Diving into opportunity: Anrich (Forrest) Pretorius’ path to marine science

When Anrich moved to the UAE in October 2021, his focus was diving. Working as a scuba diving instructor in Fujairah, he spent his days exploring the underwater world and sharing his passion for the ocean with others.

At the time, environmental consulting was not on his radar. That changed when GHD’s marine team began partnering with the dive centre on marine surveys and coral relocation projects. Anrich became heavily involved from the logistics side, coordinating diving teams, preparing equipment and making sure operations ran smoothly in the field.

Through these projects, he gained a close-up view of the work GHD was doing to help protect marine ecosystems while supporting coastal development. What began as a professional collaboration quickly became a source of inspiration.

One project cemented that ambition. Working alongside GHD on a major coral translocation program in the Northern Emirates, the team successfully relocated more than 4,500 corals in a single month.

It was physically demanding work, but it also opened Anrich’s eyes to the role environmental science plays in protecting marine ecosystems. When an opportunity arose to join GHD’s marine team, he seized it, joining as a Marine Technician in August 2024.

Coming from a diving rather than environmental science background, he faced a steep learning curve. “It was very much a case of being thrown in the deep end and learning how to swim really fast,” he says. Building on his field experience, he quickly developed the scientific and technical skills that support environmental decision-making.

Today, Anrich is part of a marine team that takes a highly hands-on approach to environmental assessment and monitoring across the UAE.

The team conducts marine environmental baseline surveys, coral relocation projects, seagrass assessments, water quality sampling, ecological monitoring and habitat inspections that support coastal developments. Much of this work is focused on understanding marine habitats before construction begins and helping clients minimise environmental impacts.

“When developments happen along the coastline, there are strict environmental requirements that need to be met. Our role is to understand what’s there, assess the potential impacts and help minimise them.”

For someone who thrives outdoors, fieldwork remains the highlight of the job.

“There’s always that excitement,” he says. “Seeing turtles never gets old. Finding sharks during surveys is incredible.”

Anrich’s role has evolved significantly over the past two years. Technical writing was initially one of his biggest challenges, but with support from colleagues and mentors, he steadily gained confidence, strengthening both his reporting skills and understanding of the science behind the work.

Completing the final version of a recent seagrass monitoring report highlighted just how far he had come.

“Looking back at the first draft compared to the final report, the improvement was huge,” he says. “That was a really proud moment.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of Anrich’s work is seeing the direct outcome of the team’s efforts. The coral translocation project that first inspired him remains a standout experience. The team continues to return to the site for monitoring, assessing the health and survival of relocated corals.

“Seeing the fruits of your labour is incredibly rewarding. Sometimes you even recognise a coral colony that you personally helped relocate.” The same sense of purpose extends to seagrass and mangrove projects. By identifying important habitats and recommending measures to protect them, the team helps make sure development and environmental responsibility can coexist.

“It’s rewarding to know that our reports can influence decisions,” Anrich says. “Sometimes clients even change their plans because of what we find in the field.”

What began as an opportunity to continue working around diving has grown into a broader career in marine science.

“I thought I was just going to be scuba diving and helping with coral surveys. I never expected to learn this much in such a short period of time.”
That growth was recognised when he progressed from Marine Technician to Marine Scientist within a year.

For someone who arrived in the UAE focused solely on diving, the journey has been remarkable. By embracing every opportunity to learn and grow, Anrich has transformed a passion for the ocean into a meaningful career protecting it.

His story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most rewarding opportunities come from taking a leap into the unknown and discovering just how much more is possible.