Marie Diaz

Marine Programs Manager
Hometown: Oakland, California
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
My favorite San Diego beer is:

Duck Foot Brewing Company’s “Drink This Or The Bees Die” is my go-to, but “The Red Ale” is my hands-down favorite when it’s in season.

My favorite way to enjoy water is: Up-close and personal. Whether it’s surfing, diving, or just going for a swim, I’m happiest in the water.
I want to see a world where: communities work mindfully to coexist with their surroundings and where every individual is able to experience the humbling beauty of the natural world.

Marie Diaz joined San Diego Coastkeeper in early 2019 and oversees the organization’s marine programs, including the community cleanup and restoration programs. Marie works to protect our oceans and coast by connecting San Diegans to hands-on environmental stewardship opportunities and marine debris prevention strategies.

While completing her B.S. in Marine Biology at University of California, San Diego, Marie developed a passion for marine conservation research and education. After graduating in 2016, she accepted an internship with Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), in Key Largo, Florida. There, her love of outreach and scientific communication grew as she worked to engage both the local and global community in REEF’s citizen science efforts. After completing the internship, Marie worked with REEF as the Lionfish Derby program manager, organizing and executing efforts aimed at both removing invasive lionfish from south Florida waters and educating the public on lionfish invasion potential and combat strategies.

When she isn’t working with Coastkeeper, Marie can be found in the Smith Coral Reef Ecology Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, working with imaging software to better understand coral reef communities and the ecological changes and challenges they face.

You can reach Marie at [email protected]