Meet Kar DeGeiso

As a scuba dive instructor, Kar always dreamed of living close to the water. Her visits to Hutchinson Island, where her mother’s companion owned a condo, introduced her to the area’s natural beauty. So, when the condo went up for sale four years ago, she seized the opportunity, packed up her life in Newark, Delaware, and made the move — a decision she’s never regretted.

Kar had long been an active volunteer back in Delaware, dedicating her time to firefighting and bird research. After settling into her new Florida home, she began looking for ways to get involved locally. Florida Oceanographic Society caught her eye, and she officially joined the volunteer team in 2022. Since then, she has contributed close to 300 hours of service across a variety of roles.

Kar wears many hats as a volunteer. She first got involved by collecting data at a seagrass monitoring plot in Herman Bay, tracking water depth, seagrass condition, species type, and height. Living on Hutchinson Island allows her to regularly participate in beach cleanups, where she records and removes debris from Ocean Bay Beach and Walton Rocks Beach.

Once a week, you’ll also find her at the Stingray Tank—scrubbing algae off the sides and ending her shift with a favorite task: feeding the stingrays!

In 2024, Kar expanded her involvement by becoming a Sea Turtle Scout. In this role, Kar assists with Florida Oceanographic Society’s late-night sea turtle watch program, helping guests to witness the incredible nesting process of sea turtles—a magical moment she loves sharing with visitors.

Kar enjoys contributing to research projects and enjoys educating others about beach cleanups and sea turtle conservation. One of her favorite parts of volunteering? “Cleaning the stingray tank—after I clean, I get to feed the stingrays!” But it’s the people that make it even more special: “Everyone here is so friendly and knowledgeable, and I’m constantly learning.”

Her passion for nature extends beyond Florida Oceanographic. Kar holds a degree in Animal/Plant Science from the University of Delaware and spent 21 years with DuPont in Agricultural Research. After being laid off, she pivoted to a role at a nature center, teaching environmental programs to school children, while also taking on various other jobs throughout her career, including stints at Wawa, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Delaware Park Casino. Along the way, she became a certified scuba instructor and enjoyed countless dive trips.

For 32 years, Kar also volunteered as an EMS/Firefighter with Christiana Fire Company and has been an avid birdwatcher for over 40 years. Today, she continues leading birding trips for Audubon Everglades in West Palm Beach. When she’s not volunteering or birdwatching, you might find her hiking, nature journaling—a skill she picked up through a Florida Oceanographic class—or relaxing with one of her favorite books.

SNAPSHOT:

BORN: Wilmington, Delaware

COLLEGE: University of Delaware

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANTS: Black Marlin in Stuart always has excellent food, Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House is nice for lunches with friends while sitting by the water

FAVORITE BOOKS: Fantasy Romance

MOVIES: Just saw The Accountant last week and going to see The Accountant 2 which is out now