A world beneath the blues and greens
Singaporean marine biologist and conservationist Crystle Wee has a passion for marine life that’s so contagious – and worth sharing
I’ve said this before in a previous post, and I’ll say it again: I miss the beach. I miss the ocean. I wish I took more chances to observe and “connect” with marine life back then.
But from a safe and respectful distance, of course. And with proper guidance from the professionals.
Good thing I have Crystle Wee and her stories to tide me over until my next trip. She’s a Singaporean marine biologist and conservationist who chronicles her marine-life experiences and findings at The Cerulean Sea and @celerystew on Instagram.
I told her that reading her posts and looking at her pictures would be enough to convince anyone to study marine biology.
Wait, so why don’t we? And why don’t more of us?
“The biggest reason why people don’t care about something is because they don’t understand it,” she explains.
“Not everyone gets a chance to scuba-dive and see a coral reef. Even fewer who have tried diving actually know what they’re looking at. I feel that people are drawn to things they find beautiful, quirky, strange and amusing; there are all sorts of stories and creatures in the sea that can satisfy this fascination. If they only listened and watched, then maybe more people would care about the ocean.”
To counter this “sense of disconnect”, as Crystle puts it, is to “maintain a childlike curiosity”. But it’s a challenge.
“Children are the best explorers – they have a never-ending stream of questions about everything, and they have so little fear and so much fascination,” she points out. “Many children start off being enraptured by the sea, but slowly that sense of wonder wanes.”
Crystle thus encourages us adults “to have the humility to recognise how much we simply don’t know”.
“A problem many of us living in urban cities face is that we are simply out of touch with nature, or that the ‘nature’ most prefer to experience is very much landscaped and tamed,” she says.
“We sometimes view nature as separate from our existence, which couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s so much wildlife in Singapore – you just need to look carefully.”
Look carefully we will
We can start by asking Crystle about marine biology.
“Marine biology is the study of living things in the sea – not just the large charismatic animals like dolphins, whales and sharks,” she says.
“It also includes a myriad of strange creatures like microscopic plankton, seagrasses, lumpy sponges, sea stars and barnacles – the list goes on. It’s such a broad field that encompasses so much.”
What about marine biology in Singapore then? Is it tough to study and become a marine biologist? What’s it like?
“I think it’s difficult because Singapore currently doesn’t have a dedicated course for undergraduates in marine biology,” she answers. “But there are some courses in various universities where you can get a taste of it.” Crystle cites diplomas at Republic Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic, and degrees and programmes at NUS, NTU Asian School of the Environment and James Cook University Singapore.
“For me, the toughest part of studying to become a marine biologist, ironically, was that I wasn’t good at a lot of the subjects you need to be good at to get into a good marine science course,” she admits.
“All through high school, I was flunking math, struggled with chemistry, and it did seem like a very unattainable dream at that time.
“My advice to any aspiring marine biologist is to keep at it! More importantly, figure out what it is that you truly enjoy the most,” she suggests.
“It was quite a while before I realised that what I really enjoyed was biodiversity and ecology – the study of relationships between living things and each other, as well as the environment they live in. There are so many different branches that are so fascinating, such as genetics, behavioural biology, taxonomy and physiology.”
So stay
Because outside the classroom, it’s whole different ballgame. Studying marine life is one thing; encountering it in the flesh is another. There were some surprises, but Crystle rose through it all. So don’t lose hope.
Let’s live through her vicariously and learn from her, shall we?
#1 There’s an amazing abundance of marine life
“I did my first dive in Singapore in 2014, which to me was a crazy experience,” Crystle relates.
“Once you get over the shock of not being able to see clearly in the water, it is pretty astounding to see so much marine life. And despite having one of the busiest ports in the world and most of our natural coasts altered by land reclamation, Singapore still has so much marine biodiversity.
“Did you know that Singapore has more than 250 species of hard corals in our local waters, which is around a quarter of all hard-coral species in the world?” she marvels.
“We have 21 out of 50 global species of major mangroves, 12 out of 59 global species of seagrass, and more than 100 species of reef fish. Not bad for a tiny little red dot.”
#2 You don’t need to be a marine biologist to conserve marine life
“It’s perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions people have,” Crystle adds.
“There are so many people in the conservation scene in Singapore who aren’t necessarily biologists, but still create a huge impact. What people don’t realise is that managing people is as important as the study of marine life itself. There are more and more marine conservation groups today doing great work in Singapore – coastal and marine cleanup initiatives by groups such as the East Coast Beach Plan, Our Singapore Reefs, International Coastal Cleanup, Green Nudge, Restore Ubin Mangroves, Seven Clean Seas, Little Green Men, and more.
“There are amazing online resources to teach people about local biodiversity, like the Biodiversity of Singapore page by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, or Ria Tan’s blog WildSingapore.
“There are local organisations focused on ocean advocacy and conservation outreach, like Coastal Natives and Young Nautilus. We even have our own local science and conservation communicators on Instagram (@theweirdandwild, @justkeepthinkingsg).
“There are many more, but I think you get the idea. Many of these individuals work towards public education and awareness, which is so integral to marine conservation. I think I’m just one of many people hoping to create a positive change for the ocean.”
#3 There are more questions than answers
“I think it can get overwhelming sometimes, because there are so many problems to solve,” she observes.
“I currently work at an environmental consultancy where we strive to balance the needs of development and conservation. Biodiversity conservation is difficult for a small island state like Singapore with virtually no natural resources. We need to keep innovating new ways to develop and create space for housing, education, businesses, industries, defence and more, which often comes at the expense of our natural environments. That’s why we need to keep asking difficult questions like: Which areas should we prioritise for conservation? How can we mitigate the effects of development on wildlife? How do we restore biodiversity in degraded areas or allow wildlife to coexist in urban spaces?”
#4 There’s a feeling of unity
“I hope that there’s a wider appreciation for marine life in Singapore – that people realise how amazing the biodiversity we have is, and are inspired to protect it. I hope more youths come forward, and that the community remains supportive of each other. We are, after all, working towards the same goals.
“Also, I’ve had the privilege of being surrounded by a lot of strong female biologists, divers and conservationists. I hope to see more girls coming forward too!”
Close to her heart
Can Crystle even tell us her favourite marine-life experiences? Judging from the above stories alone, it seems she already has so many. This is one of the things I’d love to know. It would be amazing if she could choose even just a few and share it with us. (Remember, we miss the ocean.)
Well, she’s managed to, and here they are. What’s also cool about her picks is that they’re “firsts”.
#1 The first time she saw sharks up close
“It was a group of about four white-tip reef sharks huddling together inside a little cavern on Gato Island in the Philippines,” she recounts.
“We grow up thinking sharks are these fearsome, bloodthirsty creatures, but that was one of the most peaceful scenes I’ve ever seen. I watched them breathe gently, their gills rhythmically fluttering open and shut, completely unfazed by my presence.
“This love of sharks is what led me to volunteer with the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Project in Malapascua, Philippines. This was part of a project called Reef Alert by the Singapore Management University, where we surveyed coral reefs functioning as important cleaning stations for the sharks. Finger-sized cleaner wrasses live on these coral reefs, picking off parasites from larger animals that come by. As the sharks approached the reef, their speed slowed down, sometimes with their mouths gaping open as though inviting the tiny wrasses to come towards them and reassuring them they meant no harm.
“Sharks have a bad reputation, but we’re the ones they should be afraid of,” Crystle stresses.
“There are more than 400 species of sharks known to science today, but most shark attacks occur with only three species – the great white, tiger and bull shark. We kill far more sharks than sharks kill us. There are around six deaths caused by sharks worldwide each year. Meanwhile, humans kill between 63 to 273 million sharks a year. The reality is, we’re not a natural part of a shark’s diet, and sharks shouldn’t be a part of ours too.”
#2 The first time she did a turtle hatching release
It was at the Conservation Lab at Banyan Tree Bintan. “It was also another eye-opening experience,” Crystal says.
“Turtle eggs are considered a delicacy in parts of Indonesia, but through the outreach and education programmes at the lab, residents in nearby kampungs (villages) learnt about the importance of conserving turtles and would call the staff when they see a new nest. The eggs were then relocated to a safe hatchery protected from predators or poachers, so they could incubate and eventually hatch.
“Watching the baby turtles emerge from their sandy nests was so rewarding, and I felt a huge wave of relief seeing them scramble towards the sea when we released them. Initiatives like these are so important in giving turtles a better chance of survival. All sea turtle species are currently listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and survival rates of hatchlings are low. Some estimates show that only one in every thousand turtle eggs will make it to adulthood.”
And then we come to the best part
Coral reefs. We cannot not talk about them. They’re important, and learning about the ocean and marine life wouldn’t be complete without them. Crystle loves them and is fascinated by them. And who wouldn’t be?
“How do I even begin? Coral reefs are, to me, the closest you can get to experiencing a different world. I’ve done more than 600 dives to date and spent hours trying to learn different species on coral reefs. But each time I return to a reef, I always find something that puzzles me. It’s incredibly humbling and always exciting.”
Because did you know…
#1 A coral is an animal, a plant and a mineral
“It’s a bit of all three,” Crystle points out.
“Corals are, first and foremost, an animal from the Phylum Cnidaria. Like their relatives, the jellyfish, corals have stinging tentacles that they use to capture unsuspecting plankton adrift in the ocean.
“Corals are also unique because they typically have symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae, which live inside them. The algae photosynthesise, making food from sunlight the way plants do, and provide nutrients to the coral while giving them their magnificent colours.
“Lastly, as corals grow, they create a calcium carbonate skeleton that forms the entire reef. These reefs provide coastal protection and are so large, they can be seen from outer space!”
#2 Every reef is unique and dynamic
“Some reefs are a uniform tangled mess of branches; others consist of large coral bommies fringed by colourful table corals. Some have ripping currents where you might find yourself swept quickly into a huge school of fish, while others are calm and give you the chance to look for fingernail-sized sea slugs,” she says.
“Every now and then, you find an overhang on a reef. I love watching my bubbles rise to the ceiling of caves, pooling together in a silvery puddle. It’s like everything is topsy-turvy and I’m an astronaut in outer space.
“I love the feeling of swimming to the edge of a reef and watching it drop off into the deep, cold blue,” she continues.
“My favourite colour is that magical dark turquoise that forms from the precise moment the reef crest ends. The closest word I could find that would describe that colour is ‘cerulean’. That’s why my blog is called The Cerulean Sea.”
#3 Coral reefs make a sound
You heard that right. “If you think seeing a reef is enough to make you fall madly in love with it, wait until you hear it. I think one of my all-time favourite sounds is the sound of a healthy reef,” she declares.
“It’s a sound that often goes unnoticed, that you can only hear in between your breaths while scuba diving, or when you’ve learnt to ignore the thump of your own heartbeat when you’re freediving. A healthy reef is an orchestra of sounds in all directions. It starts with a blanket of clicks from tiny snapping shrimp hidden between the interstices of corals, which sound like droplets of rain hitting glass.
“Every now and then, there’s an unidentified gurgle or grunt or click, and you have no idea what’s making these sounds. And that, to me, is glorious.”
But they’re in trouble
And it’s not enough to just know they are. Crystle reveals why we need to pay attention to them now more than ever – and not only during their times of danger.
“Coral reefs support a quarter of all marine life, despite only occupying less than one per cent of the sea floor. They are habitats brimming with biodiversity, and yet remain one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world,” she states.
“With climate change exacerbating, around 70 to 90 per cent of coral reefs are expected to die off worldwide of global temperatures reaching 1.5°C. At 2°C, virtually all reefs would be eliminated. Some estimates predict that coral reefs could disappear by the end of the century.
“We need to pay attention to coral reefs now because they are currently in danger,” she urges. “Coral reefs have existed for more than 200 million years, and we’re now in a critical period that decides their fate. Reefs are important to me because they are at such high risk, and I hope they continue to live on long after I’m gone.”
Besides, the memories aren’t enough
The photos too. Nothing can replace corals and a true coral spawning, for example.
And that’s pretty depressing, because the way Crystle describes it, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience.
“Coral spawning happens for a few nights each year, when coral release their eggs and sperm into the water,” she says.
“We are out on the hunt with flashlights in the dark, peering into each colony for signs that corals are about to spawn. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch them in action. Pink globular bundles are squeezed out of each coral polyp and rise slowly to the surface of the ocean, the stream of droplets occasionally intercepted by hungry fish, happily feasting on the tiny morsels.
“This spectacle is a sign of hope – that the corals are still healthy enough to reproduce despite the multiple stressors they’ve had to face throughout the year. Corals can also reproduce asexually through fragmentation, but sexual reproduction through spawning is so important because it increases their genetic diversity and resistance to disease.”
So are we really sincere about missing the ocean and marine life?
Because now that we know so much, Crystle recommends a few spots, projects and activities in Singapore that we can add to our itinerary, and can hopefully be involved in even beyond that holiday.
#1 St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory
“It’s at the forefront of marine biology in Singapore.”
“They’re also incredibly dedicated to furthering research on Singapore’s coral reefs and conserving them.”
#3 Experimental Marine Ecology Lab
“They’re looking for ways to increase the biodiversity along Singapore’s seawalls and urban environments.”
#4 Earth Observatory of Singapore
“They also conduct research on the biogeochemistry of coral reefs.”
#5 Read
Which books, sites and materials does Crystle love? “The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson; Four Fish by Paul Greenberg, which talks about unsustainable fisheries; and a super entertaining one – Sex in the Sea by Marah J. Hardt,” she says.
“My last recommendation is Coast, an anthology of Singapore short stories and poetry.”
#6 Sometimes it’s the simple things that count
“I think it’s difficult to experience all of this and simply stand by and do nothing,” she ponders.
“In some sense, I feel a moral obligation to try to be more environmentally conscious in my daily life. I do believe that the collective effort from many small, seemingly insignificant actions can effect change. I also hope people don’t grow tired of me saying the same things over and over again.
“It’s impossible to solve all of these large problems on my own, but I can start with things like using the fan instead of the aircon, not using the water heater for a bath, eating less meat, choosing sustainable seafood, buying secondhand clothes, reducing single-use plastics, or just going for a beach cleanup every now and then. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to coral reefs, and tackling that will go a long way in protecting reefs for future generations. Every drop of water makes a mighty ocean.”
#7 Reach out to Crystle herself
No, we’re not kidding.
If we were amateur marine-life enthusiasts, or would like to become one, what guidelines would Crystle suggest? What do we need to take note of and remember?
“Please come talk to me! I’m always happy to meet like-minded people and to help you on your path,” she replies.
“Start off by volunteering; keep on learning and remember to immerse yourself in nature. When I was young, I didn’t know where to start, so I hope to give more people the advice I wish I had.”
Then again, she could be busy
Or even busier than ever. On top of her full-time work at the environmental consultancy, Crystle’s also pursuing her Masters part-time.
“My goal for this year is to learn more about geographic information systems, which will help me to visualise, communicate and analyse conservation issues on maps,” she says.
“Beyond all the work, I hope I get some time off to just bring my dog to the beach for a swim.” (Crystle’s dog, Hana, was rescued from a construction site.)
Although a stop at the Great Barrier Reef might be a possibility…? “My dream is to someday conduct coral research on the Great Barrier Reef, where I hope to someday complete my PhD,” she confesses.
“I’ve still got a long way to go, but I hope I get there! Until then, I just hope to be able to dive in and explore more places around the world, and photograph creatures I’ve never seen before.”
If not, she can just go birdwatching in the meantime. Yes, Crystle also happens to be a birdwatcher.
“I always joke that birdwatching is my go-to hobby whenever I can’t be underwater,” she admits.
“But over the years it’s become another way for me to reconnect with nature and wildlife. I consider myself quite an amateur, and I like just going to parks and taking a walk to see what I can find.
“Birdwatching is incredibly difficult; a single species can have multiple calls and they are so fast-moving that taking a good picture is always a challenge. There are a lot of groups on social media that post information about where new bird species are, so there are a lot of resources for new birdwatchers. Sometimes, I’ll follow these clues and trails; but most of the time, I prefer to find the birds on my own because you never know what you’re going to see.”
And her favourite places for birdwatching in Singapore? “One of my recent encounters was with the Jerdon’s Baza, a bird of prey that visits Singapore over winter before flying thousands of kilometres home again,” she reveals.
“I was taking a walk on Coney Island when a group of four landed in the canopy of some Casuarina trees. It was difficult to get a clear view with the dense thicket of needle-like leaves, and I held my breath each time the tree swayed, waiting for an opening to photograph the birds. The feeling of getting a clear shot and seeing the birds clearly through a long lens is so thrilling and satisfying.”
Hmmm…
Now that I think about it, I’m clearly missing more than just the beach and the ocean. Thanks to Crystle, I may need to start birdwatching too.
When will I see the beach and the ocean again, I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure: My longing for these destinations probably got even worse. It’s not Crystle’s fault, though. In fact, at least I have her adventures and tips as inspiration for what to do next, should that trip finally push through. Did she convince you and make you dream about marine life too?
You can always follow Crystle on Instagram and The Cerulean Sea for more.