#NAUIDiveSpotlight: Kitty Edwards – Virgin Islands Conservation Leader
Kristina “Kitty” Edwards didn’t start her journey in the ocean. In fact, she was afraid of the water. But today, she’s leading one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands as the Director of the Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas.
Fearful to Certified 🤿
Raised in St. Thomas, Kitty developed a deep appreciation for nature through her family, who surfed, cooked, and lived closely with the land and sea. But despite growing up surrounded by the ocean, she didn’t take to the water right away. As a child, she often stayed in a kiddie pool on the sand while others played freely in the waves.
Swimming never came naturally, so diving felt like a distant goal.
While working in marketing and graphic design, Kitty frequently watched her coworkers gear up for fun dives after work, followed by casual meals and conversation. What first caught her attention wasn’t the diving itself, but the sense of community that surrounded it. Through watching others come together, she discovered that diving could be a gateway to connection, inclusion, and meaningful environmental action.
With the encouragement of friends, she got certified. It wasn’t easy, but the motivation was clear. She wanted to be part of something larger and be included in experiences that brought people together, quietly laying the foundation for her career path ahead.
Conservation-Driven Leadership
Environmental work was always a priority; it was something Kitty always kept at the forefront of her efforts, a calling that followed Kitty through every role she took on. From organizing beach cleanups to helping write invasive species and lionfish management plans in her spare time, she consistently found ways to support her island’s ecosystems.
That passion eventually led her into a career in government service. With an English degree and a natural ability for public engagement, she began working in coastal zone management, where she developed environmental outreach programs, built partnerships, and designed education campaigns. When the Virgin Islands created a new division to establish a territorial park system, Kitty stepped forward.
That passion eventually led her into a career in government service. With an English degree and a natural ability for public engagement, she began working in coastal zone management, where she developed environmental outreach programs, built partnerships, and designed education campaigns. When the Virgin Islands created a new division to establish a territorial park system, Kitty stepped forward.
Now, as director, she leads a groundbreaking initiative to create a park system from the ground up. There are no existing structures to expand, so she’s building the foundation. With her leadership, the Virgin Islands secured $69 million in funding through NOAA’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. The grant supports land acquisition, education, and workforce development, all of which are vital to protecting fragile landscapes from development.
Supporting Coral Conservation Through Innovation
But of course, Kitty’s influence extends beyond land protection. Through her division’s NOAA grant, she was able to support Coral World’s Ocean and Reef Initiative, a nonprofit working to restore coral and sea urchin populations. This effort is creating a meaningful local impact by combining ecological restoration with community engagement.
The program includes coral out-planting, urchin propagation, and internships that provide Virgin Islanders with hands-on experience in protecting the marine environment. Though Kitty hasn’t directly managed the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, she helped keep it afloat during staff transitions and remains deeply connected to its goals.
Creating Opportunities, Protecting the Future
NAUI is proud to spotlight Kitty’s journey because it embodies what we believe: that impactful conservation begins with education, and that leadership can take many forms. Whether you’re restoring reefs, building parks, or advocating for sustainable coastal development, there’s a place for you in the mission to protect our underwater world.
At NAUI, we teach “Dive Safety Through Education” not only to create educated, skilled divers but to foster informed stewards of the ocean. Kitty’s work reminds us that education is at the heart of every effort to preserve our blue planet. Her story encourages all of us to consider: how can we protect the places we love? How can we contribute, even if our path looks different?
As NAUI continues to connect with leaders like Kitty, we’re reminded of the importance of elevating diverse voices in marine stewardship. Our role is not only to train divers, but to empower them and preserve our playgrounds so the next generation can continue to enjoy and witness the world below the surface.
Learn More About Kitty!
To learn more about Kitty and her work, please visit the links below:
