Nakia is a PhD Candidate at Dalhousie University, Canada, and a Research Scientist for the Marine Megafauna Foundation. She oversees all the projects in Závora and leads all internships and expeditions. She specializes in manta rays with a focus on their movement ecology for conservation and management. With over a decade of experience living and working in Mozambique, Nakia founded MAR to fuse ocean passion with community‑driven marine conservation. She is the heart behind MAR. From tagging manta rays to leading community conservation efforts, Nakia is all about science with purpose and protecting threatened species and the ecosystems they call home.
Emily is a NAUI diving instructor with a BSc in Marine Biology from the University of Essex. Her passion for marine life led her to pursue a career researching and contributing to the conservation of sharks. After assisting MAR in 2021 and 2022, she fell in love with Závora and has now made it her permanent home. Now as MAR’s Head Dive Instructor, she plays a key role in training our interns and welcoming visiting divers into our world. Emily is an exceptional instructor—calm, clear, and safety-focused—and brings real heart to her work both in and out of the water.
Ed is a NAUI Divemaster with a BSc in Biology from Plymouth University. Starting out as an intern in 2022, he moved here full time in 2023 to further his career in marine science. Since then, he's grown into a leadership role—supporting our ongoing research and spearheading exciting new projects. Specifically, Ed leads our ultrasound initiative, a groundbreaking project exploring the reproductive biology of manta rays and other elasmobranch species in Mozambique. Ed brings passion and precision to everything he does. A divemaster, surfer, and kitesurfer, he's managed to combine his adventurous spirit with a deep commitment to marine conservation.
Corey has been a part of the MAR team since 2018. She holds a BSc and MSc in Marine Biology with a passion for manta ray conservation. She is an expedition leader for MAR and an epic underwater photographer.
