Personal essay (Draft)
When I look back into my past, one moment I would do anything to return to is my first scuba dive. Ever since I could read, I was always fascinated by the subject of the mystical marine world, being constantly amazed by the otherworldly aura given off by the life in our waters. Through the lens of marine encyclopedias, nature documentaries, and visits to the aquarium, I crafted a fantastical image of a wild blue ocean teeming with life. Unfortunately, this cerebral scenario of an aquatic utopia started to change as I witnessed the atrocities done to our oceans. From overfishing to oil spills, I became more and more aware of the intricate underwater ecosystems collapsing under the stress of human intervention and greed. I felt the ocean’s pain. In this period of bleak realization, I came to know someone who would inspire me to make a difference and help the aquatic environment I cared so much for. This figure was marine biologist, underwater photographer, and conservationist Jacques-Yve...