A marine biologist’s journey, from elephant seals to manta rays

Written By Martina Wing

From elephant seal research on California’s Lost Coast to guiding manta ray swims in Hawaii, Ashley Jacob’s career has taken some unexpected turns. This episode looks at how early interests can turn into a fulfilling career, and why taking the right opportunities can beat chasing a perfect plan.

 
 
 
 
 

Episode summary

Ashley Jacob's story begins in Northern California, where family camping trips to Bodega Bay sparked an early love for the ocean. She was the kid who never wanted to leave the water. At 12, she watched the movie Dolphin Tale, and something clicked: she wanted to work hands-on with marine mammals in rescue and rehabilitation.

That clarity led her to Humboldt State University, known for its conservation programs. She studied marine biology while playing college volleyball, eventually leaving the team to pursue an internship with the Marine Mammal Stranding Program and earn a minor in scientific diving. She later volunteered on elephant seal fieldwork along California’s Lost Coast, work that eventually led to her pursuing graduate studies at Humboldt.

Ashley chose conservation over aquarium work, wanting research, outreach, and education at the centre of what she did. Seeing how people reacted to elephant seals in their natural habitat showed her how powerful those encounters can be.

As federal funding cuts disrupted environmental jobs across California, her boyfriend secured work in Hawaii, and they decided to make the move together. Once on the Big Island, Ashley started looking into manta ray work in the area. Coming from a conservation background, she was selective — she knew the tourist industry was crowded, and not every operator aligned with her values. When she found Manta Ray Advocates and saw their emphasis on education and sustainability, it felt like the right fit. Timing worked out: the team had an opening, and within a week, she was guiding her first swims.

Now part of a small crew of eight women at Manta Ray Advocates, Ashley talks about the reward of watching guests have life-changing experiences with the mantas.

Her advice for young people considering marine science is straightforward: you don't need a perfect education or a flawless plan. Passion and willpower matter more. Take one step at a time and follow the opportunities that genuinely feel right.

 

Takeaways:

  • Childhood wonder can become real work: Ashley’s early love for animals and the ocean eventually shaped her career, thanks to persistence and hands-on experience.

  • Choose work that aligns with your values: Marine biology has many paths. Ashley steered toward conservation and education work rather than aquarium-based roles because it fit what mattered to her.

  • Natural encounters create lasting impact: Whether with elephant seals or manta rays, connecting people with wildlife in natural habitats creates transformative moments that change how they see the world.

  • You don't need a perfect plan: Careers don’t have to be linear. Paying attention to what’s working and taking the right opportunities often gets you further than a rigid roadmap.

  • Small operations can do meaningful work: You don't need a massive organisation to create impact through education and sustainable tourism.

 

Today’s guests: Ashley Jacob

Ashley Jacob is a marine scientist and certified scientific diver whose fieldwork has included elephant seal population surveys on California’s Lost Coast and shark and ray tagging in Florida. After completing her graduate research at Humboldt State University, she moved to Hawaii and joined the team at Manta Ray Advocates. Today, she guides manta ray swims on the Big Island, accompanying guests through close-up manta encounters that respect the animals and the ocean they depend on.

 

Resources from this episode:

Organisations:

Films mentioned:

 
Martina Wing
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