I didn't set out to become an ocean writer. I didn't even know that was a career option! I didn't know it at the time but, many years ago, when I was at university, I became a certified diver. That decision to try scuba would lead me to where I am today. To be totally honest, it was never something I'd particularly wanted to do but my travel agent talked me into it. Little did I know it at the time but this chance decision would change everything. I remember seeing shark silhouettes swimming above me on my first ever night dive and thinking "This is incredible." This, I think, was the moment I got bitten by the ocean bug (thankfully, not literally!) and I believe is now the reason I'm lucky enough to call myself an ocean writer.
If you've landed on this page, you've probably seen the highlights of my portfolio and are interested in more examples of my work as an ocean writer. So, here you go. These are a few of my favourite articles I've written about our wonderful blue planet...
Crittercams - National Geographic
I love the weird rabbit holes my writing takes me down. In this piece, I heard how researchers attached Crittercams to manta rays and filmed the species' deepest recorded courtship train.
Humpback whale sex - Scientific American
There's always something really special about getting a new byline in a publication you've wanted to work with. Especially when the news is of the first ever recorded instance of sex between humpback whales. My debut for SciAm was just that.
Solar storms - Scientific American
How do solar storms affect migratory animals? I spoke to experts to find out for Scientific American.
Bioluminescent sea cucumbers - New Scientist
Think it's totally dark at the bottom of the ocean? Think again... Researchers discovered 10 species of sea cucumber can emit light and there may be 200 more bioluminescent species down there. So cool how we're always learning about the underwater world.
Courtship vortex - National Geographic
It always seems to come back to sex, doesn't it?! As an ocean writer, lots of my articles cover cool things we've learned about animals getting jiggy underwater. And this story was no different. In this Nat Geo article, I was excited to write about the first description of a mesmerising 'courtship vortex' in devil rays (although the section on 'piggyback leaping' was rather, um, disturbing...!)
A wildlife first - National Geographic
Writing about wildlife firsts is always exciting - and that's exactly why I loved working on this story for National Geographic about the team at MMF tagging smalleye stingrays in the wild. Very, very cool!
School trip surprise - BBC Countryfile
This must have been amazing to see. I wrote about a very special school trip sighting of humpback whales for BBC Countryfile.
Mass stranding - BBC Wildlife
Sometimes I have to write about really sad stories and this was one of them. For BBC Wildlife, I covered the mass stranding of 77 pilot whales in Orkney.
Pilot whale stranding - BBC Countryfile
Another piece on the sad mass pilot whale stranding, this time for BBC Countryfile.
World’s rarest whale - BBC Wildlife
Another fun story for BBC Wildlife. I wrote about the rare spade-toothed whale that washed up on a New Zealand beach and why it was stored in a giant fridge.
Kelping - National Geographic
I must admit this was a really fun one to write. For Nat Geo, I wrote about the 'kelping' phenomenon - when whales wear seaweed like a hat - how it's more common than previously thought and what might really be going on.
Phantom jellyfish - National Geographic
I hate the cold so am often drawn to tropical climates. But there's also fascinating work going on in the polar regions. Again for Nat Geo, I was excited to cover the rare sighting of a giant phantom jellyfish and how tourism is impacting scientific discoveries.
Football fish - BBC Wildlife
Only 31 Pacific football fish have ever been recorded so it was exciting to write about this specimen when it washed up on an Oregon beach.
Hagfish - Live Science
Imagine a creature that can choke a shark... by spewing spectacularly sticky slime. Introducing the hagfish. Thanks to Live Science for letting me learn more about this deep-sea weirdo.
Echidna vomit - BBC Wildlife
How surprised would you be to see a tiger shark vomit up an entire echidna? Yep, these scientists were pretty surprised too. Another weird but fun ocean story I wrote about for BBC Wildlife.
Smalltooth sawfish deaths - Live Science
What caused smalltooth sawfish to start spinning in circles and then drop dead? For a while, scientists were baffled by this strange die off. I wrote about the mystery for Live Science
Tuna crab invasion - BBC Wildlife
“They’re all eating each other right now... it's the craziest I've ever seen them." A while back for BBC Wildlife, I wrote about the incredible swarms of tuna crabs gathering off the coast of California - the videos were something else!
Orcas vs sharks - Live Science
Are we underestimating how often orcas are eating sharks? I took a dive into the evidence so far for Live Science.
Supersized sharks - Nat Geo
Why does this remote Pacific island attract supersized sharks? Is it the 'hamburger drive thru' or something else? I had the story for Nat Geo.
Welsh bioluminescence - BBC Wildlife
When Welsh beaches started glowing neon blue, I spoke to the photographer who's become addicted to chasing this magical phenomenon. This was a really cool story to write for BBC Wildlife.
Bioluminescence in Wales - BBC Countryfile
"Surreal" plankton turned the Welsh coast neon blue... and I was there (virtually) to write about it for BBC Countryfile.
Humpback rescue - BBC Wildlife
Rescuers spent two days freeing a humpback that had become trapped in fishing gear. Thankfully, they managed to successfully release the whale from the ropes and buoys so it could swim free again. A nice uplifting one for BBC Wildlife.
Rip currents - Nat Geo
What causes a rip current? And do you know how to spot one? I learned a lot while writing this Nat Geo article.
Deep-sea science - BBC Wildlife
Dive into the abyss with a real-life deep-sea scientist in this article I wrote for BBC Wildlife.
Whale shark ultrasound - BBC Wildlife
Ever wondered what it would be like for the world's largest fish to get a health check? Wonder no more... I had the story for BBC Wildlife.
Baby hammerheads - BBC Wildlife
Hundreds of baby hammerheads. Come on, do I really need to say anything else to tempt you to read this story I wrote for BBC Wildlife?
Shark vs swordfish - New Scientist
This shark survived being stabbed through the head by a swordfish! The ocean never ceases to amaze me... really interesting to cover this study for New Scientist.
White shark dive - BBC Wildlife
Imagine seeing a huge white shark appear just feet away while you were scuba diving... without a cage! Thanks, as always, to BBC Wildlife Magazine for letting me geek out on this epic story. I can't imagine how amazing it must have been to see this.
Pregnant manta rays - National Geographic
I love how new scientific and technological developments are helping us push conservation efforts forward. A great example of this was my Nat Geo article on the Manta Trust's study which used contactless ultrasound scanners to more accurately determine pregnancy and maturity in manta rays. The paper confirms scientists have been underestimating the number of mature females in the population, meaning they're more vulnerable than we previously thought.
Leave no trace - Nat Geo
How one bag of chips disrupted an entire ecosystem. You've heard "leave no trace" when hiking—here’s the science behind why it’s crucial to leave wild environments the way you found them. Another interesting one I picked up for National Geographic.
Star sand - Nat Geo
This isn't a starfish—it's a rare sand found in Japan AND IT'S MADE OF TINY LITTLE STARS. It's not only cute but also super interesting. Find out more about it in my story for National Geographic.
Rainbow sea slugs - BBC Countryfile
There are beautiful sea slugs all the colours of the rainbow just chilling out in Devon. A quick but fun story about rainbow sea slugs for BBC Countryfile.
Red handfish - Live Science
Did you know that there's a tiny, moody fish with hands for fins and an extravagant mohawk? The red handfish is a strange-looking anglerfish only found on two tiny patches of reef off Tasmania. It could be one of the world's most endangered fish. Loved writing this brief profile for Live Science.
Kelp restoration - the Guardian
This article about kelp restoration was a particularly special one for me. Not only was it the first time I had a commission with the Guardian (hopefully not the only time - let's see how I get on with future pitches!) but, after the piece went out, Steve's project was flooded with support (and about £10k in crowdfunding donations). Such a wonderful reminder that storytelling is SUCH an important part of conservation projects. Plus, it was super interesting to learn about and write, of course!
Nurdle hunters - the Guardian
Sure, you're doing your bit by recycling but what about the plastic pollution being poured into the ocean BEFORE plastic is even made into any products? I wrote about nurdle pollution for The Guardian.
Sylvia Earle - BBC Wildlife
I was honoured to meet Sylvia earlier this year at the Economist Impact's World Ocean Summit. Read my BBC Wildlife Magazine interview all about Sylvia's amazing achievements.
Red handfish rescue - BBC Wildlife
The critically endangered red handfish is a peculiar species so it was really fun to learn more about the operation to 'rescue' 25 red handfish from the wild to protect them from upcoming marine heatwaves. By debut byline for BBC Wildlife.
Red handfish release - BBC Wildlife
Some positive news... the rare red handfish that were taken into captivity to protect them from marine heatwaves have been released back into the wild. Nice to write about this positive conservation story for BBC Wildlife Magazine recently.
Bottom feeding whale sharks - New Scientist
It's amazing that 'regular people' can help scientists discover new things about elusive animals in our ocean. A great is example is in this piece I wrote for New Scientist - a tourism guide spotted some unusual behaviour in a whale shark and managed to get it on film. It was the first time we've ever seen whale sharks (which usually nom on plankton in the water column) feeding from the bottom. Wow!
Whale shark ship strikes - Nat Geo
Ship strikes aren't just a problem for whales. Scientists believe whale sharks are also being taken out by ship strikes and I covered the study for Nat Geo.
Hot fish - New Scientist
Changing everything we thought we knew about basking sharks... they might actually be warm blooded! Love that I get to geek out on crazy discoveries like this for New Scientist and call it work.
Sharks on strange shores - Sunday Times
Scientists were amazed when not one but three smalltooth sand tiger sharks washed up on the UK & Irish coastline. For the Sunday Times, I talked to scientists to find out what might have brought this rare species to our shores.
Bioluminescent dolphin megapod - BBC Wildlife
Very cool to spot this mesmerising footage and cover it for BBC Wildlife: off the coast of San Diego, whale watchers spotted a megapod of dolphins glowing with bioluminescence.
Green spoon worms - Live Science
For Live Science’s Amazing Animals segment, I geeked out about the green spoonworm. These vibrant green marine creatures not only wield a toxic pigment for protection but also have an extraordinary ability to transform males into "living testicles" in service of the females.
World’s largest spawning event - BBC Wildlife
Every year, the Great Barrier Reef comes alive with an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon: the world’s largest synchronised coral spawning event. I covered the magical underwater spectacle for BBC Wildlife.
Collecting orca’s breath - BBC Wildlife
This groundbreaking research could unlock crucial insights into the health of a small orca population off North America’s west coast. I wrote about how these samples might shape future conservation efforts for BBC Wildlife.
Roughskin dogfish - BBC Wildlife
When scientists dropped a baited camera over a kilometer deep into the Caribbean, they captured an extraordinary moment: the first-ever footage of a roughskin dogfish in this region. I covered the story for BBC Wildlife.
Europe's native oyster reefs collapse - BBC Wildlife
Once spanning areas larger than Greater London, Europe’s native oyster reefs have nearly collapsed. I covered the concerning news for BBC Wildlife.
Unicorns of the sea - ExplorEarth
Really cool to chat with someone who experienced a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with hundreds of narwhals for ExplorEarth. And it didn’t make me jealous at all…
Mega momma dies - Live Science
For Live Science, I wrote about the unfortunate death of a huge pregnant great white shark caught on a drumline and how her body might help scientists uncover the mysteries of great white reproduction.
Seal pup runs to freedom – BBC Countryfile
Wonderful footage of a seal pup’s release back into the wild. Loved covering this local Hastings story for BBC Countryfile.
E/V Nautilus meets a nautilus – BBC Wildlife
The Nautilus research vessel captured rare footage of nautiloids. These primitive animals have barely evolved since the age of the dinosaurs. I’ve only ever seen a specimen in the Natural History Museum I so was stoked to share this epic video on BBC Wildlife.
Crown-of-Thorns - Nat Geo
Crown-of-Thorns starfish are stunning... but outbreaks can pose a huge threat to coral reefs. For Nat Geo, I explored the problems of these thorny predators and potential solutions.
Shark buddies - Nat Geo
When two juvenile sharks swam together for 4,000 miles, scientists started wondering what could be going on. Might they be... friends? No, say researchers, but in this Nat Geo article they filled me in on why this finding is so exciting.
Leucistic shark - Live Science
For Live Science, I covered the first record of a leucistic angular roughshark, which was spotted near Sazan Island, Albania.
Gharial - Live Science
The gharial is a fascinating reptile with unique mating rituals and a long, slender snout. I wrote a species profile for this animal, which has been around for 40 million years but is now critically endangered.
Tico the manatee - BBC Wildlife
After eight years of rehab, Tico the manatee was tagged and released in Brazil, but what happened next was completely unexpected. I found out more for BBC Wildlife.
World's largest coral - National Geographic
I wrote about a groundbreaking discovery for National Geographic: a massive 300-year-old coral reef near the Solomon Islands; so big it can be spotted from space.
Tectonic discovery - BBC Wildlife
For BBC Wildlife I wrote about an underwater robot's unexpected encounter at the meeting point of three tectonic plates in the Pacific Ocean, where it stumbled upon a shimmering bristle worm.
Mother squid - BBC Wildlife
A rare moment captured off the coast of Chile shows an enormous creature swimming along the seafloor, clutching something it won't release for months. Scientists are left intrigued by this unusual find.
Mystery mollusc - Live Science
Scientists have discovered an unusual swimming sea slug, known as the mystery mollusc. For Live Science,I found out what they’ve discovered, including that the unique animal hunts in an extraordinary way — snapping up prey like a Venus flytrap.
World’s largest coral colony - BBC Wildlife
Experts have uncovered the largest coral colony in the Pacific Ocean, so massive it can be seen from space. I wrote about this vast 300-year-old find for BBC Wildlife.
Lonely dolphin - Live Science
A solitary dolphin in the Baltic Sea has been caught "talking to himself." I found out more for Live Science from researchers who believe this unusual behavior might be a call for companionship.
Underwater spiders - BBC Wildlife
This one gave me chills. For BBC Wildlife, I learned about sea spiders that drain their prey from the inside and have the bizarre ability to breathe through their legs.
Sea mouse - BBC Wildlife
I wrote about a strange furry creature filmed crawling along an English beach for BBC Wildlife. The sea mouse was washed ashore during a storm.
Sea mouse - BBC Countryfile
I covered the discovery of a strange furry animal with an iridescent fringe for BBC Countryfile. The sea mouse was washed up at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
The illusionists of the sea - Marine Conservation Society
For the Marine Conservation Society’s members newsletter, I wrote about the illusionists of the sea: camouflaged octopuses and courting cuttlefish, uncovering the mysteries behind these colour-changing marine masters.
Fairy lights in Cornwall - BBC Wildlife
I loved covering this magical underwater moment for BBC Wildlife. A freediver captured dreamlike footage swimming through a glowing salp bloom, where gelatinous creatures formed chains like twinkling lights.
Snoozing sharks - BBC Wildlife
An underwater robot uncovered thousands of female sharks resting on the seafloor in southern Australia, leaving scientists puzzled. I got to cover the story for BBC Wildlife.
Speaking up for our seas - Marine Conservation Society
During this election year, I explored how the Marine Conservation Society is urging politicians to prioritise ocean-friendly policies to protect our seas.
Pregnant porbeagle eaten - BBC Wildlife
I wrote about a shocking scientific first—how a pregnant porbeagle shark was eaten by a larger shark, with a lost tracking device revealing the whole sequence of events. For BBC Wildlife.
Coral IVF - BBC Wildlife
Another BBC Wildlife story: I wrote about scientists in Florida working to save coral reefs by collecting and freezing eggs and sperm, potentially allowing them to grow babies in the lab to prevent extinction.
Shrinking right whales - Live Science
North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered. They're also shrinking... & this could have worrying consequences for the population. I covered the story for Live Science.
Blue dragon - Live Science
YEY - I got to write about one of my favourite marine creatures for Live Science... the blue dragon. They're beautiful, they look kinda like Pokemon and if you accidentally touch one, you'll probably get a nasty ouchie!
Sarcastic fringehead - Live Science
These teeny fish engage in mouth-to-mouth combat - another amazing example of the cool life in our oceans! It was fun to write sarcastic fringeheads for Live Science.
Skeleton panda - Live Science
🌊 + ☠️ + 🐼 = the skeleton panda sea squirt! Another ocean weirdo I wrote about for Live Science.
Unusual mortality events - Nat Geo
What's going on with mass whale strandings? Could it be anything to do with offshore wind? For Nat Geo, I spoke to some scientists to find out why whales are stranding en masse.
Whale disposal - BBC Wildlife
How do you dispose of a dead whale? Current options include exploding it (for real) or sending it to landfill. But scientists had the opportunity to track a carcass that they'd towed back out to sea - is this a better method? More in my article for BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Isle of Lewis strandings - Guardian
This was a really tough one to write but I hope it raises awareness of the amazing efforts of the BDMLR volunteers in Scotland who battled against the clock to save 55 stranded pilot whales.
Corals in hot water - Nat Geo
It's no secret that corals don't love hot waters. So what happens when the ocean creeps closer to the temperatures found in a hot tub? When the El Niño was confirmed for 2023, I spoke to some experts to find out for Nat Geo.
Bite force - National Geographic
For this Nat Geo article, I covered attempts to record tiger sharks' bite force and mako sharks' speed. Plus, the article looks at why it's so important for us to learn more about these incredible predators.
Paternal care - National Geographic
This article the first time I covered a new scientific paper for Nat Geo after the lead author approached me with their findings. And the study was super interesting: shedding new light onto the paternal care of bigfin reef squid.
Whaling in Japan - National Geographic
So depressing that countries are making new commitments to kill whales. Earlier this year, Japan announced it would kill fin whales, which are already vulnerable to extinction. I covered the story for BBC Wildlife.
Dolphin friendships - VICE
it's amazing how much we're still learning about the ocean. A while back, scientists discovered that bottlenose dolphins can recognise their friends through the taste of their urine. I found this a fascinating paper to write about for VICE. And, no, I'm not taking the p***!
Underwater drones - BBC Widlife
Thanks to BBC Wildlife Magazine for letting me geek out about this DNA project - using underwater drones to learn more about mesophotic coral ecosystems in Japan.
1000 mantas - BBC Wildlife
Loved writing this for BBC Wildlife Magazine - researchers have identified 1,000 individual oceanic manta rays in the Maldives. The Maldives is has the world's largest population of these giant mantas. The 1000th manta has been named ‘Anbu’ (which means mango in Dhivehi).
Whale larynx - Nat Geo
I never knew I would know so much about the anatomy of a baleen whale's larynx... but that's life as an ocean writer, I guess! In this article for Nat Geo, I wrote about a new discovery into baleen whales’ anatomy that helps them sing underwater without drowning.
Shark mortality - Live Science
Writing about the ocean isn't always enjoying learning cool things about fascinating animals. Sometimes (/often) we have to cover the dark / depressing side of the conservation picture. Like this piece I wrote for Live Science about a new study revealing shark mortality from fishing went UP despite anti-finning legislation. But I believe it is important to keep sharing these stories so we can inspire action.
Whale watching – ExplorEarth
I explored the unique bond between whales and humans and why getting whale-watching experiences right is important for ExplorEarth
Sea lion cameras – BBC Wildlife
Why did scientists attach tiny cameras to Australian sea lions? I wrote about the fascinating footage of their foraging habits for BBC Wildlife.
Olympic surf tower – National Geographic
This was an interesting one to dive into. For Nat Geo, I looked at the concerns surfers raised about the impact of the Olympic surf tower on Tahiti’s coral ecosystem.
Sardine run – BBC Wildlife
For BBC Wildlife, I wrote about the incredible feeding frenzy captured during South Africa’s remarkable sardine run—one of nature’s most spectacular shows. So cool. I’d love to see this irl one day.
Cocaine sharks – BBC Wildlife
No, it’s not a crazy movie script. Sharks off the coast of Brazil have been found with cocaine in their systems. I wrote about it for BBC Wildlife.
Basking shark collision - BBC Wildlife
Heartbreaking that this huge basking shark was hit by a ship just after being tagged. I covered the ship strike story for BBC Wildlife.
Shark struck by boat – BBC Countryfile
A tragic event off the coast of Ireland. For BBC Countryfile, I reported on a 23-foot shark struck by a boat near the Dingle Peninsula.
Sperm whale family – BBC Wildlife
I wrote about a heartwarming drone footage of a family of sperm whales playing and swimming together over the Hellenic Trench in the Mediterranean. Another of my stories for BBC Wildlife.
Flukeless humpback – BBC Wildlife
This one was so sad. For BBC Wildlife, I covered the shocking sight of a humpback whale swimming down the Washington coast without its tail, likely a victim of long-term entanglement in fishing gear
Oarfish - BBC Wildlife
The eerie oarfish, often called the domesday fish, is linked to ancient legends that suggest it can predict deadly tsunamis. I wrote a species profile for BBC Wildlife.
Crocodile fish - BBC Wildlife
The crocodile fish may sound terrifying, but despite their name, they’re actually quite shy. However, they can create a deadly vortex to suck in prey. My story for BBC Wildlife has more.
Sharks in lobster den - BBC Wildlife
Divers in Australia set up a camera in a lobster den and were shocked to see Port Jackson and crested horn sharks appear from the darkness. I covered the new footage for BBC Wildlife.
Octopus punches fish - National Geographic
For Nat Geo, I wrote about an intriguing behaviour where octopus punch fish during hunts. Scientists believe the punches are meant to keep the fish in line, based on new video footage.
Dolphins delight fisherman - BBC Countryfile
Another stunning encounter for BBC Countryfile: a fisherman off the Sussex coast witnessed a pod of 30 bottlenose dolphins leaping in front of his boat for a mesmerising 15 minutes.
Little unicorn - BBC Wildlife
While exploring an uncharted seamount off American Samoa, a deep-sea robot discovered a little unicorn. I found out more for BBC Wildlife.
White whale in Tonga – BBC Wildlife
Some epic footage I covered for BBC Wildlife: a white baby humpback. Experts are concerned about potential challenges ahead for the young whale.
Pink river dolphins – BBC Wildlife
For river dolphin day, I shared some cool WWF footage of Amazon river dolphins for BBC Wildlife. So cool.
Whale tagging in Australia - BBC Wildlife
Researchers placed cameras on 10 humpback whales to uncover secrets of their migration along Australia's east coast – I covered the results for BBC Wildlife.
Orca rainbow - BBC Wildlife
For BBC Wildlife, I wrote about an unforgettable moment when a wild orca surprised whale watchers off the coast of San Diego, creating a stunning rainbow with its movements near the US-Mexico border.
Flying spaghetti monster - BBC Wildlife
I wrote about an astonishing discovery made by scientists on a deep-sea voyage, where they found a colony of organisms (known as a "flying spaghetti monster") near a seamount off the coast of Chile. For BBC Wildlife.
Giant oarfish - Live Science
The mysterious, bioluminescent oarfish, often seen before earthquakes, is a creature steeped in folklore as a harbinger of seismic events. I found out more about the species for Live Science.
Breaching sharks - New Scientist
Breaching is a common behavior in many sharks and rays, and it serves multiple purposes, including courtship, birthing, and hygiene. It happens more often than you'd expect, as I found out in this news article for New Scientist.
Escaping eels - Live Science
Researchers used X-ray video to capture an astonishing sight: a baby Japanese eel escaping from a predator’s stomach. I wrote about this remarkable first in scientific observation and what it reveals about eel survival.
Alligator gar - Live Science
This story about the alligator gar, a "living fossil" with armor strong enough to withstand predatory dinosaurs, was fascinating to explore. I wrote about how this creature has stayed unchanged for 100 million years and its remarkable survival skills.
Biotwang mystery solved - Scientific Americany
After 10 years, scientists finally uncovered the source of the mysterious "biotwang" sound first heard echoing through the Mariana Trench. I had the scoop for Scientific American.
Tiny cuttlefish hatches - BBC Wildlife
Another cool video story for BBC Wildlife: the adorable moment a flamboyant cuttlefish hatched from its egg, taking its first steps as one of the ocean's prettiest baby creatures.
Seal pup's first moments - BBC Wildlife
Some more cute footage for BBC Wildlife: the moment a seal pup was born with volunteers sitting on a cliff edge to film the rare birth.
Baby seal pup born - BBC Countryfile
For BBC Countryfile, I shared the footage of a seal pup’s birth with volunteers watching from a precarious cliff edge.
Dancing baby seals - BBC Countryfile
I wrote about three rescued seal pups "dancing" under the water in East Sussex for BBC Countryfile. The rescued pups were showcasing their playful side before being released back into the wild.
Seal pup rehab - BBC Wildlife
I wrote about three adorable rescued seal pups – Pop-Up-Pirate, Kerplunk, and Frustration – eagerly building their strength before being released back into the wild. Another hopeful story for BBC Wildlife.
World's grumpiest fish - BBC Wildlife
A tiny, 2 cm-long goby discovered in the Red Sea has been dubbed the grumpiest fish on Earth – and its fierce, predatory nature proves it’s not just a grumpy face. I found out more for BBC Wildlife.
Rare guitarfish at risk - BBC Wildlife
The critically endangered halavi guitarfish, which resembles a guitar, is at risk of extinction within a few years if conservation efforts aren’t made soon. I dived into conservation efforts for BBC Wildlife.
Pearlfish - Live Science
Another weird but fun one for Live Science. I wrote about the pearlfish which finds shelter inside a sea cucumber’s butt – a survival tactic as fascinating as it is odd.
Rainbow sea slug in Devon - BBC Wildlife
A dazzling discovery. This rare sea slug, typically seen in the Mediterranean, was spotted by a family rock pooling in Devon.
Rainbow sea slug - BBC Countryfile
Also for BBC Countryfile, I wrote up the sighting of a rare rainbow sea slug in Devon.
Waterspout - National Geographic
When a deadly waterspout sank a yacht off the coast of Italy, Nat Geo commissioned me to explain what these dramatic events are and whether they could worsen with climate change.
Shark eats shark - BBC Wildlife
A jaw-dropping moment captured on film. For BBC Wildlife, I wrote about a massive hammerhead tearing into a reef shark off the Florida coast.
Rare whale in Ireland - BBC Countryfile
Wow. A critically endangered North Atlantic right whale was spotted off Ireland’s coast—the first confirmed sighting in 114 years. I wrote up the story for BBC Countryfile.
Ancient shark fossils - Live Science
"Exceptionally preserved" fossils of an ancient shark that lived alongside the dinosaurs have finally revealed what the predator looked like — and why it may have gone extinct. Thanks Live Science for sending this story my way.
Ancient sea cow's gruesome end - Live Science
A fossilized sea cow found in Venezuela reveals a dramatic story: it was killed by a prehistoric crocodile and later scavenged by a tiger shark.
Orcas targeting boats - Live Science
Scientists suggest orcas in the Iberian Peninsula may be ramming sailboats to hone their hunting skills, using yachts as target practice.
Defensive defecation - BBC Wildlife
The great thing about having a niche is you get emails from editors saying things like Ummm, we really need someone to write about whale poo so obviously we thought of you. So, here we are... A fun & intriguing one for BBC Wildlife Magazine on defensive defecation in whales.
Prickly sharks - Live Science
Ever heard of prickly sharks? You have now! For Live Science, I covered a study describing these rarely-seen sharks gathering near Panama. Enjoy!
Shark graveyard - Live Science
The teeth "look like they just came out of the shark's mouth yesterday." Cool discoveries in a 325 million-year-old shark graveyard in Mammoth Cave. I wrote about the story for Live Science.
Tipping points - Resurgence & Ecologist
Thanks Resurgence & Ecologist for including my article on climate tipping points in the Thresholds issue. In the piece, I explore how we can take different pathways to stop the Earth reaching irreversible climate tipping points.
Ocean mysteries - Resurgence & Ecologist
There's so little we know about the ocean. I wrote an article for Resurgence & Ecologist about why the ocean's mysteries are what makes it so fascinating.
Noisy fish - BBC Wildlife
If they move together "in just the right way" a school of seven fish can sound like a single fish. This discovery could help make stealthier underwater vehicles. I covered the story for BBC Wildlife.
Shark vs orca - Live Science
Think sharks are the ocean's apex predator? Maybe think again...? A single orca can take down a great white shark and rip out its liver (mmm... nutritious!). Really interesting one to write about for Live Science.
Orcas ramming boats - Nat Geo
When Iberian orcas started ramming boats, scientists couldn't figure out why... until now. For National Geographic, I recently spoke to killer whale experts to find out what's really going on (and why negative media coverage around orcas isn't helpful).
Slow down - National Geographic
North Atlantic right whales are having a bit of a **** time right now. There are fewer than 400 individuals left and speeding boats and fishing could wipe them out altogether. A sad but important story I wrote for Nat Geo.
Dorado octopus - New Scientist
I love how much we're STILL discovering about the deep sea. For New Scientist, I covered the new discovery of at least four octopus species - so cool!
Stranded sperm whales - Inkcap Journal
When you think of marine conservation, you might conjour up an image of warm waters lapping white sandy shores. But it can take place at any time and in all weathers. As a trained marine mammal medic, I was intrigued by this account of a sperm whale stranding one Christmas Eve in the UK. I covered the story for Inkcap Journal.
Basking sharks - National Geographic
Their scientific name might mean something along the lines of “great-nosed sea monster” but basking sharks are harmless to humans and face significant threats from us. I really enjoyed writing about these placid sharks for Nat Geo.
Squid - National Geographic
For many people, there's a reason why squid inspired the legends of terrifying sea creatures that caused ships to vanish without a trace Personally, I think they're kinda cool. So this reference piece was another fun opportunity for me to geek out for Nat Geo.
Sea cucumbers - National Geographic
Sea cucumbers might look like oversized vegetables but they're fascinating aquatic animals with a mesmerising way of feeding. Another reference piece I wrote for Nat Geo.
Charlotte the stingray - BBC Wildlife
How does a stingray get pregnant when she hasn't seen another male ray in eight years? I covered the mystery of Charlotte the stingray's pregnancy for BBC Wildlife.
Deep sea discoveries - BBC Wildlife
This "astonishing deep-sea 'galaxy'" is probably the closest I'll get to writing about space. For BBC Wildlife.
Thresher sharks - National Geographic
Have you ever seen a thresher shark? No? OK, well imagine you asked a toddler to draw a cartoon of a shy, slightly anxious shark with a REALLY long tail (nope, a bit longer than that) and you're pretty much there. You can probably tell that I loved writing about this fascinating species for this Nat Geo reference piece.
Heat resistant corals - Independent
Firstly, corals ARE animals (not plants or rocks). When I can't go diving to see coral reefs in real life, I love to write about them. This was an interesting piece looking at how heat resistant corals could help coral reefs in the face of a warming ocean.
Whale myths - National Geographic
Ever wondered what's in that spout that comes out of a whales' blowhole when the come to the surface? It's not (just) water... This was one of my early articles for Nat Geo but still one I'm really fond of.
Spinning sawfish - BBC Wildlife
Scientists are worried about endangered smalltooth sawfish which have been seen spinning in circles and dying. Now, experts are getting involved to rescue, rehabilitate and release these fish in distress. I wrote about it for BBC Wildlife.
Swallowed by a whale - National Geographic
Throwback to my first ever article with Nat Geo. Basically, I got really cross about a story going viral at the time where a fisherman had allegedly been swallowed by a humpback whale. Spoiler: he somehow ended up in its mouth, sure, but he wasn't 'swallowed'. So I chatted to a few scientists to get the lowdown on whether a whale could ever swallow a human. Enjoy!
Stranded whales - Footprint magazine
Do you know what you'd do if you came across a stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise? Your action could save their life. But, remember, trying to put it back in the water could do more harm than good. I walked Footprint magazine through what you should do...
Greenland shark - National Geographic
Finding out the meaning behind an animals' scientific name is one of my favourite parts of writing about the ocean. "Sleepy small head" is no exception, which is just one of the many reasons I enjoyed writing this reference piece about the Greenland shark.
Marine life rescue - Reader's Digest
"What would I do if I found a stranded porpoise, dolphin or whale on my beach walk?", you ask? Wonder no more...! Here are some top tips I wrote for Reader's Digest on what you should - and shouldn't! - do.
The pandemic and the ocean - Scuba Diving
For scuba diving, I explored the ways in which the pandemic helped the ocean. The question, now, is whether we learned from that time and moved forward in the right way.
Cuttlefish - National Geographic
Have you ever heard of the marshmallow test? Basically, it's a way of testing if you can show self-control (by offering you one marshmallow now or more if you can wait until later). Now, I'm not sure I'd always pass the marshmallow test so it's pretty impressive that cuttlefish will skip a snack if they know researchers will reward them with their favourite treat if they wait. Another really interesting subject for my Nat Geo reference piece on cuttlefish.
Beached whales - National Geographic
If you've ever wondered why a whale might become beached, check out my piece for Nat Geo exploring the many different reasons a whale might find itself where it's not supposed to be... on land.
Returning to travel - Fodors
The relationship between tourism and conservation is a complex one. Unmanaged tourism can have a hugely negative impact on ecosystems and communities - but what benefits does tourism bring? I had a think about this a while back for Fodors - I hope you find it interesting!
Protecting coral reefs - Ecophiles
For Ecophiles, I wrote a piece explaining the simple ways you can protect coral reefs when scuba diving or snorkelling.
Leaky shipwrecks - the Daily Beast
What's the scariest thing you can think of under the sea? Sharks? Sea monsters? Haunted pirate ships?! How about slowly degrading WWII shipwrecks that could be on the brink of leaking oil and devastating the ocean ecosystem? I wrote about these ticking time bombs a while back for the Daily Beast.
Fluorescence diving - Diver
If you can imagine the wild bright colours and UV-vibe of a rave, add a dash of Avatar and then put that whole picture underwater at night, you've got a pretty good idea of what it's like to go on a fluo dive. If this sounds utterly bonkers and you can't imagine it at all, check out my Diver magazine article about going on a fluo dive in Madagascar.
World's first triple-amputee Rescue Diver - Diver
“I’m down in a black wetsuit”. I’m four foot six because I’ve got no legs on. I look like a seal. Well, what do sharks eat? Seals. That’s what’s going through my head.” What a great opening quote from Josh Boggi who I interviewed back in 2019 when he became the world’s first triple-amputee Rescue Diver. The rest of the article doesn't disappoint either - enjoy!
Shocking finding - New Scientist
In a scientific first, researchers were able to induce gene transfer using all natural organisms for the first time. For New Scientist, I covered this study where researchers used electric eel electricity to successfully transfer a fluorescent marker into zebrafish larvae.
Mega pregnancy - New Scientist
Megamouth sharks are an incredibly rare deep sea species. So, it was a huge surprise when a female pregnant with seven pups washed up in the Philippines - the first recorded pregnancy in the species. I covered the discovery for New Scientist.
Lionfish in the Med - BBC Wildlife
Venomous lionfish have been spreading across the Mediterranean Sea. I wrote about the potential ecological impacts for BBC Wildlife.
Coral bleaching - Nat Geo
A really important topic. For Nat Geo, I covered the striking before and after photos of coral bleaching on Lord Howe island.
North Atlantic right whale calf - BBC Wildlife
Lovely to have the opportunity to write about this precious calf sighting. There are only around 360 North Atlantic right whales left on the planet, so it's really special to see a new mom and calf pair!
Cornish seahorses - BBC Countryfile
Did you know we have seahorses in the UK? Alicia Shephard was lucky enough to find one on her lunchbreak. I covered the story for BBC Countryfile (and now I'm going to be keeping my eyes peeled MUCH more carefully on my beach walks.)
Blue tide - BBC Countryfile
Another story for BBC Countryfile Magazine explaining the 'blue tide' that washed up on Guernsey recently
Wombat in the ocean - BBC Wildlife
Did you know my favourite terrestrial animal is the wombat? So, obviously, I was delighted when a wombat went near the ocean and I persuaded the fab team at BBC Wildlife Magazine let me write about what was going on!
Manta ray meat – BBC Wildlife
Sadly, ocean writing isn’t all amazing animal encounters. This new report, which found manta and devil ray meat is consumed in over 35 countries, was a sad and shocking – but important – story to cover for BBC Wildlife.
Pacific sleeper shark – BBC Wildlife
OK, OK, so quite a lot of my stories do start with researchers dropping a camera into the deep sea and finding something amazing (but that’s because there’s so much amazing stuff down there, amirite?!). But here’s another one, for BBC Wildlife, with some epic shots inside a Pacific sleeper shark’s mouth.
Leaf sheep – Live Science
I finally got to write about my favourite species of nudibranch! This Amazing Animals profile of a Shaun the Sheep sea slug was really fun to write for Live Science.
Marine snow – BBC Wildlife
Marine snow doesn’t just fall at Christmas. I found out more about this fascinating phenomenon (including that it’s made up of poop) for BBC Wildlife.
Christmas tree worms – BBC Wildlife
Another festive one for BBC Wildlife. I wrote all about Christmas tree worms.
Sea angels – BBC Wildlife
Sea angels might look sweet but they’re actually menacing predators. I wrote about their devilish side for BBC Wildlife.
Spawning sponges – BBC Wildlife
“Like something from a sci fi movie”. It was awesome to see this footage of barrel sponges spawning, with plumes of what looked like smoke billowing out into the water. Another of my video-led stories for BBC Wildlife.
Shark rescue – BBC Countryfile
Would you know what to do if you found a shark stranded on your local beach? Thankfully, this quick-thinking scuba diver did. When he found small spotted catsharks washed up in Brighton, he jumped straight into action. I covered the story for BBC Countryfile.
Burping baby humpbacks – BBC Wildlife
Modern technology is helping us make so many new discoveries. Like this footage of a baby humpback whale burping, barking and snorting to tell mum it’s hungry. I wrote about it for BBC Wildlife.
Sustainable seafood network – Oceanographic
It’s always great to learn about successful grassroots conservation projects that are having an impact around the world. So it was super interesting to learn about the Mobula Project Indonesia’s sustainable seafood network for Oceanographic magazine.
Pigbutt worm - Live Science
Deep sea weirdos are the best kind of weirdos. A fun one to find out more about for the fab gang at Live Science with big thanks to the team at MBARI for their insights.
Baby orca - BBC Wildlife
When a pilot saw a baby orca seen in Western Australia (so cute!), of course I wanted to share the cool news. This is the first baby they've seen at Ningaloo in years so it’s really special.
Whale alphabet - BBC Wildlife
A, B, C...etacean. Whales might have their own alphabet! Researchers have used AI to decode sperm whale codas and might have found a phonetic alphabet. Cool story to write about for BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Jet propelled midwives - Diver
If the headline 'Meet the jet propelled midwives' isn't enough to intrigue you to read my old Diver article from 2019, I don't know what is!
Freediving with sharks - Sidetracked
The cool thing about my work is that I get to chat to cool conservationists doing exciting things like freediving with sharks, which is exactly what I did for this Sidetracked magazine article.
Whale sharks and rays - The Daily Beast
In this Daily Beast article, I talked about one of the many reasons I love Mozambique: its epic wildlife.
Queen of Mantas - World Footprint
I've admired MMF's Andrea Marshall since I met her back in 2018 - if you haven't heard of Andrea, check out the documentary 'Queen of Mantas' to find out more about her incredible work to protect manta rays. Or have a cheeky read of this article I wrote about her work a while back...
Ocean Guardians - Adventure.com
Meet the Ocean Guardians: the amazing instructors giving life-saving swimming lessons in Mozambique. Another piece from the archives and makes me miss that amazing year (almost) when I was based in Moz and volunteering with MMF.
Whale shark tourism - World Footprints
For World Footprints, I wrote about how to travel sustainably and follow the Code of Conduct for responsible interactions when visiting countries to see iconic or endangered species like Madagascar's whale sharks.
Where the whale sharks are - Diver
Back in 2018, I wrote this piece exploring where the whale sharks are and how one woman is dedicating her life to protecting them. Fast forward to today and I'm still protecting the Madagascar Whale Shark Project Foundation (and Stella is still smashing it with her conservation work).
Shark freediving - Diver
Let's be honest, sharks can get a pretty bad rap. So it's always cool to hear about people like Lukas, who I wrote about for Diver magazine, who are working to protect these magnificent creatures.
Whale sharks - Ecophiles
For Ecophiles, I pulled together a roundup of fun facts about the world's biggest fish: the whale shark.
Zebra sharks - National Geographic
Zebras are cool. Sharks are cooler. So zebra sharks are doubly cool, right? I'm not going to say these are my favourite type of shark (for once - I mean, they're no thresher shark! ???? ) BUT I did really enjoy writing this Nat Geo reference piece all the same. I hope you find it interesting to read too.
Conservation in Mozambique - Family Traveller
People often ask how I got into marine conservation and I usually say "I couldn't help myself". But it also involved quitting my job and relocating to Mozambique for a bit. I wrote about it for Family Traveller.
Mantis shrimp - National Geographic
It's not a peacock, a preying mantis OR a shrimp... so what the devil is a peacock mantis shrimp? Get ready to be clobbered with some fun ocean facts in another of my Nat Geo reference pieces.
Whale sharks - Oceanographic
For Oceanographic, I wrote up an interview with the Madagascar Whale Shark Project Foundation's Stella Diamant about her important conservation work.
Galapagos whale sharks - Oceanographic
Again for Oceanographic, I covered the mysteries of pregnancy in the world's largest fish.
Whale sharks - Ecophiles
If you're ever lucky enough to swim with a whale shark, please make sure it's a responsible encounter by following the whale shark Code of Conduct. I interviewed Madagascar Whale Shark's Stelle Diamant for Ecophiles to get more details on what you should and shouldn't do as a responsible tourist.
Tobago - Diver
Is the diving in Tobago better on the East side than the West side? The only way to find out... dive both! I wrote a review of the island's underwater world for Diver magazine.
Japan - Diver
If I told you I did some great scuba dives in Japan, you'd probably assume I'd visited Okinawa (right?). But did you know there are some great critters to be found off the coast of mainland Japan? I visited Wakayama to check out its macro delights and wrote a destination review for Diver magazine.
Malapascua, Philippines - Diver
I've never been a fan of an early morning BUT if there's a chance of shark sightings before breakfast, you can probably persuade me! That's exactly what I was lucky enough to experience in Malapascua, the Philippines, which I wrote about for Diver magazine. And I still remember those dives vividly today.
Black eyes - Diver
"Isn't it dangerous?" is a question I get a lot when people find out I'm a scuba diver. Yes, it has its risks (but that's why we learn what to do in case something goes wrong). When there have been mishaps underwater, the instructors' responses have always made me feel safer - if you're with a good dive shop, their dive professionals really know what they're doing! But there wasn't much I could do when I accidentally gave myself a double black eye while diving in the Caribbean. I wrote about it for Diver magazine.
Dolphins and manatees - Live Science
For Live Science, I covered a new study which documented dolphins acting 'like jerks' and attacking baby manatees. Yikes.
The Meg - Live Science
A new study suggested that the Meg may have been more slender than scientists previously thought and might not look like a mega great white. Could this be true? I looked into it for Live Science.
Baby shark - Live Science
In what's been described as one of the holy grails of shark science, researchers think they've finally seen a newborn great white for the first time. And I got to dive into it for Live Science.
New isopod - Live Science
Deep sea explorers discovered a weird new roly poly bug. It was white and see-through so they could even see its guts through its body. I love covering the deep sea so this was a fun one to write for Live Science.
Protecting coral reefs - Earth.org
I wrote this piece for Earth.org, about how effective conservation and management measures can help protect coral reefs from the threats they face globally.
Mission 2020 - Earth.org
In this article, I explored Mission 2020 and how organisations around the world are rallying against the plastic pollution crisis.
The bends at Aliwal Shoal - Diver
My first ever published article was all about sharks, seasickness and the bends in South Africa - it even made the magazine's front cover!
Alternative livelihoods - Curiosity
For Curiosity magazine, I looked at how alternative livelihoods to fishing are helping both marine life and local communities in Mozambique.
Whale sharks - Fodors
In this article for Fodors, I shared a roundup of destinations around the world where you can see endangered whale sharks.
Mafia Island - Ecophiles
In this travel piece for Ecophiles, I highlighted the great things you can do on Mafia Island, Tanzania - including swimming with whale sharks and scuba diving.
Sharks - AFAR
In this piece for AFAR, I spoke to a range of scientists for their tips on the best places around the world where you can see sharks (responsibly).
Tofo, Mozambique - Lonely Planet
In this travel article for Lonely Planet, I wrote a guide on all the things to see and do in Tofo Beach, Mozambique.
Artificial reefs - Ecophiles
In this piece, I wrote a roundup of interesting artificial reefs that divers and snorkellers can visit.
Helping sharks - Ecophiles
Ever wondered how you can help sharks? I shared a few ways in this article where I interviewed a bunch of shark scientists for Ecophiles.
Protecting the ocean - Ecophiles
As a scuba diver, I'm passionate about protecting the ocean. But you don't need to be a diver to make a difference. In this article, I share a few ways you can make a difference even if you're not a diver.
Diving and conservation - Ecophiles
I wrote an article for Ecophiles about the pristine dive spots which are focused on protecting the marine ecosystem.
CSI of the Sea - Fodors
Meet the CSI of the Sea in this article I wrote about the guy trying to solve a string of mysterious deaths off the coast of the UK...
