David Mattey
Costa Rica Instructor
David is a tropical biologist originally from Costa Rica, where he has spent most of his life closely connected to nature. He currently lives and works across the country, with a focus on the South Pacific, Central Valley, and Caribbean coast.
He is a tropical biologist and holds a strong background in environmental management, conservation, and field-based education. Throughout his career, he has worked on biodiversity conservation projects, wildlife management, and environmental education initiatives, collaborating with local communities, NGOs, and government institutions. His experience includes designing and facilitating field programs for students, integrating scientific concepts with hands-on learning, as well as project planning and coordination.
He is passionate about experiential learning as a tool to inspire meaningful conservation action, and is particularly motivated by programs that empower students to understand and address real environmental challenges — especially where conservation and community realities intersect.
In his free time, he enjoys hiking, wildlife observation, and exploring the natural world.