SCUBA Unit Leader

Anna Velardi

Anna Velardi grew up in Haymarket, Virginia. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Digital Studies from the University of Mary Washington, where she discovered her love for marine biology while studying abroad in Bonaire. There, she got her diving certification and volunteered with a coral nursery, kickstarting her passion for ocean conservation. She also fell in love with research, completing her senior capstone project on the correlations between soil quality and socioeconomic status.

Her love for the ocean and adventure has taken her from the icy waters of Seward, Alaska- where she interned with the Veterinary Lab team at the Alaska Sealife Center- to the tropical reefs of Key Largo, Florida, where she worked with the REEF Environmental Education Foundation. Whether she’s teaching, diving, paddleboarding, or reading on the beach, Anna is always happiest by the water. Returning for her second summer on the scuba team at Sea Turtle Camp, Anna is thrilled to share her passion for marine biology and help campers discover the magic of diving!