Heidy Martinez never dreamt of studying sharks. That changed during a study abroad trip in South Africa in college. She went cage diving with some classmates. That’s when divers view sharks underwater while inside a protective cage. Martinez was mostly there for the thrill. “I really just wanted to scare [my classmates].”
The boat ride was proving to be a bummer. The waves were choppy. Martinez’s wetsuit didn’t fit. And everyone was feeling seasick. When she entered the ocean, a woman beside her said she felt ill. “All of a sudden, she pukes,” Martinez recalls. “Then a wave comes, so all that puke just lands on me and my face.”
At that moment, a white shark approached the cage. To see the shark, Martinez immediately dived, puke and all. But the sight was worth it, she says. Movies usually show these sharks as bloody predators. But this white shark looked entirely different. “I was shocked at how beautiful the shark was,” she says. “Seeing that white shark was a pivotal moment in my career.”
Today, Martinez is a freelance shark researcher. She works with different organizations to study how these fish live and to explore ways to protect them. In this interview, she shares her experiences and advice with Science News Explores. (This interview has been edited for content and readability.)
What inspired you to pursue marine biology?
My degrees are in anthropology and psychology. So I began applying to psychology labs after graduating college. I was convinced that was what I was going to do with my life. Then I saw a documentary on shark conservation called Sharkwater. That film helped me tell the difference between loving something and having a passion for it. I loved psychology and anthropology, but I felt passionate about the ocean.
It felt really scary when I finally decided to switch careers in my mid-20s. I decided to have a conversation with my parents to see if they supported my decision. I was afraid that they would think everything I’d done so far was a waste of time. My family left Colombia when I was 6 so that I could have a better future. But my dad actually got teary-eyed when I told them about my career change. He explained that he had wanted to study marine biology, too. But the career counselors at his school told him to give up that dream.
It felt like this full-circle moment. My dad left everything behind so I could do what I love. And that job ended up being what he always wanted to do.
How did you get to where you are today?
After I watched the documentary, I wanted to see if this was actually what I wanted to do. That meant I needed to do fieldwork before deciding on grad school.
I connected with a project in Nicaragua that created olive ridley sea turtle hatcheries. From there, one opportunity often led to another. People I’d work with during a project would tell me about other opportunities. That often allowed me to pick up different skills. I was working a gig taking pictures of corals for a national park in Thailand when COVID hit. I was stuck there for about five months.
I realized that I needed to find something more committed. In 2022, I worked as a research assistant studying whale sharks in the Philippines. That led to my current job working as a ship biologist in Mexico. Becoming a member of the group Minorites in Shark Sciences also catapulted my career. They offer opportunities and support to minorities that they don’t usually get in the sciences.
What does your work as a freelance scientist look like?
It offers me amazing opportunities to work with different species of sharks. Working with different organizations allows me to really improve my skills. It’s also made me more adaptable. I’m constantly working with new people on different boats. Each team has a different way of doing things. And every boat has its own setup.
My life can feel really exhausting. Since I’m constantly traveling, I don’t have a place to sleep. My backpack is my home. Earlier this year, I found myself in a new location every week. I’ve been doing this for the past five years or so. It’s unstable, but it’s also worth the sacrifice.
How do you feel your background has helped your career?
I spent many years feeling like my education was a complete waste of time. But just because I don’t have a marine biology degree doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do the work. I’ve had to learn everything on the job.
My friends remind me that graduate school will always be there. These job opportunities won’t. I am, though, hoping to get my master’s in the next couple of years.
I now understand that my degrees have shaped me into the scientist and conservationist I am today. My anthropology side allows me to consider cultural differences. And my psychology degree helps with understanding how people receive and interpret information.
For example, clam divers in the Gulf of Mexico have lost their lives to shark encounters. And of course, naturally, their reaction is to hate sharks. A lot of scientists will try to preach or lecture the fishermen about how sharks don’t regularly attack clam divers. But listening to their concerns should be an important part of that work. Studying psychology taught me that if you want people to listen to you, you have to listen to them first.
What have you found challenging about your career?
My biggest sacrifice has been giving up much of my personal life. Living from boat to boat has meant not having enough opportunities to take care of my well-being.
I remember being on a ship when my mom passed away. Everyone was supportive but there was nowhere to run or to hide. I was stuck in the middle of the ocean. Every crew member counts on a boat, so you can’t take time off. Much of my work involves handling stuff very differently than the average person.
When you’re facing 55-knot winds and feeling sick, you sometimes wonder why you’re doing this. But it’s not just a job for me. I can’t see myself doing anything else. I’m working on having both a successful career and a fulfilling personal life. I’m very excited to see how those two play out.
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