Lobster scarcity forces fisherman to become a reef ranger

Omar Ali Mohammed (left), a reef ranger at Lamu in uniform with a colleague

We have been travelling for an hour in a speedboat from Pate Island in Lamu when at 11am, we suddenly come to a stop in the middle of the vast ocean. Omar Mohammed has been vigorously chewing a large piece of gum. When we come to a stop, he puts it in his ear.

We were looking for a spot where the reef rangers can begin their work, and this place, known as Pethali Reef might be it, and he will need gum in his ear for the dive.