Scuba instructor Virginie (Giny) Pinto, like so many other dive leaders, loves introducing her students to the thrill of scuba. Nothing makes her happier than sharing the awe and wonder of the undersea experience with new divers – seeing their joy upon taking a first underwater breath, leading them in exploring a healthy and colorful reef or a chance encounter with marine life.

Earlier this year we told you the story of the Ugly Journey of our Trash, how our everyday litter travels from land to sea. As divers, we know too well how it endangers marine ecosystems and wildlife along the way but it’s easy to forget that even small everyday life items can pose a serious risk to marine creatures such as sea turtles.

Dene Roth grew up in a small desert community outside Pheonix, Arizona in the United States. But that didn’t matter. From a young age, she was called to the ocean. Her youth was spent daydreaming about turquoise coastlines, a swim in the ocean or chance to dive below the waves. She would wonder about underwater environments and creatures, curious about their activities, interactions and habitats. In high school this curiosity led Dene to become, in her words, obsessed with sharks.

We all have that first diving experience that transforms us. Whether it’s the surreal sensation of blowing your first bubbles underwater, travelling to an exotic locale or a unique encounter with marine life, it’s that initial moment – that connection to nature – that draws us into the world of scuba.

This week, in a bid to support Europe’s much needed transition from a linear “take, make, dispose” model of economic growth to an economy where waste is minimized and products are designed to be reused and recycled continuously, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Package. This set of measures aims to contribute to "closing the loop" of product life-cycles through greater recycling and re-use expected to benefit both the environment and economy.

This is my favourite time of year. A chance to spend time with family and friends, eat good food and watch the kids get super excited. It is definitely a magical time of year.
But for me, it's also a  time to reflect; to take a step back and look at what we've achieved together for our ocean planet.
It's true that the challenges facing our ocean are great. But as I look at what we've done together in 2015, I'm truly amazed. We are truly a global force for good.