Whale of a time


A candid discussion with oceanographer David Gruber on marine life, technological advancements and the art of underwater photography Words: PAUL DARGAN


I


n the ever-mysterious blue depths of our planet’s oceans, there remain intricate and captivating ecosystems and environments that even the most technology-laden craft have not come even


close to uncovering.


Yet New York-based oceanographer David Gruber can justifiably lay claim to having come closer than most, sitting as he does at the forefront of the unravelling of marine mysteries – all the while setting out to protect the elements of the ocean we have been lucky enough to learn about over time.


Gruber’s career has spanned ground-breaking research projects, intimate interactions with marine life, not to mention the capturing of a bevy of breath-taking moments through underwater photography.


His is a diverse vocation initiated while observing the bluestriped grunt fish near Belize shores as a student. “To anyone who doesn’t know the appearance of the yellow grunt,” he begins, stating one of the ray-finned fish’s many alternative names, “it is worth checking out. It is one of those beautiful marine creatures whose name really doesn’t do it justice! For me, it was the start point on a life and a career spent below the waves, and one I cherish every day.


“From a young age, the expansive and enigmatic nature of the ocean captivated me,” the marine biologist reflects.


“Every time I looked out to see, I wasn’t enchanted so much by the waves or the horizon, more the countless stories I knew were being told beneath its surface.”


Subsequently, Gruber’s early years were filled with innumerable adventures along America’s east coast, where even the simplest marine creatures held his fascination and sowed the seeds for what was to follow.


“Every observation, every curious moment by the shore, gradually evolved into an unyielding passion that has defined my life.”


As a practising marine biologist, Gruber’s work has spanned from mapping forests in Guyana to determining water requirements for the Florida Everglades restoration projects. His Ph.D. focused itself on the study of oceanic carbon cycles, and he soon secured a biology professorship at City University of New York.


Yet, arguably, his most profound question came about while in the Solomon Islands in 2014, when Gruber identified over 140 new fluorescent aquatic species, including a fluorescent shark. It spurred his thinking: how would one such shark perceive another?


“Speculation is a starting point, a spark,” he says. “It drives our curiosity. While it’s essential to approach our findings with scientific rigour, imagination continually pushes the boundaries of what’s possible on the incredible planet of ours.”


ONBOARD | WINTER 2024 | 91


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