The Secret Life of Shipwrecks: How Sunken Ships Become Marine Ecosystems

This episode's guest is Anjleen Hannak — marine biologist, scientific diver, researcher, and science communicator whose work explores tropical reef systems, coral conservation, and the ecological role of shipwrecks as artificial reefs.Originally from India and raised across Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Anjleen has spent years studying marine ecosystems both above and below the surface. Her research has focused on how shipwrecks function as habitats for marine life, particularly along the coast of Sri Lanka, where hundreds of wrecks lie scattered around the island. Her recent work compared fish communities living on shipwrecks with those found on nearby natural reefs, helping reveal how these “accidental artificial reefs” can support biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and marine conservation.Anjleen completed her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at Bangor University and later completed her Masters at University of Bremen. She is currently working with the coral program at Cape Eleuthera Institute, focusing on coral restoration and marine education.Alongside her research, Anjleen is passionate about science communication and previously worked as a freelance comic illustrator, using art and animation to make marine science more accessible and engaging.