo, female australian. Love diving..man, this is hard so here`s a joke that you can all give me crap about when we meet: What did one snowman say to the other? -Do you smell carrot? Sorry, its bad, but I laughed. Will try to do better when we meet. Till then!

My name is Alexis and I’d like to apologise now for such a bad joke on the gvi intro page and will now introduce myself properly.

I am an Australian currenlty working in the UK (with every other aussie). I am a sonographer which basically means I do ultrasound. I am the evil person who puts cold gel on your belly, arms, legs and any other soft bit which may require scanning.
In the UK however, I pretty much only scan pregnancies and gynae. So I am heading back to Australia from sep to Jan to get back into it.

I love diving and finally got to dive for the first time in a year in Egypt. I did some diving at Dahab. After a few adjustments I felt like I was home! I was dismayed however at the number of plastics bags and amount of rubbish littering the reef.

I also would love to go to Africa and work in conservation with the wildlife, but too much fun, not enough money.

Well people, I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in January!

Lex

 

 

Jaime Neal »

Hey there I`m Jaime, the American Aussie. I was raised in Cleveland, Ohio but have been living my live in the Land Down Uner for the last couple years. I just graduated with a degree in Marine Biology and plan to continue. I`m a loud, outspoken, goofy, cheery, good natured person.

 

Lucy Paice »

Hmmm, well…I`m Lucy Paice. I live in wales but am just finishing off my degree in watersports studies and management at southampton solent university. Been an awsome 3 years but can`t wait to finish and get out there and actually start living life to the full! Took up diving on my year our before uni where i went to the usual places; thiland, australia, new zealand, hawaii and canada. was pretty cool stuff and can`t wait to start travelling again starting in mexico! Really excited about diving for 3 months and possibly even more. Well, good luck gettin the money together! Spk sooooooon!

 

 

Jessamijn Alberts »

My name is Jessamijn and I’m from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I’ll be joining you for ‘only’ 5 weeks because my work won’t let me go for the full 10. (somehow they got the impression that what I do for a living is very important for them ;-)) I’m an HR advisor for a big Swedish furniture store which has nothing to do with diving what so ever. But 2 Years ago I learned diving in Mahuhual en got my OW and AOW there. So this is a great opportunity to go there again, meet some of our friends who live there (and who’ll make some excellent margarita’s) and do something to preserve this beautiful spot.
Last February Peter (who will be joining us too) and I went diving for 10 days in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt. Very nice dives but I’m not sure wat I liked better: the Caribbean sea or the Red sea.
Because we didn’t want to wait ’till our next vacation we started diving in the Netherlands too. At the moment we’re doing the rescue course in our murky waters. That doesn’t sound appealing to a lot of people but it’s still fun to be diving every week and even see some fish and interesting things even though you can see for only 2 meters or less…..

Sounds crazy? it is but so am I (sometimes ;-)) I also figures that if I can rescue a diver in murky dutch water, Mexican water won’t be a big problem

That’s it for now,

Hope to hear something from the other people who will join us in January

Jessamijn

 

Nathan Dack »

-awaiting info

 

 

Stephanie Hovey »

Hi, I`m Steph, 17 years old..into many many things: music, art, watersports (despite being awful at them) etc. etc. Literally just finished my A levels and cant wait to start my Gap Year! Nice to meet you!

 

Wouter Wolkers »

Hi, I`m Wouter, a 30 year old male from The Netherlands. Looking forward to going diving in Mexicon, and enjoying some of the wonderfull scenery there.

 

 

Ron Pinder »

50 yr old Canadian, looking forward to missing winter - 200+ dives, mostly cold fresh water - avid on/off road motocycler, skydiver - avoid golf, NASCAR and board games.

 

 

Alana Potts »

Hey, I`m Alana and I live in London. It will be the first time I`ve taken a trip like this and I`m really looking forward to it!

 

 

Gillian Blair »

My name is Gil and i`m originally from Scotland. I`m taking some time off from an IT career to travel and enjoy lots of diving.

 

 

Robert Britton »

I am 55, live in Connecticut, USA and work or volunteer part time in Marine science related jobs. After retiring from a business career I returned to school and earned a B.S degree in Biology. Spent 5 weeks in Mexico last year and enjoy diving, sailing, biking and music (guitar).

 

 

Paul Harrington »

Hi- I`m a 20 yr. old college student from Sacramento, California. In my spare time I like to workout, read and watch movies. Looking forward to having a reason to dive everyday and meeting all of you.

 

Richard Crisp »

-awaiting info

 

Damien Haberlin »

My name is Damien Haberlin, i`m from Co. Cork in Ireland. I like reading, cinema, love music. and enjoy most sports. I am currently a bar manager (not my ideal job) but would like a job in marine science/research. So this trip is great way to travel and get some experience. I like to meet new people and i`m always up for a laugh, so i`m really looking forward to Jan.

 

Wendy Harrison»

Hello! I`m Wendy! Together with my Fiance, Olivier, we are loking forward to share this life experience with you! Until we meet, take care! W

 

Olivier Robert»

-awaiting info

 

Neil Armour»

My name is Neil, I am 28 from Belfast, Northern Ireland. I am a Marine Biology graduate working in environmental research for Queens University Belfast. I love scuba diving, since learning in Australia 3 years ago I haven`t had much chance to dive so I am relishing the chance to increase my experience on this expedition. Looking forward to meeting everyone in January!!

 

Darren Taylor»

Worked in I.T. for 13 years. Came out to SA in 2005, done the Amazon expedition and have been on the GVI Phoenix teaching projects for the past year with my girlfriend (although haven`t done too much teaching!). Looking forward to the Marine expedition although not relishing remembering about 150 different fish species!

 

Beatrice Maury»

Hi, My name is Beatrice. I come from Switzertland. There, I was a social worker for handicapped people. Last year, I left Switzerland for Quebec. I spent one year there, studying to become a naturalist interpreter. This summer, I worked for the GREMM, Group of Research and Education on Marine Mammals, in Tadoussac. I am fond of whales and also of the marine world in general. In 1999, I began to dive in Switzerland. Since then, I had the opportunity to dive all around the world, including the red Sea in Egypt and the great barrier reef in Australia. I love to learn always more about the sea and its inoccupants. I am very happy to join this programm in Mexico and to know all of you. See you there. Bea

 

Peter Robinson»

Hi I`m Pete, I`m 18 and I am going 2 Mexico for the 11th of Jan to do Marine Conservation!!

 

Connie Schulz»

-awaiting info