What do you study?

At the museum, my project looks at organic falls - these are large packages of food like dead whales and trees that sink to the seafloor. Once on the seafloor they provide lots of food and shelter for many deep sea animals and a whole new ecosystem is formed. My background is mainly deep sea biology but growing up in the Caribbean has allowed me to have good knowledge of tropical biology also.

What are you most excited about seeing/finding on the trip?

It would be incredible to find some Osedax worms on the bone packages we put down in October when we were last there, as they would be the first ones found in tropical waters. I’m also really looking forward to seeing some sharks as the Bahamas recently declared their national waters as a shark sanctuary.

Where have you been previously on field work?

I have previously done some field work off Bermuda and more importantly, I was part of the scientific team that journeyed to the Cayman Trench to discover the world's deepest hydrothermal vents. I've also done some work in my home of Trinidad and Tobago.

What is your best experience whilst on field work?

The best experience I've had while on field work would be when we saw the first live footage of the world’s deepest hydrothermal vents and the amazing animals living around them. It was so amazing to realise that our expedition were the first people on the planet to see this environment. I definitely shed a tear or two.

What advice would you give to someone going on field work for the first time?

Preparation is key - always have a back-up plan!