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Marine Studies Student Profiles

Chris Giblin
Photo of Chris Giblin on a DOC boat
Student: Bachelor of Science (BSc) with a major in Biological Sciences
Employed: Skipper & Research Assistant, Dept of Conservation

Chris Giblin has an enviable job as a Skipper and Research Assistant with the Department of Conservation in Auckland and he loves every minute of being out on the ocean.

"Being out at sea almost every day of the week is definitely the highlight of my job. I just love it out there - I'm totally in my element. My job has so many variables to it that I get to see new things every day and get involved in all sorts of projects taking place on many different islands in the region. I am rarely in the office, which is a huge bonus!"

Twenty-one year old Chris is one of the two skippers who supply goods and services to most of the islands for the Auckland, Warkworth and Great Barrier DOC offices. His role involves the transportation of people, personal gear, food, building equipment and pest eradication gear to most of the islands in these areas. Chris is also involved in research such as marine reserve monitoring, whale tagging and kiwi release programmes.

This enthusiastic young lad thinks highly of the qualifications that set him up for his exciting job. "If I hadn't gained my qualification I wouldn't have had this excellent job opportunity. The entire programme has helped me in my employment. Even the research projects I conducted during my study have been beneficial to my current role."

Born and raised in Whakatane, Chris has had a lifelong interest in hunting and fishing which created a natural affiliation with the marine environment. Chris sought a qualification to utilise his love of the outdoors and found what he was looking for at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. "I'd heard the programme, location and facilities at the polytech were excellent and that the programme was hands-on and a lot of fun. I can say from experience now that this is very much the case."

"For me, the highlight of the programme was the diving and all the field trips to various islands and forests. The teaching environment was also really positive and the tutors were awesome. They made learning so much fun, but also had so much expertise and knowledge to impart. Another plus for studying in the bay was being so close to the beach which meant I could still go fishing and diving in my spare time."

Written On: Sunday, 4 April 2010
Erin Lawrence
Image of Erin Lawrence diving
Graduate: Diploma in Marine Studies Level 6, Bachelor of Science (BSc) with a major in Biological Sciences
Employed: Marine Biologist & Dive Instructor in the Maldives

Within months of graduating with her Bachelor of Applied Science she landed an enviable job as a Marine Biologist and Dive Instructor in the exotic Maldives, just north of the equator.

"My job is amazing. We are beginning research on survey sites to find areas that could benefit from coral plantation to encourage reef regeneration. I am also employed as a Dive Instructor so I get to work with people from all over the world. There are just so many factors about this job that I love."

Twenty three year old Erin has always had a huge passion for the environment and wanted to pursue a career that incorporated her love of the ocean. She chose Bay of Plenty Polytechnic for the unique Diploma in Marine Studies qualification and says the bonus draw card was the beautiful location and being so close to family and the beach.

"There were so many factors I enjoyed about studying this qualification at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. I enjoyed every minute of it. The field trips were fantastic, as was working alongside many brilliant individuals who had their own views and motives for doing the course. The tutors were absolutely fantastic! I could not have asked for more experienced, knowledgeable, intelligent and caring people to assist us in achieving our goals. They all had so many amazing attributes and experiences to learn from."

Erin believes gaining the diploma and then completing the degree has set her miles ahead in her environmental journey.

"Obtaining the scientific background has been invaluable; particularly the research and report writing. I travelled to Vanuatu in the second year of the diploma to conduct a research project which provided me with a real and applicable research experience. The report I constructed was actually utilised by a Governmental agency in Vanuatu which was a buzz for me. The diving credentials gained on the programme have also been incredibly useful. The programme had a great balance of practical and theoretical application. It has really given me a broad foundation of knowledge in the marine environmental realm. I am so pleased I did it!"

Written On: Friday, 1 January 2010
Luca Nazari
International Student Luca Nazari
Student: Diploma in Marine Studies Level 6

From Iran

I am originally Iranian. I decided to scuba dive in 2008 and wanted to volunteer in marine conservation with World Wildlife Fund. I was living and diving on Tioman Island in Malaysia, where I met a diver working for the Kuala Lumpur Aquarium. He had done the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Marine Studies Diploma. It sounded perfect for me.

The Marine Studies staff at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic are all full of life. It’s not like a lecturer/student relationship; it’s more like friend to friend. It feels very close.

Living in Tauranga is one of the highlights in coming to New Zealand. Tauranga is one of those places I will never forget, it’s just absolutely relaxing.

I had to produce a presentation for the course and I chose to study Little Blue Penguins living on Mount Maunganui. I camped there three times, putting up my tent, using my torch to look for penguins – you can see their eyes shining at night. It was a full moon and full tide. It was my first time seeing penguins in the wild and when they came onto shore, I felt like my stomach melt. It was strange – everyone else was in town clubbing that night, and I was spending quality time with penguins! It was pretty exceptional.

Written On: Friday, 29 July 2011
Paul Hamilton
Marine Studies graduate Paul Hamilton
Graduate: Diploma in Marine Studies Level 6
Employed: Blu Technologies (owner)

While at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic I spent time at Kelly Tarltons Underwater World on my marine reporting project. This was my first introduction to aquarium work and little did I know that it would develop into a 10 year long career that is still getting bigger and bigger.

A year after graduating from the Diploma in Marine Studies I was offered a full time position working as an aquarist at the aquarium in Auckland. I made the move and quickly fell in love with the work. During my 3 years working at the aquarium I gained sound knowledge in aquarium design and operation which would become useful in my first international offer.  

After leaving Kelly Tarltons I took a role as the turn key curator in a 200 million USD aquarium in Dalian China. Looking back now I was in well over my head but somehow survived in the deep end to see the aquarium through to opening.

My next aquarium project took me to the unlikely destination of Kazakhstan where I was involved in the design and construction of a tropical public aquarium in -30°C weather. An unlikely place for a Marine Studies graduate. 

I then moved on into Thailand where I had my first chance to be involved in every step of the aquariums development there. Having started work on paper planning this project a year earlier I was part of a team that went on site to supervise construction of exhibits and the installation of a 100m acrylic underwater tunnel.

My next project took me to Malaysia where having matured my skills as a public aquarium builder and operator I was given my first lead role on a project. My first year in Malaysia was spent developing plans and designs for the construction of a state of the art aquarium under what were the largest buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers.

 Putting theory into practice I managed the construction of the Life Support Systems, Acrylic Underwater Tunnel, Lighting Systems along with the planning and execution of livestock procurement. The aquarium was a success and I have a strong affection for that project having put so much of myself into it. I remained as the Curator of that aquarium for 1.5 years and was involved in numerous documentary and television premiers.

I have since started my own aquarium construction and management company called Blu Technologies. As director of the company we completed 2 projects in Malaysia before expanding into the U.A.E. Blu Technologies continues to do well.

Aquarium in Dubai

As of October 2007 my 10 year career has now brought me to Dubai where I am the Construction Consultant and Aquarium Curator for one of the largest aquarium projects in the world. This aquarium has broken many records such as having the largest window on the planet, the most sharks in the world, the largest suspended aquarium in the world, the largest free aquarium in the world. Being Curator of this aquarium carries huge responsibility seeing it is positioned inside the largest shopping mall on the planet and under the largest building in the world. As part of my staff procurement I hired 2 graduates from the Marine Studies Diploma to form part of my 20 strong team of marine biologists and divers. Due to open in September 2008 I have a hard road ahead getting this one open, however all the hard work will take me one step closer to the top of this game.

Who would have thought I'd get this far on my Diploma in Marine Studies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Written On: Monday, 2 August 2010