Andrew Ibarra joined FKNMS in November 2021 to work closely with Mission: Iconic Reefs field-based restoration and monitoring efforts. He earned his B.S in Environmental Sciences at Florida State University with minors in Mathematics and Biology. Andrew became scuba certified during his last semester of college and promptly moved to the Florida Keys for internships with REEF, a local marine conservation and education non-profit known for its citizen science fish population surveying program, and Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF).

In the Keys, Andrew realized his love for coral reef ecology and conservation. He has earned a PADI Divemaster certification, become an expert level fish population surveyor for REEF, logged over 200 scientific dives conducting coral restoration work for CRF and was invited to assist the Shedd Aquarium on a two-week, research cruise in the Bahamas.

Most recently, he has been working in private environmental consulting as a marine science technician and diver, diving up and down both coasts of Florida. He is passionate about reef conservation and is excited for the opportunity to continue working to protect the Florida Barrier Reef Tract.

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming” – Dory