Here’s a list of the Women Divers Hall of Fame scholarships (WDHOF) Ocean Wishes has supported over the years. In 2024, Ocean Wishes sponsored these three talented and remarkable young women passionately working to save the ocean from ourselves. From a master’s student like Zahara Hasan to two scientists in the field or ocean, like Francin and Nawras, all three are devoted to protecting our ocean environment. Ocean Wishes is honored to be part of these powerful women’s journey. Since 2007, Ocean Wishes has helped fund over 30 young researchers, scientists, and ocean advocacy. Make a difference today (Donation)
2024 WHDOF
Zahra Hasan
Zahra is a Master’s student in the Coastal Conservation and Restoration Ecology Lab at the Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, Harte Research Institute. For her Master’s thesis, she is developing methods for restoring cyanobacteria mats on wind-tidal flat habitats in South Texas. She aspires to continue working as a coastal ecologist postgraduation, prioritizing science communication and advocating for responsible stewardship of coastal resources. Zahra is excited to take advantage of her university’s proximity to the coast and obtain her open-water diving certification. She believes this skill will make her a more well-rounded scientist as she explores new opportunities beyond the intertidal zone.
Francín Varela Murcia
Francín is a passionate Honduran biologist dedicated to marine conservation, currently serving as the Executive Director of the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA-Utila chapter). Her journey has led her to acquire valuable expertise in studying and monitoring terrestrial and marine organisms and ecosystems, like sea turtles, the Swamper Iguana, fish, benthos, and corals. Her work has been instrumental in monitoring stony coral tissue loss disease in the Bay Islands and actively participating in coral restoration efforts. As a member of the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment team, she has supported reef health monitoring at diverse sites in the country.
Nawras Abbes
Nawras is a devoted marine researcher from Tabarka, Tunisia. Her name translates to “seagull” in Arabic, aligning her destiny with the vast oceanic world. Currently a second-year Ph. student at the University of Tunis El Manar, Nawras collaborates with Aix Marseille University, exploring Gorgonian genomics and ecology along the Tunisian coast. As a certified diver and member of the Tabarka Diving Club, the Ocean Wishes Scholarship will enhance her thesis work, particularly the expensive sampling aspect. Her commitment to marine conservation extends beyond her Ph.D. studies, encompassing research, education, and advocacy. Recognizing the significance of responsible environmental practices, Nawras strives for a positive impact on her corner of the world, ensuring future generations enjoy thriving marine life while coexisting harmoniously with the environment.
2023 WHDOF
Sarah Elkin
Sarah is a marine scientist studying within the International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources at the University of Ghent, Belgium. She is currently undertaking her thesis research on how patron-client relationships in a climate change hotspot in Mexico affect climate change adaptations of fishers. While conducting her Master’s research, Sarah has learned how vital diving can be not only in research but also in inspiring curiosity for the ocean. Her interests are working within science communication and education to bridge the gap between research and the public. She has recently designed and started a social media account with fellow students to engage a broader audience in marine science. Sarah plans to use this grant to obtain her Rescue Diver certification, another step in her journey to improve her diving skills to use them to communicate the ocean’s wonders to those around her.
Sarah Webster
Sarah has always had a love for the natural world and the animals that inhabit it. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s in Wildlife Ecology and Management with a Fisheries Science minor. While attending college, she was able to participate in many surveys, pushing her towards her future career. She has worked for the State of Utah under their Wildlife Resources Department, studying the Critically Endangered June Sucker as well as the native Cutthroat Trout. She then moved to work for the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium as their first-ever female Life Support Technician. By receiving this grant, she aims to face new challenges, push new boundaries, and show what women can do in male-dominated industries.
2022 WHDOF
Fathima Shamla, Simra Riyaz, Nilukshi Fernando, Deepamala Jegajeevanraj
Fathima (Team Lead) and her teammates Simra, Deepa, and Nilukshi are from Sri Lanka, with diversified backgrounds and a special interest in working for Ocean Conservation and Climate Change. They work on coral restoration projects and are involved in community awareness programs on marine debris through their youth-led organization, Earth Lanka Youth Network. They have centered their connection to ocean conservation in all their work. This team has successfully organized community-related initiatives and engaged stakeholders on climate issues caused by ocean acidification. It has always been their dream to learn how to dive to expand their expertise into the ocean conservation sector, and this opportunity to become certified will advance their careers in ecosystem restoration in Sri Lanka. This training grant will make their dream a reality while enhancing their careers’ breadth and impact.
2021 WHDOF
Rebecca Ferreira
Rebecca graduated with an M.A. in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton (UoS) in 2018 and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at UoS. Rebecca holds a BSAC Sports Diver qualification and, as a maritime archaeologist, has diverse experience diving on sites ranging from submerged Pleistocene landscapes in the North Sea to warships in the Solent, UK. Her doctoral research is focused on investigating the Mesolithic submerged landscapes in the Solent. Rebecca will use this grant to pursue an HSE Scuba diving certification, allowing her to conduct significant graduate research and manage all elements of her fieldwork.
Sophia Diaz
Sophia Diaz was just 13 when she won the WDHOF Advanced Dive Training Grant – Recreational Award. She has wanted to become a marine biologist since she was six. She has an undying passion for sharks and is working hard to protect them. Sophia has also been a Girl Scout since she was five years old. Her YouTube channel, Sharkz4lyfe, is dedicated to teaching kids about the ocean in English and Spanish. Sophia’s goal with this award is to film and share her underwater adventures with her young and curious audience.
2020 WHDOF
Colleen Lawlor
Colleen recently earned a Bachelor’s in Biology from Franklin & Marshall College and is eager to continue her education this fall by pursuing a graduate degree in marine biology. Her first trip to the New Jersey shore at two weeks old instilled in her a special connection to the ocean, and she has called the beach her home every summer since. She hopes to manifest her passion for marine life and conservation by pursuing a career in coral reef research after completing her graduate degree. This dive training grant will allow her to work toward these opportunities and accomplish her goals of preserving the world’s oceans.
Elizabeth Elkins
Elizabeth, an 8th grader from Mississippi, is excited to begin her dive training. While visiting the Alabama coast, she discovered disoriented, newly hatched loggerhead sea turtles. She helped a local sea turtle conservation group locate, monitor, and protect their nest, releasing them into the ocean. This experience sparked her enthusiasm for diving and marine conservation. She is a talented, creative writer and looks forward to crafting many stories based on her underwater experiences.
Katharine Anne (Kass) Schmitt
Katharine Anne has been interested in the ocean since before she can remember. She anxiously anticipated turning 10 years old, and now that she has, she can begin dive training. She loves to snorkel to get an overview of the underwater ecosystems and has already done a night snorkel with her Dad. One of her greatest joys was spotting a seahorse on a snorkel trip near some pylons on a vacation to South Florida. Katharine Anne is a Girl Scout and has participated in beach clean-ups and ocean education.
Sarah Pang
Sarah is passionate about global health and sustainability. As a nursing student, she hopes to pursue a career that incorporates the impact of the environment on population health. Her interest in diving sparks from the direct relation between water pollution and health. She hopes to begin her PADI-certified dive training to continue working towards her goal of furthering global health.
Yesmarie De La Flor
Yesmarie completed her undergraduate studies in molecular biology and biotechnology at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida. She is a Fellow at the Smithsonian Marine Station conducting research focused on stony coral tissue loss disease. Born in the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico and growing up in Florida, Yesmarie has always been fascinated with sea life. Her marine research experience has given her a directive for her future graduate studies, which will be further supported by her obtaining PADI dive training. Ultimately, Yesmarie aims to bring science communication and ocean conservation to young minorities to bridge the gap between underrepresented minorities and STEM careers.
See our success story page. (See link)