Maureen Vo chats about her winding career route and why she has become passionate about freediving
During our conversation with Mo, she reflected back on her time at Raincoast Conservation Foundation and shared some exciting updates about what’s next for her.

What led you to the field of marine biology?
I’ve always been interested in nature and the environment. I moved to BC when I was in grade six and loved being immersed in nature. It exposed me to a diversity of environments and the fun ways we could recreate within them. I imagined – as I’m sure many others also imagine – that going into marine biology meant I’d be out in the ocean all the time and get a chance to study fascinating creatures. Little did I know that is only a small fraction of what marine biologists actually do. At first, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to study (which is pretty typical in early university days!), so I picked a few things and tried it out. After university and a few unrelated work experiences, I decided to return to school to do a Master’s in marine biology.
I came across an opportunity to conduct research with a professor studying biomechanics and fluid dynamics of invertebrates. He worked at the University of Montreal but conducted field research out of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He had a very unique-sounding project that combined computer engineering with marine biology! Essentially, I would be the guinea pig sent into an engineering lab to test out computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for biological applications. CFD is used to study and predict fluid flow and is applied to a wide range of research and engineering questions in many fields and industries. At this point, it had been used more regularly in fields such as aerodynamics, weather simulation, heat transfer and engine analysis. However, it was still novel in biological applications, particularly with organisms that were dynamic and malleable.
I knew nothing about computer engineering and, as I entered an engineering lab for the first time, I was terrified. I wondered, “How do I get out of this?!” I spent part of my time stationed at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal modeling and studying fluid flow through barnacle legs using CFD. The other part of the time was spent in Bamfield, conducting ground-truthing research.
I now realize there are countless ways to work in the marine environment, and you don’t necessarily need to be a scientist! I love sharing that with the next generation: to really help them understand what other roles exist and encourage them to play to their skills. Maybe someone’s really great at art or music – there are ways to incorporate these skills and contribute to environmental conservation meaningfully. A career in the environment doesn’t need to look like a scientist working in the field which I defaulted to when I first started.

What is it about Bamfield that captures people’s hearts?
People rave about Bamfield because it’s a magical place that connects you to the incredible coastline and biodiversity of BC.
It serves as a great hub where you meet people from all over the country and learn about the interesting research being conducted in the region. My time at Bamfield allowed me to truly recognize the breathtaking beauty and awe-inspiring wonders of coastal BC. Although I had travelled extensively worldwide, visiting Bamfield made me realize I had never truly explored my own backyard! Witnessing the coast’s sheer beauty and biodiversity, while realizing its precious and fragile state ultimately led me to pursue a career in conservation. Not just any conservation, however – specifically coastal conservation in my beloved BC backyard.
How did you end up at Raincoast?
It was not your traditional way of starting a job! There was no formal job posting, no interview process. I never even showed my resume.
After completing my Master’s in science, I wanted to find something that combined scientific research with coastal conservation. That search led me to a list of organizations, and one of them was Raincoast – it was the perfect fit! What stood out to me about Raincoast was its unique approach: integrated scientific research on coastal BC, with Indigenous knowledge to inform policy and address local conservation issues.
I took a proactive approach and wanted to get a sense of Raincoast’s culture, so I set up two informational interviews – one with Misty McDuffee (the Wild Salmon Program Director) and another with Chris Darimont (Raincoast’s science director and chair for the Applied Conservation Science lab, based out of the University of Victoria). Both of these senior scientists were incredibly kind and accommodating, taking the time to thoughtfully answer my questions and share their perspectives. It wasn’t until I worked at Raincoast that I fully understood how busy they were, which made me truly appreciative of that initial conversation.
During our informational interview, Misty shared the challenges of securing a role in the environmental non-profit sector. She emphasized that finding a position might require proactively identifying opportunities and demonstrating how my skills and experience can contribute value, potentially even creating a new role. I took her words to heart.
Tell us more about how you worked with Raincoast to create your job
After completing my master’s, I didn’t start at Raincoast right away. Instead, I started working with Burns Bog Conservation Society as their Education Coordinator. During this time, I gained a lot of great skills in designing and delivering educational programs and learning about the bog environment. – all while keeping my goal of working with Raincoast in mind. I then volunteered on the Central Coast in the Great Bear Rainforest to gain more experience on the coast and deepen my knowledge about coastal conservation. It was there that I met Kyle Artelle, a scientist with Raincoast at the time, who was collaborating with the Heiltsuk First Nation to study grizzly bears. Curious about his experience with Raincoast, I asked him about it. He said, “It’s great, but the one thing missing is someone to lead educational programming with schools”.
I had done a lot of teaching at this point, both as a science educator in schools and as an outdoor sports instructor in different capacities, so I thought there might be a potential window of opportunity here. I reconnected with Misty and asked if they were interested in expanding their educational work and engagement with youth. She immediately exclaimed, “Yes! That’s exactly what we need, it’s just that no one has ever done it before.”

One day, I received an email from Misty asking to meet to discuss an upcoming opportunity. By this time, it had been nearly two years since that initial phone call with Misty and Chris. Raincoast had just received a grant to roll out an educational program to take youth out in the Salish Sea on Achiever, their 68-foot research sailing vessel. There was an opportunity to pilot what is now called the Salish Sea Emerging Stewards Program.
Initially, it was a one-day excursion on Achiever to help students explore and learn about science and conservation. I was hired to help launch the program. It was a short, two-week contract, but that first year was great: we engaged a couple of different groups and got some youth out on the water, immersing them in the coastal environment and exposing them to new places and ideas! Eventually, I landed a full-time role with Raincoast as their development and education coordinator.

It’s been a long, windy, and at times challenging path to get to where I am today. But every step of the journey has been worth it, as it led me to my dream job. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many passionate and inspiring people and organizations dedicated to protecting this coast. It’s allowed me to connect with communities and educate the greater public on complex science in an accessible way.
The Salish Sea program has deepened my appreciation of collaborative work in achieving shared goals. Each individual or group brings something unique to the table, and collectively, they provide a more comprehensive understanding of the world and our roles within it.
What has it been like to watch the Stewards Program take off?
Since the initial launch of the Salish Sea Emerging Stewards Program, I’ve watched it grow and evolve each year. What started as single-day trips on Achiever eventually expanded to 3-5 days on the water to dedicate more time to exploring the coast and deepening the connections. We also incorporated several classroom and land-based learning opportunities, including a full day of learning at the University of Victoria with several host partners.

To showcase what students learned during the program, we introduced a celebration event at its conclusion. We brought together all the groups to share their work, art, and community projects.. This gathering highlighted the immense potential and desire for youth to create positive change, inspiring the launch of the Junior Leader Program – a paid year-long internship to learn and continue their learning journey. I recognized that for some youth, volunteering was a luxury they couldn’t afford. This made it challenging for them to gain experience if unpaid opportunities weren’t available. I made it a priority to secure funding to establish paid internships.
In the end, we were able to hire three outstanding interns for a year-long role. The goal was for the interns to teach the next cohort of students on Achiever! Unfortunately, a week before we were set to launch…COVID hit, cancelling all boat-based learning. Despite this, the interns gained valuable skills by working with mentors from Raincoast’s Applied Conservation Science lab, Seaquaria Ocean Education Centre, and nature photographers. Instead of teaching on Achiever, each intern hosted an episode of Coastal Insights, Raincoast’s first webinar series created during the pandemic.
I’m deeply grateful for the incredible people I’ve met throughout the development of this program. The students and communities we collaborated with have provided me with invaluable learning, fresh perspectives, and unforgettable experiences, all of which will shape and guide my work moving forward.
What’s been one peak experience from your time with the youth program?
There have been countless magical experiences with the students during these trips. For many, it’s their first long-term immersive experience with the coast, and it can be truly transformative. There was one particularly magical night that stood out. It was pitch black and we were splashing around mesmerized by the bioluminescence. For anyone who hasn’t experienced this before (and even for those who have!), it’s an awe-inspiring phenomenon that happens right here in the coastal waters of BC. It’s truly magical! Watching the students’ amazement as they witnessed it for the first time was incredible—they were absolutely blown away!”
On this particular night, I suggested to one of the students that they ask the captain if they could go for a ride in the Zodiac. The captain agreed, so we gathered a small group and set off. As soon as the boat started moving, a trail of bioluminescence illuminated the water behind us, prompting an audible gasp from the group. Moments like these are truly transformative, and we feel so grateful to provide such unforgettable experiences for the students.
I absolutely love providing opportunities for people to engage with their local environment in a meaningful way. It helps deepen their understanding and foster a strong connection to the natural world around them.

Why is it important to make these kinds of experiences more accessible?
Even though we live on the coast and you can easily visit the beach, it’s a bit more of a challenge to go beyond the shoreline if you don’t have access to a boat, specialized equipment or the time and resources for instruction! Colonial practices have also disrupted the relationships and practices Indigenous peoples have held with the ocean and its inhabitants. People with greater means are often the ones who most readily enjoy coastal regions and the recreational and economic opportunities they provide.
Historically, marginalized communities have been underrepresented in coastal management decision-making, leading to policies that can fail to address their unique knowledge, needs and concerns. Providing these opportunities for young people and underserved communities to explore and connect with the ocean–literally in their backyard–is crucial. It cultivates a deep and lasting connection to the waters, anchored in respect, responsibility, and cultural traditions while inspiring and empowering the next generation of stewards.
To do all this, the program needed to go beyond one day. By extending our engagements, we could visit several ecosystems, engage in different hikes and activities and delve deeper into conversations about threats, conservation and stewardship.

What are some lessons you’ve gleaned from your time at Raincoast?
One crucial concept I’ve learned and deeply value, which I incorporate into all my work, is the practice of two-eyed seeing. This approach blends Indigenous and Western knowledge systems to create a more holistic understanding of the world. I was introduced to this way of thinking by Chris Darimont and working with the Raincoast Applied Conservation Science Lab, who work closely with coastal First Nations. I greatly admire Darimont’s work, which has inspired me to explore and learn more about this transformative perspective. I find projects rooted in blending multiple learning lenses and knowledge are often the most successful, robust and resilient.
I’ve also realized engaging with and inspiring youth is truly my passion. It fills my bucket!
You live on northern Vancouver Island, what is it like?
It’s a completely different experience! It’s remote, beautiful, and wild. There are endless places to explore and adventure – beaches, forests, and lakes. Best of all, you won’t encounter big crowds you typically find near cities. There are countless marine creatures in a very concentrated area, right off the shore. Observing the behaviour of animals here is incredible. The longer you sit and watch, the more that unfolds.
I’ll never forget a particularly striking encounter I witnessed with a grizzly bear. I was working as a naturalist for an eco-tour company and we were on a zodiac watching a juvenile grizzly bear in the water. It kept lunging and thrashing this thing that it had in its hand, which we all thought was some sort of fish, but the object kept bobbing up. It continued for at least 20 minutes, and all of us sat silently, watching in awe. Eventually, we all realized this juvenile bear was playing with a wooden stump! It reminded me of a toddler absorbed with a toy, oblivious to the world around them. I felt deeply privileged to witness this intimate glimpse into this bear’s world.
Taking the time to slow down and observe allows us to witness these special moments and learn so much. Now that I have a young daughter, I practice this more than ever! These transformative moments in nature can really be the spark that inspires someone to pursue a path toward environmental stewardship and care for the world around them.

What’s next for you?
I’ve started freediving and it’s opened up my eyes to a whole new world. I had no idea it was so meditative and healing! Recently, I’ve started to wonder how I could combine all the things I love about marine biology, conservation, and working with young people, plus tie in freediving!
I discovered a program that does exactly that. Based in South Africa, it was founded by, Hanli Prinsloo, a professional freediver who, while competing in waters around the world, noticed the disparity in ocean access between affluent and under-resourced communities. Hanli’s observations inspired her to start the I AM WATER Foundation and Ocean Guardians Workshop which combined immersive ocean experiences with marine conservation.. When I discovered this program, I believe I audibly gasped, “It exists!” It was exactly what I was looking for. The more I read about the program, the more I fell in love with the concept. I connected with their team and learned that they offer training to help groups adapt their programs to the unique needs of their coastal communities.
That’s my next goal: bringing a program like this to coastal BC to serve my community.

Why do you think it’s important to get into the ocean?
Close connections with the ocean are crucial to fostering the next generation of stewards and leaders. You have to connect to protect. Aside from the educational awareness and deep rooted relationship it brings, there’s another element of healing, mental clarity, and self-awareness that comes from simply immersing directly in the water, particularly cold water.
Many people fear the ocean, especially if they’ve never experienced it first hand. It can seem cold, uncomfortable and intimidating, discouraging people from entering. As a freediver, when you dive beneath the surface, you really need to slow everything down, attune to your body, and be fully present (this is the pinnacle of mindfulness). Our bodies can sometimes hold trauma within them, leading to both physical and physiological effects. By tuning into the sensations and signals within your body, research suggests that this heightened sense of inner awareness can help alleviate suffering and promote the healing process.
For me, freediving is a powerful way to step outside your comfort zone and uncover untapped potential. Challenging yourself at the edges of your perceived limits has been shown to improve resilience and stress tolerance. This new program excites me as it’s innovative, engaging and potentially transformative. It is designed to provide safe, structured and positive experiences for immersing in BC waters and by participating, we have the opportunity to build stronger versions of ourselves.
How did you get into freediving? Are you a SCUBA diver?
I pretend I am! I originally completed my SCUBA diving certification in Australia and dove here and there on vacation. But it was always so expensive and daunting with all the gear: there’s so much gear involved! I wanted to find a way to get into the ocean to explore the underwater world but make it as simple as possible.. Some of my friends were really into freediving and at first, I wasn’t entirely sure about the sport. But they shared some of their experiences, highlighting the minimal gear required, and so it started to pique my interest.
My late partner, Mike, asked me one day, “Are you really going to get into freediving?” He knew me too well. I’m notorious for buying half the gear to do something and then never doing it! But that Christmas, Mike surprised me by buying me all the freedive gear to get started. Not long after, he passed away, and my world exploded. One thing I knew though – and promised to him – was that I’d continue to freedive. I committed to it and worked my way up to AIDA 3 (there are four levels), and fell in love with the sport.

I love being able to slow things down underwater. And, it requires minimal gear, which helped me achieve my original goal of exploring the ocean in a simple and cheap way. SCUBA is amazing, but it’s really costly and cumbersome. Freediving, while challenging, is a lot more accessible.
At the time I was learning, I hadn’t considered that freediving could be helpful for processing grief and trauma of loss, so I was really surprised when that component became apparent.
I was going through a lot of grief and emotions and it was something that helped with my healing.
What have been some memorable moments while freediving?
I recall a time when we were doing warmups and my instructor told us to go down and hold onto the line with one arm and let the rest of our body flow freely: it was so calming. I felt at one with the ocean, could see the particles around me flowing, and I felt part of something bigger. It was an inexplicable feeling.
In terms of environmental stewardship, something I’ve been thinking about is that to be active in conservation and to want to protect something you love, you have to feel like you’re part of something bigger. That I’m not just this individual, small, insignificant thing. Once you recognize that you’re part of something bigger, you see the interconnections and things from a different perspective. If everyone feeds into that idea, we can collectively make real changes.
When Mike passed, I became fascinated by different forms of consciousness and the idea that we’re all part of something bigger than ourselves. I think freediving helps me feel connected to that ‘something bigger’ and allows me to create space for considering different states of awareness and consciousness.
I’m deeply committed to discovering new ways to engage youth that can truly resonate with them. In speaking with some of the First Nations in my community, there has been a significant concern about the challenges young people face, particularly with addiction and suicide. Engaging and inspiring the next generation of leaders and stewards ensures a more promising future.
What’s exciting about this new trajectory of yours?
I’m truly excited about the innovative and immersive approach we’ll use to engage youth and communities on stewardship and wellness. My hope is that it will help ignite a sense of awe, curiosity and wonder about the world for them. I look forward to learning with our diverse partners – including coastal First Nations, conservationists, researchers, freedivers, mental health professionals, and artists.
Collectively, I feel like we can offer a fulsome and fresh perspective on learning. There’s been overwhelming support and enthusiasm from those we’ve engaged to date with everyone eagerly signing up to be a part of the program – both as participants and guest educators. Personally, I look forward to deepening my understanding of mental, emotional and spiritual health, a new area for me, and exploring ways to support youth using upstream approaches. Above all, I am hoping this can transform lives and inspire hope for a healthier future for our waters and our people.
Oh, and of course, I can’t wait to spend endless hours in the ocean, studying fascinating creatures.
