Program Manager / Marine Science Instructor / PADI Diving Instructor
Born and raised in York, Pennsylvania, Heather spent most of her childhood outdoors, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to live alongside the ocean. She first learned to dive in Panama when she spent more than 6 months of her Bachelors degree in Central America, including backpacking across Costa Rica from the Caribbean to the Pacific ocean. She studied International Relations at York College, where she also minored in Outdoor Leadership. Following graduation, she relocated to Cambodia to serve in the Peace Corps. While her time teaching was cut short by COVID-19, she took the change of plans as an opportunity to pursue her masters degree focused on Ocean and Coastal Resource Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, CA. After enjoying the surreal tranquility of diving through the Kelp forests in Monterey, she completed the remainder of her degree working as a research assistant and then a marine ecosystem surveyor on two tiny picturesque islands; first in Utila, Honduras, and then in Koh Ach Seh, Cambodia. She became a dive professional during her time on Utila, where she also became a tec diver, completed a variety of specialty instructor courses, and aided in coral disease monitoring and treatment efforts, furthering her passion for reef ecosystems. Heather is ecstatic to share her love of marine science, scuba diving, and adventure as a member of the Sea|mester team.
