About — Ocean Kat

Marine Biologist. Shark Ecologist.
Drone Pilot. Commercial Diver.

KAT MASON.

Kat is a marine biologist (MSc), Divemaster, freediver, commercial drone pilot and ocean advocate. Her focus is on elasmobranch research and conservation; having worked from the Caribbean, to the Maldives, and Southeast Asia, using baited remote cameras, drones and non-invasive tags to monitor a wide range of shark and ray species.

Driven by a passion for the ocean, nature and exploration, Kat’s work is closely intertwined with photography and drone videography. She is co-founder of the Aerial Recon & Recovery Initiative (ARRI), where she led project coordination as a drone pilot and scientific diver, helping establish an ongoing initiative addressing ghost gear in Thailand.

More recently, Kat has been based in Western Australia, working on the Ningaloo Reef and in Broome, where she guides in-water experiences with humpback whales and whale sharks. Through responsible, eco-conscious tourism, she contributes to guest education, ethical wildlife interactions, and data collection supporting ongoing research and monitoring programmes.

KAT MASON

Photo by M.S. Photography-Love The Ocean

RESEARCH & CONSERVATION.

A marine biologist with extensive remote tropical field experience, Kat’s work has focussed on elasmobranch ecology, and the use of non-invasive survey techniques.

She holds a First Class BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from Plymouth University and an MSc in Marine Biology from the University of the Algarve (Portugal), where she was awarded a Merit Scholarship for academic excellence. Her Master’s research investigated the environmental drivers influencing reef shark abundance in the Cayman Islands.

Kat has contributed to research and conservation projects across the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, working with organisations including the Manta Trust (Maldives), The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Operation Wallacea, the Cayman Islands Department of Environment, LAMAVE Philippines and the University of the Azores.

Her field experience spans a range of methods including baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS), drone-based aerial surveys, and long-term ecological monitoring of marine megafauna and reef ecosystems.

Visit her LinkedIn profile for more information.

IN THE WATER.

Diving is central to Kat’s work — not only as a passion, but as a critical tool in her scientific research. From training in zero-visibility freshwater quarries in the U.K., to pelagic dives in strong currents in the Maldives, to cenote diving in Mexico, her experience spans a wide range of challenging underwater environments.

She is a PADI Divemaster and Advanced Freediver, and holds the HSE Professional SCUBA (Commercial Diving) qualification. In addition, she is an A2 CofC certified commercial drone pilot, alongside a range of relevant safety certifications.

For a full list of qualifications, please keep scrolling.