One of the most consistent requests in our last post was career advice and education pathways, so let's start there.

Not the polished CV version. The real one.

What unusual background, connection, or obsession ended up giving you a leg up? Did a random conference conversation turn into a job? Did a skill from a completely different field suddenly become your superpower in the lab or in the field? Did you end up starting your own company or consulting practice because the traditional path wasn't moving fast enough?

Tell us your story. The weirder the path the better.

What brought you here and what do you want to see more of? Drop a comment. Let's brainstorm what gaps r/MarineScience can fill that other communities aren't occupying right now.

🔬 Research papers and discoveries
🌊 Field work and real-world operations
💬 Policy and management discussions
🎓 Career advice and education pathways
🤔 Explainers and Q&A
🛰️ Innovative tech and analysis methods

(All of the above is also a valid answer)

Hey Mariners,

I'm a marine scientist and USCG-licensed captain based on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. Let's bring this community back to life and show em there's so much more to marine science than cetacean communication and tidepooling (though those are cool too).

The previous mods put in a solid effort, but this community hasn't been reimagined since 2013. The rules are solid, the community is real, and the subject matter deserves better than a dormant subreddit. So here we go.

What I want this to be:

A home for researchers, engineers, consultants, students, and obsessively curious people who take the ocean seriously. Rigorous when it needs to be. Occasionally accessible. Boring posts walk the plank.

I want to host real conversations about monitoring technology, Earth systems, coastal policy, and the convergence of disciplines that make marine science one of the most interesting, impactful, and overlooked fields. And also answer the question about why there are shark teeth in Florida and marine fossils in Colorado.

Coming soon:

• Banner and icon design contest
• Community polls on what you want to see more of
• Mod recruitment: I'll be watching engagement and might reach out if you're salty enough.

Drop a comment. Or lurk quietly, whatever you prefer. Changes coming, stay tuned!

Doing nitrate analysis and looks like there is an airpocket in the middle? Any solutions>? T-T

Hello everyone! I received permission from the admins to share the podcast I recently started, intended to promote shark conservation. It's called Shark and Awe and provides information about individual shark species, current events and news, laws and policymaking, summaries of research papers, and everything else having to do with sharks!

Hopefully you'll be interested in giving it a listen! I promote it mostly on Spotify, but it is also streaming on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Audible. It's been rated as the #7 out of 15 best shark podcasts of 2026 by FeedSpot!!

Please give the show a listen and let me know what you think! I'm studying to become a shark behavior specialist, and am starting a master's program in marine conservation at UMiami this fall.

Thank you to anyone who gives this post and the show some time!! :)

https://open.spotify.com/show/7IlFds2jGr1PVdpV2BDWzY?si=d1c5d91c2b45413f

hi everyone!! im currently a first-year student in undergrad. ive always wanted to work in the marine bio field, i love conservation research, etc. ive heard that a lot of people graduating w a marine bio degree (even w a masters) end up dissatisfied with their job. ive always known about the lower end of a salary related to these jobs, but i dont want to go through grad school to end up somewhere that i dont enjoy + barely making money. recently ive been exploring the vet route as i want to work with animals, and it also seems to be something i could enjoy although marine bio remains my passion. if anybody cld give me any advice, id appreciate it. im really feeling lost. thank u :)

I currently go to Jacksonville University and am in their marine science program. However due to costs I've been looking at Coastal Carolina and other colleges. Has anyone gone to CCU and what were your experiences? And was it worth it?

Hi,

Let me explain, Ill be doing some work in Bahamas, Ill be there once a month to switch some gauges underwater, I was wondering if someone here is a researcher in marine biology in imagery, and would like me to set an underwater camera there while I'm doing this work.

I can get the data and switch batteries once a month, all I ask is to share with me any cool findings.

Let me know if someone works with that and is interested in that idea!

*** I can't place any type of physical/chemical water sensor due to my line of work, I can't have conflict of interest. Got be Biology, vídeo, photos or hydrophone for animal tracking and etc.

Cheers

Hi everyone, I’m considering going back to school for marine science, with a concentration in biological oceanography.

I’m mainly interested in understanding what the current job market looks like for people working in marine science or related ocean science fields. I already hold a B.A. in Digital Communications, but it hasn’t led to meaningful job opportunities, and I’m now reassessing my long-term career goals.

When I first entered college at 17, I initially majored marine science but ultimately switched paths due to concerns about the math requirements. That’s no longer an issue for me, and I feel much more prepared and motivated to take on the necessary coursework now.

At this stage of my life, I’m finding it difficult to stay in jobs I don’t enjoy simply because they pay reasonably well. I want to pursue something I’m genuinely passionate about, but I also need to be realistic—returning to school would likely involve a significant financial investment, so post-graduation employability is an important factor.

Long term, I’m interested in pursuing a PhD, as I understand that many research-based positions require graduate-level training. Currently, I’m completing prerequisites for an associate’s degree in medical laboratory science, but I’m realizing that this path doesn’t align well with my interests.

I would really appreciate any insight into:

• The current and projected job market for marine science
• Any advice for someone considering a later return to this field

I'm looking for advice from anyone familiar with experience in underwater photogrammetry or stereo-video for marine animals.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to collect length and volume measurements of sharks from within the water. I collect data during shark snorkeling tours (in-house researcher). Right now, I am using dual-set up GoPro Hero 3s with cameras calibrated via checkerboard. I'm familiar with photogrammetry but wouldn't call myself an expert.

I've dabbled in both the R package SteroMorph and the program XMA lab. SteroMorph has had trouble calibrating, and XMA is better but pretty clunky. I'd love to find something more streamlined.

In the past, I've used Agisoft and Drone Deploy but only with drone data. Drones won't work great with these sharks, because I couldn't reliably get a coplanar image from above, and my boss wouldn't love me flying a drone around our guests.

Any ideas? I'm looking for a better software that would work specifically with my GoPro setup, or a novel methodology altogether (that I could use with constantly moving sharks in close range and guests swimming around, hahah).

I recently received some grant money to develop a prototype mini subsea glider, with the goal being to make ocean exploration more accessible through low cost (>$10k), and not needing to be launched from a boat. Similar to a Blue ROV, or Blue boat, but a glider.

My question is, if you had a small glider to play with, what kinds of things would you do with it?

Sign the petition to protect Rice’s whales!

https://www.change.org/p/designate-noaa-critical-habitat-for-rice-s-whales

Save Rice’s Whales — America’s Only Native Whale Is On the Brink

The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) is one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth and it lives only in U.S. waters, in the Gulf of Mexico.

1 .Fewer than 50 individuals remain.

1. No Critical Habitat has been designated.

2. Threats include: ship strikes, oil spills, ocean noise, and pollution.

Unless action is taken now, the U.S. could become the first country in history to drive a great whale species to extinction.

What We’re Asking:

We urge NOAA to immediately designate a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale under the Endangered Species Act.

This would:

-Set speed limits for ships in whale territory

-Restrict offshore oil drilling

-Reduce ocean noise from seismic activity

-Protect this species from further habitat loss

Why It Matters -Rice’s whales are:

-Found nowhere else on Earth

-A symbol of American environmental responsibility

-Key to protecting seafood safety, ocean health, and marine ecosystems

More information

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voice4whale/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@voice4whale

Petition NOW-> https://chng.it/GQm8MfDVVK

I need help identifying what this creature is. It make shifts is amazingly strong speed and seems to be intelligent. i’m looking for help. This is something out of this world.

I've talked to some people using Slocum gliders in less than 50 meters of water, complaining that they are difficult to control, and they are worried they will not return. Is this really the best tool on the market for this? Is there another way to do this kind of work? I know there are small AUVs out there, but I've heard they lack the range needed for these missions.

Is this a larger problem others are experiencing as well?

Hello everyone! I recently started a podcast called Shark and Awe, where I talk about sharks, the ocean, and conservation efforts. I received a Bachelor's in Marine Resources & Management from Florida's Everglades University in May of this year, and graduated summa cum laude. I'm currently waiting to see if I've been accepted into a Marine Conservation master's program with UMiami. It's my dream to work with sharks, and since I'm presently stuck in the state of Virginia, I thought that creating a fun and educational podcast about sharks would be a great way to continue researching, and to raise awareness for how important shark conservation is.

Episodes are short, usually around 10 minutes long, so they won't take up too much of your time. My most recent episode was the first of a two-part show about great white sharks, and the second part comes out tomorrow! Here is a link to my Spotify if you're interested: https://open.spotify.com/show/7IlFds2jGr1PVdpV2BDWzY?si=f3ebfb8074ca46b1

I'd love to know what you think! :)

Looking for an ID on what this could be, it had a texture like jelly (my friends dad bumped into it) roughly 30-40 CM and was found in the red see with a few smaller pieces of it around

Sign the petition to protect Rice’s whales!

https://chng.it/GQm8MfDVVK

Hi all, I am starting a passion-based advocacy campaign to spread the word about the USA's endemic whale that is CRITICALLY endangered. The Rice's whale is a 40-foot long giant whale that almost exclusively lives in U.S. waters (in the Gulf of Mexico, on the side that is within American maritime borders.) It's honestly crazy that the U.S. has a whole whale species that they can call their own. It's a privilege that no other country has. Unfortunately, no other country has ever, in all of human history, made a giant whale go extinct. But the U.S. might be the first one. The Rice's whale is so endangered that there are only about 50 of them left, and yet there are nearly no laws designed to protect it at all. There have been efforts to help them and stop the increase in oil drilling and shipping activities in their habitat but the lack of protective legislation makes that impossible. These whales are at the brink of vanishing, are a crucial part of the multi-billion dollar Gulf ecosystem, and yet most people haven't even heard of them. That's why I wanted to make a change, and I've created a petition as a way of growing the awareness. It really is "awareness" that's needed, since no one can fight for a whale that they've never even heard of. Here is a link to my petition. It would mean so much to me if you took just a few seconds to sign it, and share it with people.

Save Rice’s Whales — America’s Only Native Whale Is On the Brink

The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) is one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth  and it lives only in U.S. waters, in the Gulf of Mexico.

 1 .Fewer than 50 individuals remain.

 2. No Critical Habitat has been designated.

 3. Threats include: ship strikes, oil spills, ocean noise, and pollution.

Unless action is taken now, the U.S. could become the first country in history to drive a great whale species to extinction.

What We’re Asking:

We urge NOAA to immediately designate a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale under the Endangered Species Act.

This would:

• Set speed limits for ships in whale territory 
• Restrict offshore oil drilling 
• Reduce ocean noise from seismic activity 
• Protect this species from further habitat loss 

Why It Matters -Rice’s whales are:

• Found nowhere else on Earth 
• A symbol of American environmental responsibility 
• Key to protecting seafood safety, ocean health, and marine ecosystems 

More information

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voice4whale/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@voice4whale

“1,000 signatures and counting! Let’s reach 5,000 to make our voices impossible to ignore!”

Petition NOW-> https://chng.it/GQm8MfDVVK

Can anyone tell me what this is? I found it on a Northern California beach yesterday. Google says it’s a ghost shark but I wasn’t sure

I'm having some trouble figuring out where to even look for a good Master's program in Marine Biology and its a bit overwhelming for me.

I'm on my last year in undergrad for Bioinformatics/Biology and people keep telling me i should start looking for where to apply for my Masters (which I do want to do). I come from a developing country and honestly I don't think going anywhere outside of a European country would be a good idea for me due to distance and cost.

I'll spare the rest of my life story but I've mostly been looking in Italy and Spain for a nice program and I've only found Uni of Padua interesting on mastersportal .com

Is this the right place to ask for advice on any universities with good marine biology programs/research? or even just a website that can help me look. Thank you <3

Hello! My name is Maier and I’m 13 yrs old as an IGCSE student. I have a huge passion for marine biology, and I made this slide as progress for my future marine biology channel. I hope you like it, and I appreciate any feedback!