After taking up another short contract in shark conservation, Ms O'Flaherty was given the opportunity of a lifetime.
"After working in the shark dive conservation, I wanted to stay but knew this was another short contract," she explained.
"Then, an opportunity for a female dive instructor came up, but I didn't have the three years of experience they were asking for.
"So when I applied for the job on Kokomo Private Island, I told them of my inexperience, but that being entry-level meant they could mould me into their ideal instructor. In exchange, they would let me create conservation initiatives at the resort. They jumped at the idea, and the island is still my home today."
After starting her new role, titled the "Kokomo Coral Restoration Project", Ms O'Flaherty's focus was to create a range of methods that would help to protect the reefs around the island, as well as grow "super coral" which will withstand the increasing water temperatures in the ocean.
"This lifestyle is very hard to describe, but I am very fortunate," she explained of her role as the island's resident marine biologist.
"All meals are here for us … we don't live in the villas but the accommodation is very beautiful for us. The quality of life, compared to what I have experienced in other projects … all I can say is I am very fortunate."
Living what feels like a permanent holiday, Ms O'Flaherty is part of a team of five instructors and one dive master, but the marine department is made up of 22 experts who call the private island home.
"Usually I will start around 8am to go and look for the Manta Rays in the area, as it's their breeding season here at the moment," she explained of a typical day.
"If the rays aren't around, I will hop in the water and check out our 'coral garden' which is part of our restoration project.
"This project focuses on developing coral that can survive an increase in water temperature.
"We are simply giving mother nature a helping hand, because it's a very long process on their own, and we would lose half the reef without the restoration."
Last month, the 28-year-old's conservation efforts were recognised when she was awarded the Sustainable Practices Champion award at the prestigious Women in Travel Awards for her contribution to groundbreaking advancements in sustainable practices.
The category recognised her contribution to sustainability in the travel industry, her future ambitions and commitment to sustainable practices.
"It's such an honour to win this award and to be recognised at The Women in Travel Awards for delivering and innovating in an area that I'm so passionate about," she said.
Ms O'Flaherty said the other side of her job was to teach guests at the resort about marine life while taking them on diving expeditions around the island.
"I work every day for six weeks, then I get one week off," she said of her roster.
"Days off I will go to the main land with my partner, go to the beach, do more snorkelling and drink kava.
"People on social media often think I live a giant holiday and don't do any work, but we do a lot. But I often need to take a step back and appreciate where I am and what I am doing.
"Because you never know how long opportunities like this will last.
