“Documenting the cleaning and restoration of waterways and oceans – for me – is the most deeply emotional film & photography work i’ve ever done.” Nada
Sexton Cove – With Adventure Environmental Inc.,
Long Key Transfer Station – With Sea & Shoreline
My Journey from Global Scuba Instructor to Down Syndrome Advocate, Eco-Advocate & Florida Keys Drone Photographer
For more than 27 years, I worked as a PADI MSDT scuba instructor. I taught diving around the world. This included wrecks and reefs in Egypt, time in Oman and Dubai, and stops in Hawaii and California. I moved to the United States in 1995. I made the Florida Keys my home in 1999.
Transitioning to Drone Photography and Eco Advocacy
Toward the end of my 30-year diving career, I taught free diving in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). Then I stepped away from full-time teaching. I wanted to homeschool our four children. One of them has Down syndrome. I switched to drone photography, surface filming, and writing. It was easier to stay on land. After seeing coral bleaching and urchin die-offs, I felt heartbroken underwater. So I began creating stories and images that speak for these waters. This became my strongest way to advocate for the FKNMS.
Building a Successful Drone Photography Business
My photography business grew quickly. It started as a creative outlet. Soon it became Florida Keys Drone Prosand Nada Khalaf-Jones Photo Film Drone LLC. We serve weddings, real estate, and events across the Upper Keys. A 2016 Keys Weekly feature even highlighted the growth.
Building Resilience: Family Lessons and Environmental Work
After our third daughter Laila was born with Down syndrome in 2005, we founded the Florida Keys Down Syndrome Educational Trust (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit). We ran it with a strong board and former Executive Director Sue Woltansky until 2014. It provided support and opportunities for local children with Down syndrome.This work, combined with my environmental photography, taught me about resilience every day. Today, Laila is thriving in her Associate’s degree program at the College of the Florida Keys. Her steady progress fills us with pride. We focus on the smallest wins. They matter deeply.
Seeing the Light and Dark of Humanity
Since Laila started at the College of the Florida Keys, I’ve witnessed both sides of humanity. Some people offer her open-hearted help. Others seem unaware of their own value. They believe they have nothing to give. For example, I gently helped her roommates clean their dorm. I watched the girls slowly warm to Laila. They began including her in supportive ways. There is nothing these young women cannot achieve when they lift each other up.
Why We Keep Showing Up: Hope vs Cynicism
The power of a caring team inspires real stewardship. It’s the same with our planet. Some people release a Mylar balloon without thinking. They act as if one action doesn’t matter. This same determination drives us. It is rooted in hope, care for the underserved, and love for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We refuse to look away from the damage we’ve caused.It’s easy to feel cynical. Many say, “It’s too late.” Pollution, runoff, over-development, and warming waters feel overwhelming. Yet people like Derke Snodgrass give us hope. This longtime NOAA scientist recently won the I.CARE Trash Derby. His work shows dedicated individuals are still making a difference.
Choosing Action Over Despair
None of us believe local restoration will stop ocean warming. But we refuse to give up. We keep growing and learning. We grow more underwater vegetation. Help seagrasses, mangroves, and restore reefs to help these waters and our planet breathe. Every small effort adds up.
Canal Restoration: Reviving Backyard Waters
Many residential canals were dredged too deep decades ago. They became stagnant dead zones. Monroe County is now fixing them through backfilling. Oxygen levels rise. Seagrasses return. Fish move back in. I’ve filmed these changes in Key Largo, including Canal 90.Shoreline Reclamation and Reef BallsI document living shorelines, mangroves, and Reef Balls. These projects reduce erosion and create new habitat. They support underwater vegetation even as the ocean warms.
Diadema Sea Urchin Recovery
Long-spined Diadema antillarum urchins are vital reef grazers. Recovery programs are active again:
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) releases captive-bred urchins.
- University of Florida Sea Urchin Restoration leads regional research.
Coral Restoration Efforts in the Florida Keys
Large-scale coral work continues through nurseries and outplanting:
From Observation to Action
My diving background showed me how beautiful healthy reefs can be. My years in the Keys have shown both loss and recovery. Progress is real. It happens canal by canal and reef by reef.My drone footage captures these changes. It turns despair into possibility. Explore more in my Florida Keys Environment & Water Vimeo Showcase.
Final Thoughts: Why Tiny Efforts Add Up
We don’t have to choose between honesty about the damage and hope in the solutions. Here in the Florida Keys, small efforts matter. The waters I’ve documented for nearly three decades still hold incredible life. With continued care, they can thrive for generations to come.Let’s keep showing up.
— Nada Khalaf-Jones, Florida Keys Drone Photography & Eco Advocacy
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