I am a retired Professor of Marine Biology whose lifetime research focused upon the ecology of coral reef fishes and the coral reef ecosystems which they inhabit.
Inspired by "Sea Hunt", I began snorkeling more than 50 years ago off the S. California coast at the age of 14. I have continued my snorkeling explorations ever since, moving from the colder California waters to the warm tropical waters of Belize coral reefs in 1972, and have never looked back.
Although as a professional marine biologist most of my underwater work has been done with the use of SCUBA, I have always preferred snorkeling and have used this technique both in my work as well as for my own enjoyment whenever I got the chance.
Professional Background
I received a PhD degree in Biological Sciences from the Marine Science Institute at the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1973. Soon thereafter I moved to Florida where I began research on Caribbean coral reefs and reef ecosystems. I have authored or co-authored numerous scientific papers, technical reports, and several popular books on coral reefs and marine life.
I also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in marine biology at both the Florida Institute of Technology and the University of California at Berkeley, where I finished my academic career as a Visiting Professor and Research Associate.
I then began a career as a consultant on coral reef fisheries and Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning efforts. I conducted these efforts in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Malaysia. I am also a retired (inactive) SCUBA Instructor (NAUI).
Why I created This Site
I feel most fortunate to have had the opportunity during my lifetime to explore and snorkel coral reefs of The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Caribbean Sea proper, Florida, and the Indo-Pacific.
I created this website to use my 50+ years of snorkeling experience to help others get the best "bang for the buck", remain safe, and protect marine life when undertaking their own snorkeling adventures.
It is my sincere hope that this website achieves that goal. Thanks for visiting, and please come back often - new pages will be added on a semi-regular basis, as time permits.
William Alevizon, PhD, December 2010