Professional Profile: Pauline Fiene

By Eden Zang

Project S.E.A.-Link, a nonprofit organization based on Maui, has approached several individuals who are dedicated to marine science, education, conservation and sustainable tourism to share their experiences with students and the general community as part of its Professional Profiles project for this site.

The first professional we profiled is Pauline Fiene, a divemaster at Mike Severns Diving and biologist on Maui. She guides other divers and helps them to learn about and appreciate the underwater environment and the lives of the animals that they see. As a biologist she also makes observations and studies marine subjects both while leading dives and during dives that she makes on her own.

One of her main interests is studying subjects over a long period of time in their natural habitat. Along with Cory Pittman, she has studied Hawaiian opisthobranchs for over 20 years.

Phyllidia varicosa, photo by Pauline Fiene

 

One particular project she is most known for is the study of the spawning pattern of two species of corals which spawn mainly in the spring. Opportunities for observation are limited to a few times each year and because of that, it has taken many years to learn their spawning patterns.

She is also passionate about learning about individual animals' lives. Being in the water and working with crew who care and share their observations, allows learning about an animal's life history or behavior in the wild as no other method can. For example, long-term observations of a triton's trumpet with its eggs over a six-week period and of a sponge with five resident nudibranchs for over four years are recent examples of such long-term study.

Pauline is obviously passionate about her career. Pauline states, "Sharing knowledge and the underwater experience with other people opens their eyes to things they might not ever have known without your influence. That's important to that individual, but you just don't know what larger influence that may have." When asked if Pauline could change anything about her job she simply stated "sea conditions." Wouldn't that be great?

So would you like a career like Pauline's? Fiene states, "It's all about the passion. If you have that you will find your path. If you have a passion for something, you don't wait for a grant. You begin to do it on your own time if that's what it takes. If being outdoors is a critical element when you think about what you want to do for a living, this is ideal, because it's both physical and it stimulates your mind. I can't think of anything more rewarding than working outdoors with animals and combining that with intellectual pursuits."

If you'd like to find out more about Pauline Fiene, please visit the following links:

Mike Severns Diving

Sea Slugs of Hawaii

If you have questions for Pauline, please contact us and we will relay your question.

Interested in being profiled or know someone who might? Contact us!