Traveller in a marine world

Mahima Jaini works as a marine scientist, rescue diver and adventurer rolled into one

It is ironic that Mahima Jaini who grew up in Delhi far from any ocean has had underwater adventures across the globe - from the tropical waters of the Caribbean to the aquatic expanses surrounding Lakshadweep and the seas around Robinson Crusoe Island in Chile, home to the Juan Fernandez fur seals. The 28-year-old marine biologist is also a rescue diver, avid trekker and climber. "I won't call myself an adventure seeker. But my career choices make it obvious that I can't handle a desk job. The world has a lot to offer and I hope that through my work in the field of marine conservation, I can return the favour," she says.

Jaini, as a researcher with Bangalore's Dakshin Foundation working on a biodiversity and resource monitoring programme, spends her days with corals and shoals of bumphead parrotfish in the Lakshadweep and the Andamans. "A lot of my work involves diving and the only equipment I use that is a little out of the ordinary is my underwater writing cylinder," says Jaini, who was one of the speakers at the recently-concluded Adventure Series presented by Taj Safari in Delhi. The cylinder was designed by her academic advisors, Richard Wahle and Robert Steneck. "It's a simple PVC pipe worn on the arm and equipped to hold underwater writing paper along with a ruler and pencils," she explains.

Jaini rates her year-long experience of teaching marine sciences aboard wooden ships named Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage between August 2011 and May 2012 as her most interesting. "It was a thrill to see students experience the ocean and its wonders for the first time. When your classroom is a 100-feet long wooden sailboat and your subject of study is the ocean, a lot of unexpected things can happen," says Jaini. It was an experience for both Jaini and her students to encounter the power of the ocean, especially during some rough weather. "Marine biology literally came to life when we saw rare species and their interactions with one another while snorkeling in the Caribbean. Also, a good experience was exploring the rocky intertidal in Maine," she says.

She has some advice for those aspiring to life as a marine scientist. "Being adaptable and being comfortable in the outdoors is very important. But one needs to have a strong academic aptitude to be able to apply one's knowledge in the field. Hence, a strong background in math and science is a must. Also, a lot of our work relies on statistics. Therefore, a firm understanding of data analysis is necessary," says Jaini.

DIVING HOTSPOTS

Jaini feels that if she had to describe all the interesting depths she has dived in, “it would provide enough material for a book.” But here’s a snapshot of some sites considers unique:

• Maine, US: Cold waters, amazing bottom topography and highly productive for researchers. The waters teem with lobsters, crabs and sea stars.
• Bonaire, the Caribbean: Clear tropical waters and abundance of marine life. One of the best shore diving places in the world.
• Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile: The inspiration behind Daniel Defoe's novel. Cold but relatively clear waters, teeming with fish species. Also, home of the Juan Fernandez fur seals.
• Norway: Cold temperate waters, highly productive and, thus, very low in visibility.
• Lakshadweep, India: India's only coral reef atolls with turquoise blue lagoons and white sand beaches. Ring shaped coral reefs with crystal clear tropical waters, rich in fish diversity. Highest green sea turtle densities in the country. Sharks and rays are a common site in this archipelago.
• Andamans, India: Fringing coral reefs, which at times have low visibility due to high sediment runoff from the land.In certain places, large schools of tuna and bumphead parrotfish are a common site. Interestingly, some of the remote isolated islands may contain high levels of endemic species, thus requiring not only protection but also further research.