Are you a scuba diver, ocean enthusiast, environmental activist or all of the above?

I’m a PADI Master Instructor. I made my passion my job. Every day I dive into a world that for many people is not yet familiar and perhaps, for this reason, people throw their waste into the sea not knowing that everything comes back to us. Over the years, since I was a child, I have loved watching documentaries and unfortunately, over the years, I've seen so many changes towards the ocean.

Choosing to do this job, I took the responsibility of protecting the ocean planet and raising awareness amongst divers with whom I share the sea every day. I teach safe diving practices and many positive techniques towards the sea like trim and buoyancy. I also teach ocean conservation and how everyone can make a difference. One way is by removing any foreign objects that don’t belong at the bottom of the ocean, for example, garbage on every dive.

Why and when did you get involved with Project AWARE?

The first time I read about Project AWARE was during my PADI Open Water Diver course. In my manual, there was a small section on this organization and for this reason, I asked my Instructor more about it. During this course, I had the pleasure of participating in my first Dive Against Debris. It was fantastic to understand the superpower we have as scuba divers!

What Project AWARE programs have you participated in? Tell us about your work

Every year since 2015, I have organized a Dive Against Debris Event in May and September with Orca Diving Center. I take care of the event personally, promoting it on social networks and to our customers and students. I dive with volunteers and collect everything possible from our seabed, cataloguing it once the event is over and celebrating the result of this important action towards the health of the oceans. Furthermore, since 2018, together with Orca Diving, we have joined the Adopt a Dive Site program, reporting what we take out of the ocean during courses and fun dives.

What has been the highlight of your Project AWARE experience?

Every day, it's really fun to see how my students copy my actions, especially picking up plastic, making them feel like superheroes right away! Developing this positive attitude in them is one of my daily goals, just to be sure of creating divers who dive safely and are aware of the health and protection of the oceans, during all their dives anywhere in the world.

What are your top 3 pieces of eco advice?

1. Respect the environment, reduce waste and plastic.

2. Reuse all that is reusable, recycling everything possible.

3. Be mentors and role models.

What is the most important thing you tell others about Project AWARE?

I say simply that as divers we have a great opportunity, that of exploring the underwater world, something only divers can do. With this great power comes great responsibility - to protect this world and preserve it so that all future generations can enjoy it as we do today. Today is the time to make a difference and Project AWARE shows us that we are many and all in love with our planet ocean. Project AWARE unites minds and souls around the world through events, projects, activities and actions for the health of the oceans.