Paul Snelgrove, LLB

Paul joined the Oceanic Research Institute as Director in March 2019. He has extensive business experience, residential property development, holiday accommodation and adventure tour operations. His strong entrepreneurial energy and flair will help drive ORI’s development. Paul will manage, compliance matters, insurances, coordination of ORI’s  legal services providers.

As an environmentalist, Paul has studied marine biology, focusing on coral reefs and mangrove ecology, plus developed niche interests ranging from Bêche-de-mer to Murray Islanders. 

With a lifetime of adventure achievements Paul is uniquely placed to support ORI’s charter of adventure-based international oceanic research programs.

He was one of the founders of modern sea kayaking in Australia in the late 1970s, engaged in pioneering expeditions, training programs and club development, plus building and retailing expedition kayak equipment. Still very active today, his major achievements include co-leading the first sea kayak expedition to Australia’s remote crocodile-infested Kimberley region, competing in Norway’s far northern five-day 200km Arctic Sea Kayak Race and was the first Australian to circumnavigate Cape Horn by sea kayak. 

A qualified SSI Dive Control Specialist, Paul was Vice President and dive coordinator of Queensland’s Nautilus Scuba Club for a decade and has numerous descents in tropical reef waters, including dives on famous wrecks Pandora, Yongala, Quetta, and Warrnambool.