KAREN RUDKIN-MOODY

With a personality so bubbly it could raise Titanic from the depths, Karen’s life has revolved around the ocean… and she spends a bit of time living on it!

Karen’s affinity with the water began very early in life. Her first swimming instructor tied a float to her back to stop her diving down and swimming away.

“Getting dumped in the surf on the Gold Coast taught me the power of the ocean, which was far more exciting than a pool,” Karen said.

“It [the ocean] fascinated me… still does.”

 

PASSION AND PROFESSION

Based in Cairns (QLD, Australia), Karen’s a marine biologist who spent many years in the position of Ranger-in-Charge – Tropical Coast Marine Parks, with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Karen’s rescued turtles, dolphins, whales… and swum with humpbacks, dugongs, manta rays and sharks.

Her most memorable experience was with a whale shark off Lizard Island.

“For 20 minutes we interacted closely, circling each other; connecting via our eyes, the intent was clear from both sides – such joy.

“Finally, she sank down, out of sight, to a place I couldn’t follow.”

 

RARE FIND

Common ground is fundamental to any successful relationship, so it’s no surprise Karen’s husband, Ryan Moody, has spent his life on the water too.

The pair founded online education platform Ryan Moody Fishing. Employing a staff of around a dozen people, the business has clients in over 80 countries.

Karen and Ryan spend three months each year living aboard their 40’ flybridge cruiser Mood Swings, exploring the crystal-clear waters of tropical northern Australia and beyond.

“These months are the happiest times of my life!”

In 2022, they spotted a large whale spout in the northern Great Barrier Reef. It was during summer; a lost or sick humpback whale, perhaps?

“We launched the drone but couldn’t find it, later learning it could have been one of the rarest whales on the planet.

“The next year we searched and searched – and found it!

“It was Omura’s whale [Balaenoptera omurai], aka the dwarf fin whale, which was just discovered in 2013… who knew a whale species could escape human detection for so long?

“Well, I’ve seen one up close – and it’s pretty special!”

 

Karen in her happy place – onboard ‘Mood Swings’!

 

MOONDANCE

In one of the most famous ocean movies ever made, Dory got caught in a jellyfish swarm and nearly died. Yes, Finding Nemo!

“There are jellyfish that don’t sting and probably the most pleasurable experience of my life was the day I floated among thousands upon thousands of them.

“Moon jellies; Aurelia aurita. Meaning golden, gilded, precious, the Goddess of dawn.

“It was an ethereal experience, not quite of this world… happening… floating… in slo-mo…

“I could go on and on about this and so many other amazing ocean experiences!”

 

NOT-SO FANTASTIC

There’s no coastline in the world untouched by marine debris, but the problem throughout tropical North Queensland isn’t just ocean-bound plastic.

“We live on the beach here in Cairns and every weekend groups of people have parties and fires on the beach – and most weekends, we clean up after them.

“Broken chairs, bits of fishing line, cans and bottles… they bring it in full, but it must be impossible for them take it out empty.

“This pales into insignificance when you see the metre-deep rubbish that collects on some of our far northern beaches… it’s sickening and heartbreaking at the same time.”

One of the most prevalent items are bottle tops and small bits of plastic, and Karen has dissected turtles full of it; sea birds too.

“Most sea critters aren’t super smart when it comes to what they eat, and they ingest the stuff and it slowly poisons them.

“Microplastics are so small they pass right through the food chain, from baitfish to predator fish, so no species is unaffected by plastic pollution, including humans.”

 

JUST DO IT

Karen’s message is simple.

“Pick up after yourself. Pick up after others… as unfair as that is, someone has to do it, and it may as well be you.

“Volunteer your time with Tangaroa Blue or one of the many other marine conservation agencies, even if it’s just once a year.

“Collect old fishing line and drop it at collection centres [available at most tackle shops], to have it recycled into new products – like the Tonic Maxima sunglasses made from recycled Australian fishing line.

“In the timeless, trademarked words of shoe company Nike… just do it.”