Wildwatch - Biography

Name: Mike Kelly

Country: Tanzania, United Republic Of

Profile:

Mike was born and raised in Liverpool, UK, but left the sunny shores of England several years ago on a sabbatical that turned into a new career. Having previously worked as a chemical engineer and then a marketing manager, Mike decided to "ditch the office life" in 2008 and ‘go pro’, by becoming a full-time dive professional.

After completing his divemaster course in a place called Sipadan (Borneo), he moved to the Caribbean and an island named Utila, where he met his partner Ruth. Since then they have spent the last two years running a dive centre on the Manta Coast of Mozambique and feel lucky to have been able to work in some the hottest dive locations on the planet!

Mike is a self-confessed fish geek, and takes great delight in showing divers all the weird and wonderful creatures to be found in the reef ecosystem. Leaf fish, nudis, shrimps and crabs are some of his favourites and he likes nothing better than to take a camera down for a bit of ‘nose-in-the-sand’ action!

Aside from the little critters, Mike loves to interact with the majestic giants of the ocean and has had many life-changing experiences with the beautiful manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins and humpback whales.

Mike and Ruth joined &Beyond in 2011 as Mnemba Island Dive Instructors, and look forward to many years of showing guests the wonders that the crystal blue waters of Mnemba Atoll have to offer.