This quarter we focus on the woman known as “The Biologist” amongst conservationists, students and professionals of the marine sciences, friends, and operators in Quintana Roo, Mexico. We had the pleasure of spending two weeks with Luz Maria Guzman—otherwise known as LuzMa—searching for whale shark encounters. We ended up leaving with so much more; an education, an unforgettable experience, a friend for life. An example for aspiring females everywhere, listen to and read her impressive story about how she went from an enthusiastic young girl enthralled with everything related to the marine world, to impacting the marine landscape of Quintana Roo.

Given that I’m currently working to establish my own set of conservation volunteer programs in Quintana Roo with local non-profits, ReefCI seemed like a logical choice for a visit. Aside from the obvious opportunity to gain knowledge and experience from an established and successful organization, the trip also allowed me to fulfill my promise to Belize that I would not let significant time pass by before visiting her again—which I’m previously guilty of. All this, while doing my part to help ReefCI meet their mission, seemed like a win-win for everyone.

Our first quarterly spotlight is on us, Camera and a Shark. We’re excited to kick off this endeavor whose mission is to help marine conservation organizations communicate with the public through the power of photography, videography, and storytelling from our network of contributors. We will strive to realize our vision of inspiring and empowering every citizen with opportunities to actively contribute towards protecting and conserving our oceans.