Marine Conservation in Mexico with Coral Fry and RUFFNEK

When zoology student and marine conservation volunteer Coral Fry contacted us about her forthcoming expedition to Mexico, we were delighted to support her with two RUFFNEK® snoods.

Coral is studying BSc Honours Zoology at Aberystwyth University and volunteers with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. In July 2026, she travelled to Akumal in Mexico to join an Operation Wallacea marine conservation expedition, taking part in coral reef surveys, seagrass monitoring and sea turtle research.

With long days spent snorkelling, carrying out surveys and working in the Mexican sun, Coral needed lightweight and practical equipment that could cope with life in and around the water. We sent her our Sailing Boats Original RUFFNEK® and, with a little humour, suggested our Shark design too. We then looked forward to following her experience.

Learning marine conservation in the field

Coral’s two week expedition gave her the opportunity to experience how marine conservation research is carried out in the field.

During the first week, the team concentrated on developing the skills needed to identify marine species and collect accurate information underwater. Their training included fish and coral identification, fish transect lines and coral quadrats.

Lectures helped the volunteers understand the purpose of each survey and the correct techniques to use before putting their training into practice in the water.

With up to three snorkelling sessions on some days, Coral spent a considerable amount of time observing the marine environment and learning how to record what she saw accurately.

“The first week was mainly focused on learning and building our identification and survey skills. This gave us a really good foundation and helped us become more confident identifying what we were seeing underwater.”

Studying sea turtles and seagrass

During the second week, Coral’s work focused more closely on sea turtle research.

She helped collect information about the number of turtles found within restricted areas. This could then be compared with data gathered on the density, length and different varieties of seagrass growing in those locations.

The team also used SVCS recorders to help identify individual turtles and measure their length.

The experience demonstrated how every observation and measurement contributes to a much wider understanding of a marine ecosystem. Reliable information collected in the field can help researchers monitor changes, recognise pressures on wildlife and make informed conservation decisions.

For Coral, being able to apply everything she had learned during the first week to genuine research during the second was one of the most valuable parts of the expedition.

A RUFFNEK became part of Coral’s everyday kit

Spending so much time in the sea presented a few practical challenges. Coral was particularly concerned about protecting her hair and scalp from the combined effects of salt water, strong sunshine and the constant pulling of her snorkel mask strap.

She wore her Shark RUFFNEK® over her hair and beneath the strap of her mask. The soft, lightweight fabric helped keep her hair contained and reduced the uncomfortable tugging caused by repeatedly putting on and removing her snorkelling equipment.

Coral told us:

“The RUFFNEK became one of those pieces of kit that I used every single day.”

Although a RUFFNEK® can be worn in numerous ways, it is often the simple and unexpected uses that make it such a valuable addition to an outdoor kit bag. During Coral’s expedition, it provided a practical way to manage her hair while snorkelling and was light enough to dry quickly and use again throughout the trip.

Coral said she was genuinely surprised by how often she reached for it and described it as an incredibly useful part of her expedition equipment.

More than a trip to Mexico

The expedition gave Coral practical experience in identifying fish and coral, conducting underwater transect surveys, studying seagrass habitats and collecting information about sea turtles.

It also reinforced the importance of collecting reliable conservation data. Each survey forms part of a much larger picture, helping researchers understand marine environments and the pressures faced by the wildlife living within them.

Coral returned home with new practical skills, a much greater understanding of marine research and even more motivation to continue working in conservation.

We were extremely pleased to support Coral and to see our RUFFNEK® designs being put to such good use in a real marine conservation environment.

Thank you to Coral for sharing her story, photographs and video with us. We look forward to seeing where her passion for marine wildlife and conservation takes her next.