The Keys VS. Great Barrier Reef

[ferg822]

I'm working on a project for school that has to due with where I will live in the future. I have been set to the FL Keys, probably Key Largo, and somewhere near the coast of Queensland, Australia. I will want to do marine biology as a job.

PROS:

Keys:

Still in the U.S.
Not as much of a plane fare home

AU:

Well, its on every divers dream, the GBF
Different

CONS:

Keys:

Not as magnificent wildlife as the GBR (but can't complain)

AU:

Big plane fare
Far from home
Dangers on the GBR

As sad as it is I am upsessed with these places but have never been to them (except snorkling in Largo when I was five but I can't remember anything except Key West which I loved).

[J. Montgomery]

CON: marine biologists don't get paid squat

[drauka99]

I know several Marine Biologists - you wanna know what they did - they went out to all the fishing spots and interviewed local fishermen about thier catch. Fun huh

[oz]

And they don't get sea sick, they get land sick.

If you love the beach and think you could learn to love statistics, then study biology.

Salaries are about $35K a year and are mostly grant-funded, which means career stability depends on the success of grant applications for projects.

[oz]

But hey... they get to swim with Flipper or training the next Shamu.

[ferg822]

yes I am well aware of the pay of marine biologists but that's not my question...not to be harsh

[drauka99]

Originally posted by ferg822
my question

what question?

[BrianD]

Personally, I would do the GBR. You can always go to the Keys, you won't always have the opportunity for the GBR. I assume since you are a student you are fairly young, so I would grab the brass ring and go for it.

[JediReefer]

Irukandji

[Kinetic]

why not the maldives?

[spike78]

What are you trying to compare? The benefits of visiting them? The costs? Environmental issues? Your original post isn't very specific and doesn't make much sense. (It also pays to practice good grammar and spelling when getting ready for college )

If you want to study marine biology, I would recommend the University of Washington. Great biology department and some of the best diving in the world.

[Crossbow]

Key West is a small drinking village with a big fishing problem...

[ferg822]

yes, i know my spelling/grammar isn't the best but i get my a's in school and don't really focus that much on grammer/spelling on here, i don't really know why??? But, anyway, big issue is cost of a house because, as said before, marine biology can't afford much. Also, ease of getting a job, friendliness of the community, crime, and the beauty of the place/overall impression. As for colleges (I really don't know why I am looking this far into the future, ok really not that far) I would like a college that had women's lacrosse but I am completely willing to sacrafice lacrosse to a good marine school that will get me off to a good start in life. I was thinking of University of West Florida, University of Queensland, maybe for a semester abroad, or the University of Washington. Any other suggestions/comments on the main topic?

[Fat Man]

Originally posted by ferg822
CONS:

AU:

Far from home

In my college days I listed this as a plus.

[billsreef]

Originally posted by oz
But hey... they get to swim with Flipper or training the next Shamu.

No such luck. My day was siphoning larval fish turds and chipping old leaky windows out of old fiberglass tanks. Tomorrow will be smelling much curing silicone when I glue them back in

[Scuba_Dave]

As a Scuba Diver, GBR hands down

[hawaiianwargod]

I was just at the GBR last last November...one of the best place I've seen! GBR for sure got my vote!

[J. Montgomery]

Originally posted by ferg822
big issue is cost of a house because, as said before, marine biology can't afford much.

You're kidding, right? You should probably phrase it as "the cost of renting an apartment". I hope you also realize that most "good" jobs in science require a PhD, so you're looking at ~5 years of graduate school on top of college. Its easy to say you don't care how much you get paid when you're not actually supporting yourself.

[yardboy]

The best advice my marine biologyt professor ever gave me was to find another career field. I'd been poor all my life, was really looking to do something different. Went into Chemistry instead, could have still been a biologist but the pay was still sucky. Industrial chemist for 25 years, no complaints. I live a good lifestyle on the water, dive whenever I want. Already have a retirement home in the South Pacific.
I love the Keys, mainly because they are so close, been there many times, but go to the Pacific one time.........the Keys will lose their luster real fast.
Heck, if you want to stay close but do good work, go to Belize, 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, Mayan jungle, flight time about 2 hours.

[Orchids]

As the great Mod. BrianD said "take the brass ring" If indeed you have this opportunity now, take it. The future is never certain and you may live to regret your decission. It would be a great experience.

One more note, "A's" in HS do not translate to "A's" in college. Brush up on your grammer and present yourself as a qualified student. This is not meant to be mean but you will be writing and expressing yourself more in college than in HS.

Oh yeah, as stated before, plan on a graduate degree (Read Ph. D.) I stopped at my masters and regret it today.

[Jake_07]

I live in Queensland

[RicksReefs]

I vote australia.

we already have enough unemployed marine bio's running around down here in florida...

[ferg822]

alright (although i've considered the pay many times before) what else can I do that has to do with oceans/marine life/SCUBA diving???

[BrianD]

Originally posted by ferg822
alright (although i've considered the pay many times before) what else can I do that has to do with oceans/marine life/SCUBA diving???

Pick an occupation that pays you well enough that you can spend as much time as you want on your hobbies. Don't confuse the two.

[billsreef]

The pay may not be great compared to most any other career path, but there is something to be said for actually liking to go to work. Just don't expect to be taking nice long travel vacations to places like Fiji.