About Coral Sea Aquariums

The staff at Coral Sea Aquariums is committed to continually learning more about pet care, products, and nutrition so we can provide you with the best products and services around.

Dr. James is a Marine Biologist who graduated with highest honors in Zoology from the University of Florida with a minor in Economics. . He was the founder and first President of UF’s aquarium club.  For his doctoral work at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, James used his aquaculture skills to be the first person to collect, transport, mate and raise in captivity the offspring of a species of deep-sea octopus.  

As a child he had his first aquarium at age 6 when he had the store owner hand pick which feeder guppies (Ha! Karma!), his first business was at age 8 when he pulled his little red wagon around the neighborhood and sold plants he had started from cuttings underpricing the big box stores.  When asked what he wanted to be he replied, “ A zoo keeper.”

At 16 James worked at a local aquarium store where he delighted in decorating  the tanks once they were cleaned and reading the stores reference books when on break..  

Before buying Coral Sea Aquarium, James served as a member of the senior management team at Waikiki Aquarium and the Aquarium of the Pacific.  Prior to that he was a faculty member teaching hands on marine biology courses at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Dr. James has published over 20 scientific papers (link: https://www.thecephalopodpage.org/JWood/cv.php), is a coauthor of a book on octopuses (link:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1604690674?tag=theceppag-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1604690674&adid=01DXGKR6PFAGG65QHEM3&) and has been a Featured Scientist on National Geographic, Discovery Channel and BBC nature specials.