Shark Dive — Belize 2017
November 2017
Belize
A Lifetime Exploring
Rowan Byrne | Marine Biologist, Marine Ecologist· Scientist Photographer & Conservationist
MarineCreatures.com is the personal field archive of Irish marine biologist and marine ecologist Rowan Byrne — documenting more than 30 years of first-hand experience in marine science, conservation, fieldwork and underwater photography across 22+ countries.
Marine Biologist · Marine Ecologist · Explorer · Conservationist · Award-winning Sustainability Leader
IEMA Sustainability LeaderTEDx Speaker30+ Years ExperiencePublished ResearcherFellow — Royal Society of Biology
Knowledge Archive
Explore More Than 30 Years of Marine Science
Search Rowan Byrne's marine science archive — species, fieldwork, stories, photography and professional experience.
Global Expeditions
A Lifetime Exploring Our Blue Planet
More than 30 years studying marine life across the world's oceans. Click any location to explore the work. Rowan Byrne is an Irish marine biologist and marine ecologist with more than 30 years of experience in marine science, conservation, fieldwork and underwater photography.
30+
Years
of marine biology & exploration
22+
Countries
visited for fieldwork & photography
Thousands
Photographs
of original marine images
Hundreds
Species
encountered & documented
1
Lifelong Passion
for the aquatic world
Map legend
Marine Ecology
Conservation
Scientific Research
Marine Plastics
Renewable Energy
Photography
"The ocean connects us all. Understanding it is the first step towards protecting it."
Marine Biologist · Marine Ecologist · Explorer · Conservationist · Photographer · Author · Speaker
Global Work & Expeditions
A Global Career in Marine Science
More than 30 years of fieldwork, research, conservation and professional marine ecology across multiple countries and marine environments.
From sea turtle conservation in the Caribbean to offshore environmental work in the Irish Sea, scientific expeditions in the Philippines and marine plastics research in Ireland — explore the full geographical record of Rowan Byrne's career.
Explore the Global Work Map
Explore the ocean
Marine Life & Ecosystems
Irish Marine Biologist
Rowan Byrne
Rowan Byrne is an Irish marine biologist with over 30 years of hands-on experience across the world's oceans — from leatherback turtle conservation in Dominica to bluefin tuna research in Malta, great white shark encounters in South Africa, and environmental impact assessments across Europe and beyond.
Marine EcologySea Turtle ConservationElasmobranch BiologyOffshore RenewablesMarine PlasticsBiodiversity Net GainEnvironmental Expert WitnessUnderwater Photography
Read Rowan's StoryConservation
Protecting the Ocean, One Species at a Time
From rescuing entangled leatherback turtles on Scotts Head beach to campaigning against single-use plastics, Rowan's conservation work spans decades and continents.
Explore Conservation Work
Field Stories
30 Years of Ocean Encounters
First-hand accounts from the field — bluefin tuna in Malta, great white sharks in South Africa, leatherback turtles in Dominica, gentoo penguins in the Falklands, and more.
Featured by The Daily JawsFrom JAWS to a Lifetime Beneath the Surface
The Daily Jaws explores Rowan Byrne’s journey from a childhood fascination with JAWS to more than 30 years in marine biology, fieldwork and conservation.
Read the feature
© Rowan Byrne / MarineCreatures.comObservations on Dominica · 2005
Observations on Dominica: The Story Behind the Book
After years of diving, photographing, conserving and working with communities in Dominica, Rowan Byrne created Observations on Dominica in 2005 — a photographic record of the island’s reefs, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, rainforest, history and people. Nearly two decades later, the story reveals the fieldwork, friendships and conservation experiences behind the photographs.
Read the full story
© Rowan Byrne
Sharks
Gansbaai, South Africa · 2008
Encountering Great White Sharks: A Journey to South Africa
A lifelong dream finally realised — cage diving at Seal Island, Gansbaai, with Dr Matt Blackburn. A large great white surged towards the cage, its head and jaws pushing into the bars…
Rays
Baja California Sur, Mexico · 1998
A First Encounter with a Full-Term Endangered Baby Manta Ray
Working with Professor Carlos Villavicencio in the Gulf of California — a baby manta ray, no larger than a man's hand, slipped into Carlos' palm, sparkling with iridescent colours in the Mexican sun.
Conservation
Dominica, Caribbean · 2003–2008
Diving with Giants: A Young Marine Biologist's Unforgettable Encounter
Managing the Rosalie Sea Turtle Initiative in Dominica — and the day Rowan dived into Scott's Head Marine Reserve to free an entangled giant leatherback sea turtle.
More stories coming soon.
From the Field
Rowan Byrne — Marine Biology on Film
More than two decades of marine biology, conservation, research and exploration documented on film.
Howth Seabin Initiative
2019
Howth Harbour, Dublin
Nurse Sharks — Belize 2024
May 2024
Belize
Changing Oceans Expedition 2013
2013
North Atlantic
Endangered Dugong — Marsa Alam, Egypt
November 2014
Red Sea, Egypt
Lion's Mane Jellyfish — Firth of Forth
2016
Firth of Forth, Scotland
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