Marine Conservation in Mexico

Akumal Conservation Expedition

My expedition to Mexico was an incredible opportunity to combine my passion for marine life with conservation research. I was surrounded by coral reefs and turtles while learning what it is really like to carry out marine conservation research in the field.

 

What We Did in the Field

Most days we had up to three snorkel sessions. It was an amazing amount of time to spend in the water and gave us the opportunity to put our training into practice.

The first week was mainly focused on learning and building our identification and survey skills. We covered fish identification, coral identification, fish transect lines and coral quadrats. This gave us a really good foundation and helped us become more confident identifying what we were seeing underwater and recording it accurately.

Alongside the practical work, we had lectures explaining the different surveys and techniques we would be using. This meant that when we got into the water, we were well prepared and understood what we were looking for and how to collect the data properly.

The second week was mainly focused on turtle research. I helped collect data on the number of turtles present within restricted areas, which could then be compared with the data we were collecting on seagrass density, length and the different types of seagrass found during our surveys.

We also carried out turtle identification using SVCS recorders, and we were able to measure the length of individual turtles.

Being able to take everything we had learned during the first week and then apply it to real conservation research in the second week was extremely useful. It showed me how important accurate field data can be when trying to understand and protect marine ecosystems.

Having the Right Kit in the Field

With so much time spent in and around the water, having reliable equipment was really important. We were carrying out long days of snorkelling and fieldwork, so being comfortable and confident in my kit made a real difference.

Thankfully, Wild Swimming supported my expedition by providing me with their EasyOff™ Neoprene Swimming Socks.

The socks were particularly useful because many of our survey sites required us to walk through large amounts of sargassum, a type of brown algae that has become a significant issue across parts of the Caribbean. Walking through it to reach the water meant there was always the chance of stepping on something sharp or rough, so having the extra protection on my feet was really reassuring.

We also spent a lot of time snorkelling over shallow coral reefs. While we were always careful to avoid contact with the reef, it was nice knowing my feet had an extra layer of protection.

Once we reached the seagrass survey sites, we spent long periods treading water while collecting data. I really liked that the socks were lightweight and flexible, so they didn't affect my swimming or make my legs feel heavy like some bulkier neoprene boots can.

Another feature I really appreciated was the EasyOff™ strap. After several snorkel sessions in a day, it made taking the socks off quick and easy.

Overall, the socks became a really useful part of my daily routine. They were comfortable, practical and well suited to the demands of long days carrying out marine conservation fieldwork.

More Than Just a Trip

I was able to learn how conservation research is actually carried out, from identifying fish and corals to conducting transect surveys, studying seagrass and collecting data on turtles.

It was also a great reminder that conservation depends on good-quality data. Every observation, measurement and survey contributes to a much bigger understanding of these ecosystems and the pressures they face.

I'm incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to take part. I came home with new practical skills, a much greater understanding of marine research and even more motivation to continue working in conservation.

A huge thank you to Wild Swimming for supporting my expedition and providing the EasyOff™ Neoprene Swimming Socks, which became such a useful part of my everyday routine in the field.

Coral Fry – University of Aberystwyth, BSc (Hons) Zoology