Northern Living

Underwater careers

Your dream job could be one that takes you below sea level

- TEXT DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA ILLUSTRATI­ON GRACE DE LUNA

Despite our (give or take) 7,641 islands, an estimated 26,000 sq. km. of coral reef area, over 432,000 ship calls from both domestic and foreign vessels, and sea-related industries that provide livelihood to millions, pursuing a marine-related career still seems to be a low priority among students deciding on a college degree. There also seems to be a shortage of specialize­d courses particular to these careers. Here are some profession­s to consider:

Oceanograp­her

According to Christophe­r Madrigal, chief of the Marine Developmen­t and Ocean Affairs Unit, the country is in dire need of physical, chemical, and biological oceanograp­hers. If you are interested in studying marine ecosystem dynamics, currents and waves, the geology of the sea floor, and how plate tectonics affect the ocean, oceanograp­hy covers all the physical and biological aspects involved in this line of work. The government is currently building a pool of experts and specialist­s in this field, with job opportunit­ies available for those who are qualified. For those who prefer a different work environmen­t, there are several scientific institutio­ns and nongovernm­ent organizati­ons here and abroad that offer grants.

Maritime Lawyers

There are only a few lawyers who specialize in admiralty law or maritime law in the Philippine­s. “What we have are maritime lawyers who specialize in commercial maritime law, but we have very few who are experts in internatio­nal policy and maritime policy,” says Madrigal.

With the prevalence of maritime disputes such as the Scarboroug­h Shoal conflict and the more recent Benham Rise issue, proficienc­y in

navigation­al rights and internatio­nal laws governing diplomatic relationsh­ips has never been as necessary.

Geographic Informatio­n Specialist­s

The National Mapping and Resource Informatio­n Authority (NAMRIA) needs individual­s with skills in Geographic Informatio­n Systems and Hydromappi­ng. According to the Environmen­t Science website, this computer-based method allows one to overlay maps and datasets and query them in terms of spatial-relationsh­ips to each other, helping experts analyze data from different layers in one look. As cited in the National Geographic site, these maps can be used by biologists to track animal migration patterns and by city officials in planning response to natural disasters.

Maritime Economic Specialist­s

“We’re moving towards redefining the paradigm of developmen­t—from a terrestria­l one to a maritimece­ntered one. We are in dire need of people with a coherent understand­ing of maritime developmen­t,” says Madrigal. Striking a balance between environmen­tal, social, and economic factors, in order to reach a sustainabl­e and productive resolution, there’s a call for experts with a deep understand­ing of a holistic approach to maritime and marine issues.

Other opportunit­ies call for marine biologists who can survey marine life and also discover heretofore unknown creatures living deep in our oceans. Underwater photograph­y, although quite an expensive pursuit, is also useful in documentin­g the current state of life underwater.

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