Melissa Borges was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and moved to the U.S. at five years old. She started diving at the age of 10 and found her passion for underwater photography at age 15. She graduated with a B.S. in marine and atmospheric science from the University of Miami in 2025, majoring in marine science and biology. During a summer fellowship with Rescue a Reef, a citizen science non-profit, she created a short documentary on South Florida’s coral threats and restoration efforts. For her senior thesis, she created ‘As Above, So Below’, a short film that explores the relationships between humans and nature in urban spaces.
Following graduation, Melissa earned her PADI Divemaster and Dive Instructor certifications in Thailand. She hopes to pursue a career in science communication and conservation storytelling in hopes of sharing the wonders of the ocean. She is thrilled to have been chosen for the Paul L. Schutt Underwater Photography Internship and hopes to gain new skills that will advance her career goals.
School: University of Miami Intern
Date: 2026
Location of Internship: Schutt Photography Internship
