- Marine Dynamics

Aquarium Glass to the Open Sea: A Full-Circle Moment with Dr Pat Garratt

Dr Pat Garratt is a distinguished South African marine biologist and conservationist, renowned for his contributions to fish biology research, public education, and aquarium leadership. Over the years, he has bridged the worlds of rigorous scientific inquiry and large-scale public engagement with marine ecosystems.

Dr Pat, ready to go fishing!

From his early work at the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban, studying deep-sea fish and fishery dynamics, to his tenure as Curator and later CEO of the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, Dr Garratt has shaped marine education in South Africa. His research includes peer-reviewed studies on fish reproductive biology, and his memoir, Crazy! Adventures of a Marine Biologist, chronicles a life driven by curiosity, adventure, and a love for the ocean.

Dr Garratt’s expertise spans marine biology, public education, and institutional development. His leadership at the Two Oceans Aquarium transformed it into a major hub for conservation and tourism, while his participation in international aquarium forums underscores his global influence in the field.

Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics and Founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, shares a long-standing friendship with Dr Garratt. The Two Oceans Aquarium was one of the first donors to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. Pat has always been there to advise on African Penguin and marine-related questions.

Wilfred recently invited Pat and his wife, Alice, to visit Marine Dynamics, spending a few days with the team. For the staff, it was an extraordinary opportunity to hear Pat’s remarkable marine biology stories firsthand — tales that captivated and inspired everyone present.

Among those most moved by the visit was Amy Webber, who began as an intern at the Marine Dynamics Academy in 2022 and has since become a full-time marine biologist and guide on Marine Dynamics’ eco-tourism vessels.

Meeting Dr Garratt and Alice was a profound and emotional experience for her, captured in her reflection below.

Aquarium Glass to the Open Sea: My Journey That Came Full Circle with Patrick Garratt

By Amy Webber

Standing in front of the I&J tank at the Two Oceans Aquarium, surrounded by ragged-tooth sharks effortlessly gliding through the water, it was clear from a young age that the ocean would shape my life.

Like any child, the gift shop held treasures to spark curiosity — but one in particular shaped my future: a book titled Crazy! Adventures of a Marine Biologist by Patrick Garratt, the very man who helped design and stock the aquarium that fuelled my fascination with the marine world. That book travelled everywhere in my backpack, exposing me to the thrilling, sometimes extreme, experiences that shaped Pat into the intelligent and soft-hearted marine biologist he is.

Dr Pat and Amy, sharing stories.

Years later, I had the extraordinary privilege of welcoming Pat and his lovely wife, Alice, to Marine Dynamics. My pre-teen dreams had become reality — working as a marine biologist and experiencing the ocean daily. By chance, a last-minute arrangement meant one of my greatest life influences was on board the very boat I was guiding. Sharing my appreciation with Pat and Alice felt like a full-circle moment, a reminder to my younger self: “We did it!”

On board Dream Catcher, we enjoyed the breathtaking wildlife of our bay — Southern Right whales breaching and showing their baleen plates, African Penguins and Cape Fur Seals within Shark Alley, and all the marine life that connects our shared passions.

That evening, sitting down with CEO Wilfred, Susan, Pat, and Alice, I shared my journey from childhood to the present. Alice took Pat’s arm, saying, “Isn’t this exactly what you hoped your work would inspire?” Watching him smile, I could see the fulfilment of witnessing the continuation of his legacy — a young marine biologist’s dream realised.

They say you should never meet your heroes, but meeting Pat was one of my greatest honours. My adventures may never be as wild as his, but I hope my impact will echo his inspiration.