An Interview – Fantine Soulat

This week on ‘An Interview with WiseOceans’ we spoke with our own Fantine Soulat

Name: Fantine Soulat

Role: Marine Biologist and Educator

Company: WiseOceans

Top Tip: Follow your heart!

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in marine conservation? 

Growing up, I had the chance to live and travel in Africa, being exposed to many various environments. It was never clear that I would choose marine conservation, but it was mandatory for me to work with nature, and to have meaningful, positive impacts on the environment. After studying different ecosystems during my bachelor’s, I realized I was most interested in marine sciences, and discovering coral restoration work inspired me to pursue a career in that direction.

2. What steps did you take or are you currently taking to achieve your career goals?

My decisions are not driven by ambitious career goals; I believe that if I love what I am doing in the present, my current decisions will always lead me to a good place in the future. With my passion for the environment, it was natural to choose a bachelor’s in environmental sciences, which I did at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. I then pursued an international master’s in marine sciences to combine my passion for travelling and for marine ecosystems. Ecosystem restoration is for me the best way to work in the field and to help our environment. I took every opportunity during the master’s to focus on ecosystem restoration, gaining experience with field work, to have strong competences and increase my chances to get a job post-graduation.  

3. How did you obtain your current position? 

I discovered WiseOceans through their Marine Discovery Program at Four Seasons Bora-Bora, when I was still doing my bachelor’s. Since then, I was regularly checking job opportunities on the Careers portal, dreaming that one day I could be a marine biologist.  WiseOceans’s Marine Biologist and Educator in the Seychelles was the first job position I applied to after my master’s. Even though I was still doubting I would be good enough to get the position, nothing comes if one doesn’t at least try, so I dared to apply. I was so deeply convinced this was my ideal job that I believe that my motivation paid off.

4. Which part of your job do you enjoy the most?  

What I love the most is spending hours every day in the water, either snorkeling or working on the coral nursery. Underwater, I lose sense of time, disconnect from everything and can find inspiration. As I love gardening on land, I also really enjoy taking care of the coral nursery, cleaning, monitoring health and seeing the baby fragments grow. It feels so rewarding!

5. Are there aspects of your position which make you feel that you are really ‘making a difference’? 

I feel like this job is all about making a difference, both through education and conservation. I would say that the most rewarding moments have been to take people snorkeling for the first time and to witness their amazement in front of the underwater world. Seeing their eyes shine after the snorkel makes me so happy! By getting in the water and experiencing it by themselves, people can understand the importance of protecting our Ocean, share their personal experience and use it as a motivation to get involved in marine conservation. This is how I feel I’m making a difference!

6. What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were starting out?

Starting my studies, I wish I knew I could be one of those people who follow their dreams and make them happen. I never pictured myself as a marine biologist, it was just a dream job that only some lucky ones could do. But now, I realize that nothing is inaccessible unless one doesn’t try. If I had to do it again, I would be more confident in myself and my skills, trusting that hard work and passion are the keys to success.

7. Are there any skills you never thought you would need but did?

For me, this job requires a business side that I didn’t know I had until I had to use it. As a child, I was very shy, introverted, and would never have thought that one day, I would be comfortable going around introducing myself and promoting activities. I became more outgoing as I grew older, which definitely is a key now to interact with guests on a daily basis!

8. What advice would you give to budding marine conservationists?  

Entering the field of marine conservation is not the easiest, as it can be very demanding and competitive. The first thing would be to target your interests and goals. Once you know what you want to do it will be easier to look for opportunities, find the requirements for job positions and work towards getting experience and gaining relevant competences. Make sure to get all the chances on your side to have an attractive profile. But most important is to follow your heart, passion is by far the strongest and most valuable skill!

Networking is also very important, so be bold enough to reach out to people in the field, ask for recommendations, be open minded, you never know what could happen. And don’t hesitate to apply for positions even though you might not have all the qualifications, be convincing, show your passion and it will make the difference.

9. What is your favourite marine creature and why?

Out of all these questions, this one is the hardest! All creatures are so beautiful in their own way, but maybe octopus fascinate me more than any other creatures, because of their intelligence, curiosity and unique camouflage techniques. I rarely see them but spotting one is always so rewarding. They’re one of these creatures with which I feel having a real interaction as they all have a different personality.

10. What is your most unforgettable moment in the sea?

I once went diving on a Halloween day, and it was a very spooky experience! It was a stormy day with thunder and lightning, the sea was rough, and the sky was dark. We still decided to go and the whole atmosphere made the dive really exciting. Lightning was illuminating water around us and seeing rain from below was hypnotizing. Yet, the underwater world didn’t seem bothered by the storm outside. It really felt like going into another dimension, disconnecting from the world outside more than during any other dive!