On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Wilfred Chivell, CEO of Marine Dynamics and Founder of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, gathered close friends, colleagues, and family to honor Dr. Leonard Joseph Victor Compagno (1943–2024), a true pioneer in the field of shark, ray, and ghost shark research.
Wilfred expressed that he felt deeply honored to know that Dr. Len’s final resting place would be among the sharks he so dearly loved, close to Dyer Island. “Len was a mentor to me, and his dedication and knowledge about sharks will forever shape how we see and respect these apex predators,” Wilfred reflected. Wilfred also expressed his gratitude to Lesley Rochat for caring for Dr. Len in his later years.
The ceremony aboard Whale Whisper took the group out to experience the beauty of whales and sharks, while Dr. Len’s ashes were scattered over seaweed reefs and fynbos. As the group toasted to Dr. Compagno’s extraordinary life and legacy, they celebrated the impact he had on marine science and conservation.
Dr. Compagno’s contrib