“I have always felt at home near the sea. It’s not only my office, it’s also where I feel simultaneously most at peace and most terrified.” Though she’d never even thought about becoming a scuba diver until a friend invited her to travel to Egypt for an open water diving course, it was inevitable that Jo Roberts – a self-proclaimed ‘water baby’ – would build a life for herself grounded in ocean recreation and conservation.

Jo’s love for the ocean grew with that first introductory scuba diving course, leading her to study outdoor education and environmental science at university and eventually train to become a dive instructor. Now, she lives her passion teaching students how to dive at Performance Divers in Auckland, New Zealand. With her life and career so deeply connected to and dependent on the ocean, she feels that it’s her responsibility to do all that she can to protect it.

Jo has made it her mission to educate and inspire her students to take action to protect our ocean planet. She consistently advocates for marine conservation and encourages her students to believe that their actions, no matter how small, can make a positive difference. This past month, motivated by her desire to engage with her local community and spread the message of ocean protection to a wider audience, Jo led the Performance Divers New Zealand team in an exciting Finathon® fundraiser: a beach sandcastle competition.

The contest was not only fun for its participants, it gained the attention of beachgoers, tourists and other passer-by. More than 30 leaders participated in the sandcastle-building competition, and even more joined in from the public! A local group from a children’s dance school performed a dance to a remix of the “Jaws” theme song and “Wipeout,” a few athletes swam a 2.5k race in support of ocean protection, and sandcastle contest winners received prize packages with scuba gear. Jo was overwhelmed with the incredible turnout and support that came not only from friends and family, but members of her community she’d never even met before. Jo’s Finathon raised over $1000 to support Project AWARE’s Sharks in Peril and Marine Debris programs and made a big statement in support of ocean conservation among the local community.

When asked why she feels it is so important to protect the ocean, Jo explains, “I’m often shocked at how the actions of the human race – marine debris, pollution, and overfishing – could have such detrimental effects on our world’s ocean. The ocean is the one thing that truly connects us all, and let’s face it, it’s one of the most important elements in our existence on earth.”

Jo’s passion, determination and leadership is making a positive impact in her community, inspiring locals to take action to protect their marine environments for today’s divers and future generations.

To host your own fundraising challenge, visit Finathon.org.