Since 2004, the Sea Rovers’ Summer Internship has played a major role in our mission to produce the next generation of diving leaders. Following the spring semester, the Summer Intern will partner with members of the Boston Sea Rovers and associates located throughout the United States to experience a wide variety of jobs and career choices. Based in part on the personal interests of the Intern, the Internship will provide advanced dive training courses and ample opportunities to dive and train with a variety of dive professionals in a broad cross-section of diving environments. Opportunities can include hands-on work with professional underwater photographers and filmmakers, educational specialists, marine engineers and scientists, equipment manufacturer’s representatives, and dive shop owners. In addition to the unique time spent with some of our most distinguished members, the Sea Rovers Intern will be outfitted with dive equipment (provided by Sea Rover corporate sponsors) for their use throughout the summer and will receive the necessary financial support to ensure travel and living expenses. To be considered for the Sea Rovers Summer Internship, the candidate must be a certified diver living in New England, a graduating high school senior, college freshman or sophomore, have outstanding scholastic grades and extra-curricular activities, and be committed to an underwater career.
Hello all! My name is Sofia Grabiel Butler, and I am incredibly excited and grateful to be the 2025 Boston Sea Rovers Intern! I’ll be posting on this blog to record my experiences and the people I meet this summer, but my hope is that it is also a window into what being the BSR Intern is like.
I live in Boston, and after graduating high school last spring, I decided to take a year off before college. My gap year has been very marine-focused, as I’ve been trying to dive as much as I can while I’m not juggling school (for those of you who haven’t tried to squeeze some diving into a school schedule, it’s tricky!). I’ll be starting at the University of Rhode Island this fall, studying marine biology.
I got scuba certified in 2019, when I was 13 years old. Neither of my parents were divers at the time, but I’ve brought them over to the dark side since then! Most of my dives so far have been tropical, but I’ve started exploring cold-water and New England diving in recent years — for my senior project last spring, I actually made a portfolio of mixed media art based on my New England dives to introduce my classmates and teachers to what sea life off the East Coast looks like! I had a lot of fun doing that project, so I can’t wait to explore more facets of drysuit and cold-water diving this summer, and to start my journey as an underwater photographer.
I’ve just kicked off my internship this week, so stay tuned! I’ll be regularly updating this blog with all my experiences, but I’ll also be posting on the BSR Internship instagram (@bostonsearoverintern) and my personal Instagram diving account (@sofiagb.diving). Feel free to follow along on whatever platform works best for you. Please also don’t hesitate to reach out and say hi!
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Logan Hytten of Shelburne, Vermont is the 2024 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Logan is a freshman at the University of Vermont, majoring in animal sciences. She plans to combine her science education with her photographic and communications skills to produce educational programs on marine conservation and research. Logan holds an Advanced certification and has participated in coral restoration efforts in the Bahamas. Outside of university studies, she works as a photographer and ski instructor.
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Brady Watson of East Greenwich, Rhode Island is the 2023 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Brady will be a freshman at the University of Rhode Island in the fall, majoring in geological oceanography. He is a certified divemaster and plans to pursue technical diver training. His interests outside of diving include gardening and serving as the sports photographer for his high school yearbook. He works for a pool company and as a divemaster.
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Hailey Springer of York, Maine is the 2022 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Hailey will be a freshman at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the fall, majoring in marine science. She is planning a career as a freelance photojournalist that combines her interests in science, conservation, and education. Hailey is a new diver and looking forward to gaining new skills. While in high school, Hailey prepared a research paper related to her career goals – A Correlational Analysis of Marine Conservation Photography and Predicted Public Action Based on Demographics to Further Marketing Strategies – produced promotional videos for local businesses and received academic awards for her work in broadcast media, digital imaging, and graphic design.
Intern The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Russell Laman of Lexington, MA is the 2020 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Russell is a freshman at Boston University with a 3.97 GPA, majoring in marine science. He is planning a career that combines his interests in science, photography, and conservation. Russell is an Eagle Scout, has participated in research projects in Borneo, and an internship with National Geographic. He has completed 139 dives, is a certified NAUI Master Diver and AAUS Science Diver, and holds several specialty certifications.
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Nico Pellegri of Franklin, MA is the 2019 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Nico is a senior at Tri-County Regional Vocational High School specializing in welding and metal fabrication and has applied to the Advanced Welding Institute for his next level of education. He is interested in commercial and/or military diving and the application of welding and metal fabrication for scientific research and surveys. Nico has completed 197 dives and his underwater interests have centered around shipwrecks, shark diving, and shark conservation.
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Jake Stout of Cambridge, MA is the 2018 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Jake is a senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and completed courses in environmental management and ocean sustainability through the Harvard Extension School. He is applying to colleges in New England with interests in marine conservation and underwater photography. Jake is a fairly new diver, with most of his experience diving off the coast of New England. Outside of school and diving, he has worked extensively with the Friends of Alewife Reservation and Youth View Cambridge. Jake is also an accomplished photographer.
2016
James Allan
Summer Intern
Intern
James Allan
Summer Intern
Intern
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that James Allan of Marblehead, MA is the 2016 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. James is attending Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School, with a GPA of 3.8. His primary underwater interests are marine research, underwater photography and videography and he is an avid diver, holding Advanced and Rescue certifications. James is a three-sport varsity athlete – baseball, football, and squash – and served as a Senior Prefect. Outside of school, James formed an Ocean Conservation Club, serves as an Intern at the New England Aquarium, and served as the president of the Best Buddies Program in Cambridge, MA. He has also participated in survey and conservation projects with Project REEF.
2015
Brendan Sullivan
Summer Intern
Intern
Brendan Sullivan
Summer Intern
Intern
The Sea Rovers proudly announce that Brendan Sullivan of Wilmington, MA is the eleventh Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Brendan is attending the University of San Diego and majoring in Marine Science and Environmental Studies. His inter ests include sustainability, diving, photography, social justice and conservation. Brendan was trained as a diver through the NE Aquarium’s Sea TURTLE Program and is a member of the Boston Malacological Club (Shell Club) at the Harvard Museum of Natura History. In his spare time, Brendan serves as NE Aquarium Volunteer and Live Blue Ambassador and a USO Outdoor Adventures Guide leading “leave no trace”trips to Zion National Park, Anza Borrego, and the Laguna Mountains.
