Have you ever wondered what dwells in the ocean?
Have you ever peered into crystal clear seas and watched jellyfish drift by: just within reach and yet otherworldly? I had a moment like this on an Environmental Science college trip to Capri, Italy.
I lay on the harbour quay with my face pressed as close the surface of the sea as I could get. The water was a shimmering blue crystal. A group of small pink jellyfish held my gaze.
I was hooked. I knew at this moment that I had made the right decision to pursue a career in marine biology; despite having been told at school that I would never get into university.
I thrived at university.
Developing an ever greater interest in coastal ecology, I decided at the end of my second year to extend my course to include a research-focused master’s year.
This had me conducting research on the rocky shores of North Wales. Investigating the relationship between the size of a limpet and how much it consumes. Having to work at low tide often placed me on the shore in time to see the sunrise.
Returning home to the land-locked centre of England I took a job as a data analyst, building on the skills I had developed at university.
Life in a warehouse didn’t suit me, and after two years I left to cycle around the coast of Britain. This combined my love of the sea, cycling, and travelling in one neat and life-transforming package. Okay… it wasn’t neat. There were many challenges. But it was these character-developing challenges and the many interesting people I met along the way that really made it worthwhile.
I now work remotely as a data analyst, which certainly trumps working in a dull-coloured artificially lit office. But my real passion is marine ecology. So I’ve decided it’s time to offer my services as a freelance researcher and get stuck into something I love.
So if you need an assistant, or data analyst, check out my services page and get in touch by email at david@mccomack-online.com.