For me, the ocean and space have always gone hand in hand. Both are challenging, low oxygen environments but both hold wonder, curiosity and imagination for so many. They unite us as to the beauty of our planet. As soon as I took my first breath underwater, I was absolutely hooked, but little did I know where diving would lead me and how it would also help me on my journey to becoming an astronaut.

For me, the ocean and space have always gone hand in hand. Both are challenging, low oxygen environments but both hold wonder, curiosity and imagination for so many. They unite us as to the beauty of our planet. As soon as I took my first breath underwater, I was absolutely hooked, but little did I know where diving would lead me and how it would also help me on my journey to becoming an astronaut.

Introducing Puerto Lopez, the town on the coast of Manabí, Ecuador where, every year, the biggest manta ray aggregation arrives looking for cleaning stations.

19th July 2023: After six weeks of eLearning and constant study, I was now ready to take on the challenge of my PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Shark attacks? The deep abyss? The unknown or the general thought of being underwater might bring fear to many non-divers. But for scuba divers, what they are really afraid of is much different. After polling our social media audience and discussing scuba diving fears with certified divers near and far, what scares divers most stems from a more practical side of the sport.