Underwater diving on muddy ocean floor with jagged gravel. A red rock crab backed up against a few pieces of eel grass on the right side. Red macroalgae growing between the eel grass is next to the crab. A thin green blade of macroalgae is on the right side. A blue-green hue covers the whole image as water and depth affects what colors are visible.
Photo: Kristin Zunino

Coastal Conversations Radio Program: Dive into Maine’s Changing Marine Ecology, Mid-coast and Portland

October 22, 2025 Coastal Conversations

Coastal Conversations show: October 24, 2025
WERU 89.9 in Blue Hill and 99.9 in Bangor

Production Assistant

Kristin Zunino, Graduate at College of the Atlantic 2025

This episode

Dive down and let’s explore Maine’s changing marine ecology along the Mid-Coast and Portland region with local professional scuba divers. This is Kristin Zunino; graduate of College of the Atlantic and a PADI Divemaster, host of this episode of Coastal Conversations. This is the second episode of the two part series on Maine’s changing marine ecology from professional certified scuba divers occupying the Mid-Coast and Greater Portland area. We will hear from six divers with jobs in research, marine conservation, and scuba businesses. They all dive as part of their careers giving a unique perspective of Maine’s coast. Our guests talk about the dynamic relationship shifts between kelp beds, protected sounds, and the rise of invasive species.  Tune in on October 24th at 4PM on this month’s episode of Coastal Conversations. Only on WERU community radio, 89.9 PM in Blue Hill and online at WERU.org.

Coastal Conversations is supported by Maine Sea Grant in partnership with Schoodic Institute and The First Coast.

Guests

Richard Wahle, retired lobster scientist at the University of Maine
Levi Robbins, manager of Aqua Diving Academy
Paul Rollins, owner of Rollins Scuba Associates
Phoebe Jekielek, kelp and shellfish scientist at the University of Maine
Emily Drappeau, divemaster for OceansWide
Marissa McMahan, Senior Director of Fisheries at Manomet Conservation Sciences and member of Maine Climate Council

Acknowledgements

Thank you Galen Koch, Zach Soares, and Natalie Springuel for editing and production assistance. Thank you Sean Todd for production assistance and support during the interview period.