Curious by nature

Caryl-Ann’s love for marine life brought her to DHI in 2019. Since then, she’s taken on new challenges and roles, exploring different areas of ecology and discovering something new almost every day. In this Q&A, she shares what keeps her work exciting and the discoveries that continue to inspire her.

Have you always worked with marine ecology and how did you join the DHI family? 

While my background is in Marine Biology, I began my career as a civil servant and didn’t expect to find a role in this field locally. I was prepared to move overseas to pursue my passion, but came across an opportunity with DHI – and that unexpected find allowed me to build my marine ecology career right here.

What’s something in your everyday work that never gets old and always reminds you why you love this field?

Learning never gets old for me – whether it’s identifying a new species we encounter in the field or expanding my marine knowledge into the terrestrial side of ecology. That constant discovery is what keeps the work exciting and reminds me why I love this field.

Could you share a recent innovation or trend in marine science that you find particularly interesting, and how does it influence the way you approach your work? 

I find it exciting how coral transplantation is moving beyond survival-based metrics to focus on reef function, resilience and long-term performance through improved monitoring methods. This has shaped my approach by emphasising thoughtful site selection, post-transplant follow-up and adapting techniques based on what the data shows over time.

Tell us about a memorable project you’ve been involved in. 

One of the most memorable projects I’ve managed was the biodiversity relocation at The Reef at King’s Dock. We harvested corals before the condominium was built, maintained them in a nursery, and then transplanted them back onto bommies within a viewing deck in the same location. Seeing it through from start to finish and witnessing the team’s dedication over the years made it especially rewarding.

If you could spend a day anywhere in the world’s oceans, where would you go and why?

There are so many places I’ve yet to see, but the Red Sea is on my 2026 list. Honestly though, I’d be happy anywhere underwater – don’t make me choose!

Complete this sentence: ‘If I weren’t an environmental consultant, I would probably be...’ 

Perhaps a professional diver – while my dives in this role are mostly for monitoring under EMMPs and EIAs, I could see myself diving in a more commercial, technical capacity.