Thanks to all the team for their hard work in 2011
Skipper : Chris Bone
Chris is a yacht skipper and has spent many years as an environmental activist. Chris is a founding Trustee and CEO of OceansWatch International. He has organised and led OceansWatch projects for the last 2 years in Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papa New Guinea. Chris hopes his life will reflect his signature file….. “ There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less that the one you are capable of living” Nelson Mandela.
Project Leader : Noëlle Van Der Straten
Noelle has a BSc in Environmental science and a MSc in Marine Ecology. She has experience working with marine turtles in Costa Rica and counting salmons census programs in the Pacific Northwest of the US. She is very passionate about sustainable artisanal coastal fisheries and marine conservation issues. She is a PADI Open Water Diver, speaks 4 languages and likes to ride on water - whether it be bodyboarding or snowboarding!
Dive and Marine Crew: Joetta Perrett
Joetta is a rescue diver with a keen interest in marine biology, and has previously assisted on marine research and conservation projects in Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. She is also a psychologist with a background in community development and youth work, who enjoys seeing others make positive changes in their lives. Raised in the dry Australian 'outback', her favourite things include visual arts, travelling, and being in and on the water.
Dive Leader: Bara Gabzdylova
Bara has a Master degree from the Czech Republic University and prior to moving to New Zealand, she spent lots of time with Tibetan communities in the Himalayas, helping Tibetan children get access to better education and teaching English and Maths to young monks. After moving to New Zealand, she completed her Master’s of Commerce, with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibly and Environmental Management.
Bara is passionate about traveling, learning new things, new cultures and learning about herself through various personal experiences. Fascinated by the underwater world, she became a Dive Master and is going to be the dive leader during this project. She is excited about sailing to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea to support marine conservation there. Bara really looks forward to working with such a great team on CatKnapp.
For the last part of the trip the team has been joined by two scientists from Spain:
Ester Pare Carillo and Xavier Vengohechea Delgrado a Spanish couple who hail from Barcelona, and the nearby village of Ripollet..
They are qualified divers with Mediterranean sailing experience, and both hold a Bachelor of Biotechnology and Masters in Business Management.
