March 28, 2025
Charting New Waters: A Conversation with Captain Monique Lamb
Monique is making waves as the first Belizean woman to captain a 200-tonne vessel. We talk to her about breaking barriers and her commitment to conservation.
Our inspiration comes from different places, for Monique, it came from her dad, Norlan, a longtime fisherman, sustainability advocate, and past Oceana Ocean Hero. Monique grew up watching and admiring her dad’s bravery on the waters of Southern Belize and she knew one day she would be a boat caption too. What she didn’t foresee was the history she’d make for women in maritime in Belize. We dive into the personal and professional journey of this captain who is not only making waves in a male-dominated field but also standing up for the sea she sails on.
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Tell us a bit about your journey. What inspired you to become a captain—and how did you get started in maritime work?
ML: I am a Captain and dive guide on a dive live-aboard that is 110ft long. We carry 18 passengers and 7 crew. Becoming a Captain was a childhood dream I got from seeing my dad everyday driving around in his own boat. I knew from an early age I wanted to be like him. I studied Marine Biology at UB and always had a particular interest in the Marine World. I knew that my career would have landed me in the ocean. I graduated with my associate’s degree in marine biology in 2012. I was a volunteer research diver for UB/ERI, then I moved on to Coral Restoration with Fragments of Hope in Placencia. I soon became a dive master and was doing research diving for WCS (Glovers Reef) and SEA (Placencia). By 2014, I got my tour guide license, and I joined the Belize Aggressor Liveaboard Team as a dive guide working my way up the ranks by 2023.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a woman in this field? How did you overcome them?
ML: Working in a male dominated industry can be very challenging at times. Females who were considered friends in the field became distant when I took on the roll. Males questioned if I was really able to handle this size boat. This particular field for me has been more rewarding than difficult. I worked really hard to get where I am at, and I have gained the respect of many along the way that if someone is trying to belittle my capabilities I wouldn’t even notice. I know what I stand for and I know the sacrifices it took being away from my family and out of my comfort zone to prove my worth. The crew I work with is very competent and makes it a lot easier for me. My job now, is to ensure that the safety of my crew and passengers on board the vessel I operate is a priority.
What does it mean to you to be the first Belizean woman captain of a 200-tonne vessel in Belize?
ML: Being a captain was something I always wanted to be. It was never in my wildest dream that I would be a Captain of this size vessel. I still pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming. This is a dream come true, and it is an honor to encourage young girls of Belize to never be afraid to dream big. Even if it scares you.
How has the sea shaped your life, both personally and professionally?
ML: I grew up around the sea. It meant everything to me from I was a little girl. I was reckless with it as a child just having fun until I learned the importance and how my future would depend on the health of the sea and its counterparts. I started off as a volunteer research diver and I wanted to be in every ocean conservation project I could get into, from coral restoration to shark tagging. Now I take divers to some great dive sites and even the Great Blue Hole on a weekly basis.
What’s your relationship with ocean conservation—and why do you think it’s important for fishers and boat captains to be stewards of the sea?
ML: I consider myself to be an advocate for ocean conservation. Fishers, tour operators, consumers, and even medicinal personnel depend on the sea for many benefits. It should be in our best interest to keep the sea alive. For those of us who work in this field our livelihoods depend on it. If we want to preserve what we have for future generations to be able to experience it then we must protect it and adhere to laws governing its pristine history.
What are some of the changes you’ve seen in Belize’s marine environment over the years?
ML: I am a lover of corals. From the 15-plus years as a certified scuba diver, the health of our reef is drastically deteriorating. Every year I see new corals dying from the rise in sea temperatures and coral bleaching. In 2020, there was an outbreak where most of the hard corals around the areas I dive frequently died off. This disease that affected them was the stony coral tissue loss disease. There are also less larger size fishes like the Black Groupers and the Nassau Groupers on the reef. However, I’ve noticed the increase in reef sharks and sea turtles.
How can young women and girls be inspired to pursue careers in maritime or ocean conservation?
ML: The younger generation in general needs more exposure. In order for them to want to protect the ocean they need to understand what they are protecting and why. Most people only know about the ocean because they go to the beaches and swim in the sea, or they eat fish. That’s as far as it may go. To pursue a career in maritime then they need to see role models in that field or be educated about the great opportunities there are to make that step to break barriers.
What’s a memorable moment or story from your time at sea that stays with you?
ML: Once for my birthday, I was diving, and a pod of bottle nose dolphins came around me. They were twirling and dancing with each other. It was a magical moment and the best birthday gift. What we thought would only happen in the movies are happening right here in our Belizean waters.
If you could send a message to policymakers about the importance of marine protection, what would it be?
ML: To have an increase in active patrol in areas where tour operations or independent parties on yachts and sail boats are engaged in snorkeling or diving, to ensure they are abiding by the no take policy. How is it possible that we are seeing fishes with spear injuries in Marine Protected Areas/no take zones? People who access these areas are not following the rules.
What’s next for you—and what legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations of ocean lovers?
ML: I plan on getting certified to be an open water instructor so that I can teach kids who are interested in scuba diving and let them be exposed from an early age to develop an appreciation for ocean conservation. I want the younger generation to believe in themselves and say, “if Monique can do it then so can I.”
Fun Fact about Monique: Favorite sea animal and why?
ML: My favorite sea animal is the white Caribbean Reef Shark. I developed a love and appreciation for sharks from the age of 15 when I joined my dad on a shark tagging expedition he was a part of with a university from the USA. After we collected data sample from a baby reef shark, I jumped in the water and held him behind his pectoral fins and free dive down and giving him a good push to help him to start swimming again. Every time I go scuba diving, I look out for reef sharks and I enjoy watching how thrilled my divers would get from seeing these apex predators cruise back and forth along the reef. Their excitement makes me just as happy as these magnificent creatures.
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