“Sea Turtles And Ecology” With Amber Kuehn

Join Amber Kuehn, a fourth generation Blufftonian who grew up on the May River fascinated with the
salt marsh estuaries, the creatures that live there and the delicate balance required to keep this ecosystem
healthy. Her time on this water playground planted the seed for her future career.

In 1997, Amber received her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Georgia, worked
as a scuba diver instructor, and in 2000 was awarded her USCG Captain’s license. In 2001 she enrolled
in Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, Florida, worked as a scuba
diver instructor and dive boat captain in the Fort Lauderdale area, graduated in 2004 armed with a
master’s degree in Marine Biology and set off for the distant shores of Maui for more diving adventures.

The emerald, green marsh of the May River beckoned Amber and her husband Jeff home to Bluffton in
2006 and she began guided tour charters for local companies and became involved in the Sea Turtle
Protection Project at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head. Using her unique credentials,
Amber has become a volunteer for the South Carolina Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. She is
also a volunteer for the South Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Network and whenever a dead
mammal gets washed ashore, she gets a call to go to that location to perform a necropsy, which involves
taking tissue and blood samples and sending them off to the lab for analysis.

In 2014, a new chapter was marked in her career with the purchase of a custom built 22 passenger flat
bottom boat and Spartina Education Charters was born. Spartina is a US Coast Guard certified bateau
that can traverse shallow creeks. This was the beginning of fulfilling a lifetime dream of sharing her
passion to educate people about the intricacies of the tidal marshlands.

The program is free, and All are welcome. For those entering outside the back gate, see signs to enter on
the left. For more information, please contact Cathy Andrews at cathyandrews@bellsouth.net.