Ian Popple

Born and raised in the U.K., Ian earned his undergraduate degree in Oceanography from the University of Plymouth in 1994 and his Master’s degree in marine biology at McGill University in 2004. He worked for five years at McGill's research institute in Barbados - Bellairs Research Institute - supporting marine ecology research projects across the Caribbean, before moving to Australia to gain further experience at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University. Ian founded Reef Smart Guides in 2015, to raise awareness of the coral reef environment and encourage exploration through recreational diving and snorkeling. Ian has published in both the scientific and mainstream media, including National Geographic, Canadian Geographic, Scuba Diver Magazine and the Globe and Mail. He is a PADI Dive Instructor with over 3,000 dives in 30 years of diving experience.