MSci Marine Biology student Daniel tells us about his life changing experiences inside and outside the lecture theatre.
Field trips with amazing wildlife
I had the opportunity to study for a semester at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia. Whilst there, I became a JCU Restricted Scientific Diver and conducted scientific surveys for a master’s student.
We were investigating juvenile coral competition in massive corals at Orpheus Island Research Station. I will never forget seeing humpback whales, including hearing them singing whilst I was diving and seeing them breach by our research boat.
I also went on several incredible field trips for my modules. I travelled back to Orpheus Island for a coral ecology module. Whilst snorkeling I conducted surveys investigating coral cover and composition between the reef flat, slope, and crest.
For my tropical aquaculture module, I visited 4 different aquaculture facilities in North Queensland, barramundi, grouper, tiger prawn and red claw. On one of the days (my birthday) I also I saw platypus and glow worms.
Time for travelling
I wanted to make the most of my trip halfway round the world, so I did lots of travelling when I wasn’t studying. I travelled to the Central Queensland outback with a group of friends I made at JCU. We drove 1600km in 3 days and saw tumbleweed.
I found my own extinct species of fossil bivalve, Inoceramus, which is about 189–66 million years old. I was allowed to keep it as I got a permit from the museum.
I was very fortunate to see so much Australian wildlife. This included emus in the outback, saltwater crocodiles in Daintree Rainforest, koalas at Magnetic Island and fairy penguins at Philip Island.
I dived as well as snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef, where I saw coral spawning at Magnetic Island as well as an epaulette shark.
After my semester abroad, I went backpacking around West Papua in Indonesia. I had to take a cargo ferry which took over 12 hours but I saw pristine coral cover.
I saw so many cool terrestrial and marine animals. This included 3 species of birds of paradise, kingfishers, crazy insects and spiders, wobbegong shark, manta rays, eagle rays, pipefish, bumphead parrotfish, turtles, sharks, so many dolphins, and a dugong.
My experience during my semester abroad was incredible. It was only possible because of my course here at Southampton. It was truly amazing and is something I’ll never forget.
Daniel Hampton, MSci Marine Biology student
