I am a passionate scuba instructor on a mission to raise awareness and inspire others to protect the ocean. I live on a small island in Indonesia. This is my story.
I will never forget the exact moment when I knew that my life was going to change drastically. It was 2009. I was on vacation sailing in the Galapagos Islands. I was watching the sunset alone on the deck, wearing a red sarong over my bikini with my legs hanging over the side of the boat. As I watched the sun’s colors reflected on the water I realized, “I am content. I want this everyday.”
At this point, I had been working in Intellectual Property law for a decade at a large, prestigious firm in the United States. I had my own office downtown with a window. I wore suits and heels to work and I was attached to my smart phone all day and most evenings. I owned a condominium in the city, a beautiful car, and I went to concerts, the theater, and restaurant openings whenever I wished. Travel was always important to me; I took 2-3 vacations every year, at least one abroad. I had everything I was “supposed” to want. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t take any of this for granted and I had no complaints. So why did I make a drastic change?
Why It All Changed
The Initial Plan
When the Ocean Became My Office
Living My Passion
I have met thousands of people and taken hundreds and hundreds into the ocean. In fact, my passion for introducing new people to the ocean’s wonders led me to take additional dive training and become a scuba instructor trainer. I have had the honor of training dozens of dive professionals who are now sharing their passion with hundreds of others and reaching more people than any of us could on our own.
It is this new life that brought me to a small island in Indonesia, Gili Air. There are certainly things I miss about my “old life” but I have never once regretted the decision I made sitting on that boat in the Galapagos. I love diving. I love the ocean. I love the places I get to see and the creatures I spend my days with underwater and I love sharing all of that with others. I am living my passion every day.
