OUR EXPERTS
Find out more about the experts we've met along the way and who are working with us on our projects!
Nadège Gandilhon
Expert in marine mammal physiology
Founder of an NGO for marine mammals, which she chaired for 10 years, Nadège has a doctorate in marine biology, specialising in cetacean interactions and physiology. She carried out her research in Guadeloupe and in the AGOA sanctuary. She now runs a consultancy and research company and works with public and private bodies and NGOs in the Caribbean, Europe and the Indian Ocean to help reduce the impact of human activities on marine mammals. Nadège supports Shelltone Whale Project, which is close to her heart because it promotes responsible and sustainable observation of marine mammals.
Pierre Robert De Latour
Founder of USEA, President of Orques Sans Frontières and author of the best-selling book "Frère des orques" (Brother of the orcas) (Glénat Edition) , Pierre Robert de Latour is internationally known as "The Orca Whisperer" and has logged more than 7,500 dives with free killer whales.
Pierre is an expert in killer whale behaviour and was the first man to dive with killer whales in Arctic waters wearing a thin 5mm wetsuit.
Since 1998, the date of his first expedition, Pierre has travelled the world and acquired a deep understanding and unique experience of the behaviour of killer whales, as well as 15 other species of marine mammals with which he has dived.
President of the French anti-captivity association "Orques Sans Frontières", Pierre has put in place a safe methodology for responsible encounters with marine mammals, respecting their well-being and their wild nature. The USEA techniques also apply to skippers, teaching them how to approach cetaceans safely from a boat.
He also directed "Journey to the Land of the Orcas" and co-produced and appeared in "The Orcas People" with the famous Captain Paul Watson.
Lisa Denning
For her, the ocean is home and she really enjoys putting others in touch with her friends, the dolphins and whales. They call out to us in the water to be with them, to learn from them and to move towards our greatest joy.
To find out more or get in touch with Lisa, visit her website!
Norin Chai
Wildlife veterinarian
His career began in Africa, where he managed a national park. After 25 years working with wildlife, whether in zoos or care centres, he still has the same passion: treating, or at least alleviating, animal suffering. He met Pierre in 2016. When he told him that, for him, the songs of whales resemble mantras or the "Om" of Buddhist monks, he was interested in what he had to say. Whale songs go beyond communication: they heal, they sublimate, they cleanse. Pierre has understood this and his words touch him deeply.
Cathy Lacourbas
Cathy, 'Ocean Shieldmaiden', has been aware of the need to protect the oceans from an early age, and her passion for the sea has grown ever since she arrived on the island of Guadeloupe.
In 2015, Cathy set up her own charity, Breach Antilles, with the main aim of working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds on missions dedicated to cetaceans and protecting the oceans. Breach Antilles also offers logistical support to researchers, particularly in bioacoustics and ethology.
For around ten years, Cathy worked with experts such as Dr Nadège Gandilhon, a marine biologist, and Professor Olivier Adam, a researcher in bio-acoustics. They have taught Cathy a great deal about visual and acoustic recognition of cetaceans. Recently, after three years of collecting sounds using a fixed hydrophone, Professor Hervé Glotin appointed her co-author of the poster "Time frequency exploration of the repertoire and evolution of humpback whale songs in the Caribbean Sea", presented in 2024 at the DCLDE in Rotterdam.
At the same time, swimming with sperm whales, dolphins, humpback whales and orcas became Cathy's true passion. In 2018, she joined the ORCA NORWAY and USEA team as a boat captain, guide and safety diver. She embarks every winter to dive with orcas and guide other enthusiasts.
In 2023, she qualified as a professional freediving instructor (Bpjeps France and AIDA Instructor) and snorkelling guide to share her knowledge with the general public and raise awareness of the need to protect the marine environment.
In 2024 his son, Robin MEREDITH, Captain and guide for whale watching on the St Lawrence and Captain in Norway, bought a company on the North Shore of Quebec. The "Du Fleuve" team offers a modern version of whale watching in small groups, with hydrophones and passion, while sharing its observations with Quebec's marine mammal research and protection institutes. The Du Fleuve whale watching base is listed as Shelltone Whale Project.
