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Ocean Lovers is a podcast for ocean lovers, by ocean lovers.
Hosted by Jess from Clear Tides, this podcast is all about the people, stories, and experiences that pull us toward the ocean. From marine scientists and sailors to surfers, spearos, freedivers, fishermen, and everyday ocean lovers — these are real conversations about life connected to the sea.
Expect stories from the water, ocean chats, science, adventure, conservation, and the kind of conversations that make you fall even more in love with the ocean.
Because you protect what you love.
Welcome to the Ocean Lovers Podcast, a
podcast for ocean lovers by ocean lovers.
I'm your host, Jess, and today I'm
joined by somebody who embodies
both science and soul when it
comes to protecting our oceans.
Her name is Sarah Frank.
Sarah is a marine biologist, a dive
master, and the industry engagement
leader for Divers for Climate, which
is a nonprofit empowering the dive
and marine tourism community to take
meaningful action against climate change.
She spent years on the Great Barrier
Reef researching coral guiding guests
and witnessing firsthand how our oceans
are changing, and now she's using that
experience to help others find the
courage and the voices to talk about
those changes that they're seeing.
Both with honesty, but a
little bit of hope as well.
So this chat is all about connection,
communication, and community, and how
to keep showing up before the ocean
even when things feel a little bit dark.
So let's dive in.
Jess: Well welcome Sarah
to the Clear podcast.
How are you?
Sarah: I'm good.
Excited to be here.
Jess: Okay, thank you so much
for being our first guest.
So exciting.
Before we get into the questions, I wanna
ask you the one question that we are
gonna ask all of our guests, and it's.
What moment?
Do you remember that you
fell in love with the ocean?
Sarah: Ooh, that's a tough one.
The moment I fell in love, I feel like
so many people have like this amazing
story, um, that they've always been in
love with the ocean, and I feel like.
My parents very much wanted
that they were divers and they
got me and my brother into it.
Um, but as a kid I was like, I hated sand.
I hated seaweed.
So I was like, did not
wanna go anywhere near it.
So it was kind of like a, a long,
steady falling in love process.
It wasn't like, quick and quick and
easy, but I don't know at the moment
I fell in love, I think, and truly
knew that this was what I wanted
to do with my life was maybe like.
During my degree when I went to
Heron Island to do some study, and
that was when I was like, yeah,
if it, if this is like what I can do
for the rest of my life, I'm happy.
Jess: I had that exact
same moment at Heron too.
I
Sarah: Oh, really?
Jess: whole degree.
I did not enjoy one part of it.
And
then we went to Heron and I was watching
this turtle lay its eggs in the middle of
the night and I was like, this is cool.
I wanted, I want it sold.
I'll do it.
I'll do it.
But yeah, it's such a
special place there.
Oh, very special.
So what made you
wanna do marine biology if you didn't
Sarah: Um, I guess, yeah, I think.
Yeah, I think it was kind of like
ingrained throughout my life.
Like my parents were divers.
They had like, you know, diving books and
shark books that I'd go through as a kid.
They'd put my brother and I in front of
like the TV and instead of Teletubbies,
it was like old dive footage.
So I feel like they're planting the seed.
and then when I was coming
towards the end of high school,
I was like, what am I gonna do?
And.
I just, I couldn't think of anything else
besides marine biology and everyone was
like, you know, there's no jobs.
It's gonna be really hard to find work.
Which is true, definitely.
Um, unfortunately, but I was
like, there's honestly nothing
else that I can imagine doing,
um, and that I would
wanna dedicate my life to.
So, yeah.
Jess: Aw, I love that.
And was it everything you
expected, your degree?
Sarah: Um.
I feel like, no, I feel like, uh,
the degree I did the first year was
very like basic science, and I got
in there and was like, Ooh, I don't
know if this is what I wanna do.
Um.
I mean, you're so young,
18, how are you gonna know?
And took a year off and then was like,
no, this is definitely what I wanna do.
And then committed after that.
But it's just such like a varied field.
Like I didn't realize
how, how much there is.
And like since uni I've had so
many different roles that have gone
from like being in the lab to being
on the reef, to being, working
from home, um, and collecting all
different skills along the way, I
Jess: Yeah.
Yeah, I found the same too.
I always say to people I studied
ant.
More than I studied fish or anything.
'cause you're doing all the different
like sections of science and biology and
I was like, I didn't really sign up to
study invertebrates, but here we are.
It all links
Sarah: I know.
I.
It does.
I know, I thought I got through
high school and being like, yes, I
didn't do chem, I didn't do physics.
Like I, I came out unscathed and then
you get to uni and it's like, yep,
you should already know this stuff.
And I'm like, oh no,
Jess: I, no, actually
go back to the start.
Yeah.
I love it.
Um, so you worked up here in
the whit Sundays, is that right?
Sarah: I did.
Yes.
Jess: Amazing.
What was your day to day?
Where did.
you work?
What did you do?
What was your nine to
five kind of look like?
Sarah: Yeah, so first job was on
Daydream Island, um, and it was
like a dream to move to the great
barrier from working on an island.
Um.
Yeah, it was incredible.
Like it was part like tourism, so
taking people on tours, doing marine bio
shows, like fish feeding, shark feeding.
Um, but my favorite part of
it was the surveys that we
got to do around the island.
So doing the Reef health surveys
and, and stuff like that.
And then also, um, our coral
restoration, which was great.
And then about a year in, I got a
job, uh, at a company that went out
to the reef, another tourism company.
Um, and so I got to go out to the
pontoon every day and yeah, again, half
tourism, half surveys, and we had about
nine different reef locations that we'd
go out to in surveys, so we got to see
like the reefs that guests didn't get to
Jess: yeah.
That's so cool.
That's so nice out there as well.
Especially those parts
that are untouched by
Sarah: Oh, I know.
Yeah.
Jess: so lucky.
Um, so did you notice any.
Changes while you were
in that job over time?
'cause you're obviously going
in the same spots every day.
Did you notice anything different
in the time that you were there?
Sarah: Yeah, I was, I was only
there for like, less than a year
and I noticed so much change.
Like obviously during summer,
like there was more drella and
more coral predators around.
Um, and then also I was up there
during the 2024 bleaching event.
And there was, you know, this
one reef in particular that was
everyone's favorite to survey.
Um, 'cause it was so
diverse and so amazing.
And we didn't get out there for a
while to survey because of the two
cyclones that hit further north.
Um, but when we got out there,
it was like super devastating.
Like a lot of the corals had
been knocked over and overturned
and fragments everywhere.
And then just like wide
expanses of apor like.
Bleached and white and it was,
yeah.
Super, super tough to, to balance
that and then have to still work.
Jess: Yeah, that would've
been so hard to see.
'cause I can imagine you spent every
day there and I know the spots that
we go to every day on our tours.
You like make friends with the
little nemos and you know where
your little sharks are living.
And then to go there and see it
wiped out is just heartbreaking.
How did you explain that to tourists?
Because.
That can be a really hard thing
to try and still make them see
that the reef is beautiful, but
also you are their heartbroken
and you wanna teach 'em about it.
So how did you navigate
that part of tourism?
Sarah: It's very difficult
Jess: Yeah.
Sarah: and something that I
feel like, yeah, doesn't get
spoken about enough, but.
There's a lot of misinformation
out there about, about coral
bleaching and, you know, a lot of
people think that the reef's dead.
Um, so you have to be really careful
working in that space that you know
what you're talking about and you're
giving out the right information.
Um, Obviously when people
come out to the reef, most of
the time they're on holidays.
Um, so they don't wanna hear or doom and
gloom and like negative information only.
Um, so it's about like
finding that balance.
And obviously if they're, you know.
Depressed and hearing negative things,
they're not gonna go away and be inspired
to take action and, and want to have hope.
So it's all about like, striking
the balance of what they're, they're
seeing and, and capturing that wonder.
Um, 'cause obviously people are more
likely to want to protect something
that they have a connection to, and
then acknowledging the grief that
comes with that and, and seeing an
ecosystem that you love struggling.
Um.
So, yeah, educating people,
finding the, um, conveying the
urgency of what's happening
while also not ruining their
day is a super hard task.
Jess: yeah, I have struggled with that a
lot up here as well.
'cause you get people who just like
come out of a snorkel even I've had
someone come off the helicopter tour
and go, the reef's dead, and I go.
Okay,
Sarah: Did you sing it?
Jess: Explain to me why
Then I try and talk them through it,
and it's educating them on like not
only what bleaching looks like, but
damage that happens just naturally from
storms and big seas and stuff like that.
And then also the fact that.
Not all.
Coral is fluorescent purple and
pink and blue, like in Finding
Nemo, which is a cartoon.
And so I find a lot of people come already
thinking it's dead, and then if it is
damaged or it has had a massive bleaching
event, educating them on what that looks
like and that it's not all doom and gloom.
But it's such a fine line.
And like you said, not wanting to
squash their hopes and dreams and their
Sarah: Ugh.
Jess: and
Sarah: It's so hard.
Jess: pointing out that yeah,
there are things that are wrong
Sarah: Yeah.
And I feel like it's also like, Yeah.
And it also makes, I don't
know, you feel quite.
I personally felt quite alone through
the experience of, of witnessing the
bleaching and, you know, having that
immense grief and there not being
any guidance on how to talk about it.
Like customers would ask and
you'd be like, oh, like how
much am I supposed to say?
'cause you're, you know, you're
still selling this experience
working on the reef and you're
still trying to sell a ticket.
But you're also trying to, you
know, tell the truth and try
and educate people about it.
So it's like, yeah, really hard.
And I feel like, I don't know if this
was your experience, but it felt like
it was this taboo subject to talk about
climate change and coral bleaching.
And it was like, oh, just
don't, don't talk about that.
Just kind of sweep it under the rug.
Happy days.
Um, and that's kind of what
led me into divers for climate.
So it was, yeah.
Nice to find.
I mean, solidarity.
It was good finding other people that
were having the same experience as well.
Jess: Yeah, I love that.
So for people who don't know,
um, what is divers for climate
and what, what do you do there?
Sarah: Yeah, so Divers For Climate
is a nonprofit organization, so it's
focused on empowering and mobilizing
the dive community to influence
climate solutions, essentially.
So we're a community of.
Divers, divers, snorkels, industry
workers, ocean advocates, um, who
all have a shared belief that the
dive community has, you know, this
incredibly valuable perspective.
We're under the water every day.
We, we see the change before anyone else.
Um, and that perspective is
often overlooked in the climate
conversation, um, to date and.
Obviously a lot of us come from
these backgrounds, marine tourism
backgrounds, and have all had this
experience where, um, the current
climate narrative can be quite
confronting and also damaging to tourism.
So yeah, we found it difficult
to talk about climate change and,
and to get the right messaging
across to the public pub public.
Um, so our mission's kind of based
around reframing that narrative to better
reflect the experiences of those that.
That are in the sea every day.
Um, and also to amplify the voices
to influence those solutions.
Um, so we wanna protect our
dive sites into the future and
make sure they're still there.
And divable,
Jess: Yeah.
Very special.
So what's the most impactful
work that you've personally done?
What still stuck with you throughout
all the work that you've done with them?
Sarah: I think I.
Most recently, well over the past
year really, um, we've been doing a
lot of work with the dive industry
down in south a, obviously with the
ongoing harmful algal bloom that's been
happening down there since March, 2025.
Um, and it's, yeah, still ongoing.
It's been impacting such a huge area of
their coastline, um, and had, you know,
a devastating impact on, on marine life.
And it's, it's still, um, and we've been
in conversations with decision makers,
with operators and the communities on the
ground, um, just to try and understand
how, you know, these types of climate
driven events impact communities,
especially marine tourism, um, industry
workers and, and those industries.
Um, and then from our research from
all of this over the past year.
We produced a co-authored case study with
the dive industry down there, um, that
helped inform, you know, both federal and
state parliamentary inquiries.
So we actually went to Parliament,
which was crazy, and shared those
Jess: crazy.
Sarah: Yeah, definitely not where
I envisioned my career going.
Jess: a hundred
Sarah: Yeah.
But it was super special to be
able to talk about it in Parliament
and, you know, give, give,
the dive industry down there a
voice and help them help carry
their voices into parliament.
Jess: Yeah.
Well, amazing.
Congratulations.
That is huge.
And that's like, I think a big part of.
Protecting is realizing that it's all
legislation and it's all going through
the councils and the parliament.
And that's where change and
regulations can be input.
And it's as much as we don't wanna have
to deal with that side of it, that's
where it all comes down to is that's
where the changes are gonna be made.
So that's amazing.
Very, very
Yeah.
Thank you.
Awesome.
Um, so you spend a lot of
time with people who care.
Obviously a lot about the ocean through
your job, and it can be hard sometimes
to feel like you can do anything.
I know I struggle a lot with riding
that rollercoaster of one week you're
super motivated, you feel like you can
save the ocean and change the world,
and then something happens or you see
something and you kind of just go.
Like what?
What is the point?
Which is such a bad mentality to have,
but sometimes these problems feel so big
and you feel like one singular person
or one organization trying to fight to
run like an uphill battle basically.
So how do you spread to other people
that, especially in your team and stuff
like that, that they do have the power
and kind of tell 'em they are making a
difference when sometimes it feels like.
You are maybe taking three steps
forward, 10 steps back kind of thing?
Sarah: I've been told several times
throughout my career that, you know, one
person can't really make a difference and
you know, in the grand scheme of things.
Um, but the more that I've.
Been in this industry, the more I've
realized that that's not exactly true and
what I've personally seen in that time.
You know what happens when one person
or a small number of people in a
group start to speak out about an
issue that they care about or share
their knowledge and experience it.
It, you know, it has this flow on effect.
It inspires other people to be like,
oh yeah, you know, I feel that way
as well and I'm gonna share my story.
Um, and it has this wave effect
that creates that momentum and
then, you know, drives real change.
So I feel like collective action has
proved so many times, time and time again
that it's, it's successful in driving
change and you just have to have, you
know enough people that care about the
same thing and have a shared goal and, and
yeah, that's how I try and stay positive.
Jess: through.
Yeah, that's it.
If you all work together and do
a tiny little thing all together.
And that was
kind of the main, um, motivation
behind starting Clear Tides again,
it started from like a beach clean
down in Sydney and I just wanted to.
Get, you know, your everyday person
involved, not your big ocean advocate,
not your person who's gonna go
entirely plastic free, not someone
who's gonna stop eating fish entirely.
Just your average person and be like,
look, you don't have to be perfect.
You don't have to do everything right.
But doing one thing, like going to
a Sunday beach clean, or reducing
your plastic usage or riding your
bike instead of taking a car.
It seems like it's not a big thing,
but then you tell people you're
doing that and then all of a sudden
there's 30 of you're doing it.
It makes a huge impact, but it's sometimes
so hard to get that in people's head
going, you will make a
little bit of a difference.
You'll make a little wave and
then that will just keep rolling.
But yeah, it can be hard.
Sarah: overwhelming as well.
Yeah.
There's like so many things that
you're like I could or should be
doing, but like, and then people just.
I get overwhelmed and you know,
don't really do much at all.
But I have heard this quote and it was
like, we don't need a hundred perfect.
A activists, but millions
of imperfect ones.
And I feel like
Jess: it.
Yeah.
Sarah: being kinder to yourself
and you know, picking a few
things and sticking to it.
Jess: Yeah.
Rather than going, I've
gotta do it all perfectly.
Just imperfect is fine.
Sarah: yeah.
Jess: Do you cope when it kind of gets a
bit heavy and overwhelming in your role
and just when you're out diving as well?
'cause it can be the best hobby
ever, but it also can just really
be quite the downer at times.
Sarah: I feel like taking
breaks is important.
Um, I mean, sometimes, like you said,
you don't even mean to take a break,
but you're just like, I, I can't do it.
I.
And like, as important as it is to
stay up to date and informed about
everything that's happening in the world.
Like, we're not meant to take in all
this information constantly, but you
know, with technology we're constantly
being bombarded with, you know,
headlines about what's happening and,
you know, the reefs dead, yada yada.
Um, and it's so hard to
switch off from that.
And you wanna, like, with your career,
you're like, I need to be informed.
I dunno, it feel can feel quite alienating
when you're dealing with things like
climate anxiety and eco grief and
you are just, you know, at home alone
and it's just flooding your feed.
Um, and, you know, I've definitely
struggled with my own mental health
with it, um, and feelings of climate
anxiety, you know, last year and
all those climate reports and the
tipping point report came out.
Um, and working from home and
having to, you know, feel a bit
disconnected from the world.
And, you know, people don't always know
what to say to, to support you in that.
Um, but one thing that actually really
helped me last year was just talking
to like-minded people about it.
There's this organization called
Psychology for a Safe Climate,
and they run these online climate
cafes and it's, it's free.
Anyone can join and you just like
jump on and it's not trying to fix
anyone's problems, but you're just
like talking about your, your climate
anxiety and your climate grief with
people who are also going through it
Jess: That's unreal.
Sarah: made me feel
yeah, so much better.
Just something so simple.
Jess: That's such a cool initiative.
'cause yeah, it is
something that, especially if.
You're in a friend group that doesn't
really have to deal with it a lot as
though it can feel like you are, you are
the one with this secret that no one else
knows and you're trying to deal with it
and go through all the emotions of it.
So does, do companies like that
kind of give you a bit of hope
that there are a lot of people
that are in it together with you?
Sarah: Yeah.
'cause Yeah.
again, like when you talk about
it with friends and they're
like, whoa, that's, that's heavy.
And you're like Yeah.
And then being able to talk about
Jess: you freaking out?
Sarah: yeah, honestly, and then
talking about it with people who
are going through the same thing.
It's just like, I don't know.
I guess it's comforting in a way.
It's like when I was
in South Australia, I.
Everyone was going through this shared
grief and confusion together, and
then coming home and, and working
from home, and people still didn't
know what was going on down there.
It was like, I kind of was like,
I just wanna be back down there
around people that understand
what, what grief you're
dealing with, you know?
Jess: a hundred percent.
On that note,
do you want to share a little bit about
what actually is going down there because.
I know up here in far north Queensland,
it is not something that we're
hearing much of, um, at all, really.
So do you wanna just share like a very
brief, shortened, down version of what
exactly is going on, how long it's
been going on, um, and if people can
do anything, what they should be doing?
Sarah: It's been going on for about
a year or just over a year now.
It started March, 2025.
Um, and so yeah, they've been dealing
with this harmful algal bloom.
Um, they're still working out the exact
cause of it, but they're thinking it's
a mix of, you know, the ocean heat wave
that was happening that time last year.
Um, they have, uh, these upwellings
that come up every year and
bring, you know, nutrient rich,
um, sea water to the surface.
Um.
Then also there was a precious
system sitting off the coast.
So everything was just kind of
sitting there like a Petri dish.
Um, and you know, there's some
theories of the, the river Murray
flooding, whether that's, you know,
contributed or not, we don't know.
But, um.
Yeah, so, you know, the changing
ocean conditions led to it.
And so it's had this crazy effect.
Um, it's been about four or five
different species, I think, of
algae that are part of the bloom.
And they thought that it would drop
off when, um, ocean temperatures called
back down and they got some storms
come through, but with the different
types of algae, one, you know, some
of them thrived in the, the heat.
And then there was this one, particular
one that thrives in the cooler water.
So it's just persisted for, for a
really long time, and they've had
like over 700 species affected.
They've had, you know, over
a hundred thousand, um,
observations on our naturalists.
And then within each observation
it could include like.
Thousands of, of individual animals.
So it's like in the millions of, animals.
impacted, they've had, you know, dolphins,
sharks, washing up rays, fish, um, and
then the impact on human health as well.
So people have been coughing and um.
All kinds of things.
People with asthma have had to have
their, you know, uh, windows shut.
Even when I was down there, I went
for a walk on the beach and I think I
was there for like half an hour and I
started feeling the effects as well.
Um, just like a scratchy throat
and struggling to breathe.
Jess: crazy.
Yeah.
Sarah: Yeah, and I think it didn't
really make headlines until it hit
Metro Adelaide, the Waters around.
And then now that it's kind of shifted and
it's moved further up the coast towards
like Whyalla and towards those areas,
um, that everyone's like,
oh, it's, it's gone.
It's, it's fixed.
We haven't heard about it in a
Jess: Yeah.
Well, that's what
I had no
idea.
it was still so intense.
I kind of figured it had just windled
down a bit and was a bit more under
control, but that's crazy to hear.
It's so many different species
of algae as well that all
thrive in different conditions.
It's like, how do you
possibly win at that, like.
Sarah: I know, and there's this particular
species that has a neurotoxin effect.
It's called a brevet Toin.
So it has this like
neurological impact on animals.
So like even when we went
diving in it, you could see
that they were acting strange.
Like there were certain species
that were out that would normally
be like, you know, hiding under
a rock or something like that.
So it was,
yeah, very.
I've never seen anything like it.
It was crazy.
Jess: That's
crazy.
And so what.
Do they have any kind of solutions
on their radar, or is it just the
ocean has to kind of ride itself like,
Sarah: Yeah, I think they, they had like
a, um, inquiry that we were involved with.
And out of the 14 recommendations that
came out, I this yesterday, I haven't
fully looked into it yet, but one has gone
through that they're actually doing, um.
Jess: okay.
Sarah: And yeah, it's just, I don't know.
It's, it's, it was a slow process
of not knowing what to do, not
knowing, you know, how to fix it.
And again, there's nothing that you
can physically do to, to fix it.
You know, in fresh water you can,
and you've got a pond you can solve,
you know, an algal bloom, but in
the ocean, what are you gonna do?
Um, so it's just about like figuring
out, okay, is this gonna happen again?
If it does, how are we gonna be prepared?
What policies can we put in place?
Um.
I think it was just like, 'cause it was
the first time there was just so much
to learn and, you know, the funding
disparities, like the dive industry was
fairly eligible for, for the payments.
Um, 'cause it didn't fit like the
nature of the tourism industry.
And yeah, so it was just, it was a, an
interesting process to be involved with.
But yeah, fingers crossed
that it, that it goes away soon.
Jess: Yeah.
Far out.
That's crazy.
It's yeah, wild as well that,
like you said, the media just kind
of onto the next and that's it.
But wow.
Fingers crossed.
Um, on that note, for people that
wanna get into marine science or
conservation, what would you say to them?
Sarah: That it's not all doom and gloom,
I think if you're passionate about
it, like a hundred percent, go for it.
Like I, I've heard everyone that I tell,
you know, that I'm a marine biologist.
They're like, oh, you know, that's the
dream everyone wants to do when they're
younger and like, I wish I did that.
And, um, I feel like going
into it with, um, the right
mindset, but also knowing that.
it's not all that.
it is perceived to be on Instagram.
Like, you know, a lot of people say
they see one side of it and they're
like, wow, you must be living the dream.
Like you get to do what
you love every single day.
And for some of the time that's true.
But, um, the realities as well.
Uh, you know, getting knocked back
from jobs time and time again and, you
know, being unemployed and, um, having
to move overseas, which is amazing.
But having to move to places away
from family, um, to get a job.
Like, you can't just be like, I'm
gonna move to this state because I
wanna live there, or this, this town.
You have to kind of go where the work is.
Um, and then as well, I feel like
this isn't talked about as much, but.
Working in an industry that's so tied to
your identity and like your passions and
then seeing it suffer is like super hard.
But I think if I could go back and
tell my younger self all of this,
it wouldn't make a difference.
I'd still wanna do it.
Jess: true, so true.
Sarah: I still choose it.
every day because it's, it's,
yeah, like absolutely fulfilling.
And you know, even every job has
its positives and negatives, but.
I think it's definitely worth pursuing.
And then as well, on top of that, for,
for anyone who is thinking of pursuing
it, um, as someone who didn't really,
who wouldn't have described themselves as
particularly academic at school, I somehow
got through all of my education with
undiagnosed A DHD, um, and unmedicated.
I don't know how,
Jess: That's
Sarah: but.
I think so.
I just loved it.
I, I got through, but yeah.
Wow.
And then, I don't know, just knowing
that it's important to, to know that not
everyone fits that image of being, um,
what's portrayed as smart or academic.
And you know, I remember my biology
teacher laughed at me when I said that
I wanted to be a marine biologist.
Um.
Because I didn't learn that the way
she, you know, thought that I should.
Um, so I think just like figuring
out what works for you and find the
thing that drives you to get up in the
morning, I guess, and run towards that.
Jess: I love that.
And
. What does a healthy ocean look
like to you in the future?
What would you like to see?
More of in the world or less of in
the world to kind of back having a
healthier ocean for the next generations.
Sarah: I think for me, a healthy ocean
isn't just one that looks pristine,
but is one that's functioning properly.
You know, it has strong biodiversity,
balanced ecosystems, key species
present, um, like, you know, sharks,
especially on reefs where things like,
you know, herbivores and predators play
such an important role, um, but also.
It's about resilience, like the ability
to recover from \stresses like bleaching
and disturbance is super important.
, and then in that, I think
it's super important that a
healthy ocean includes people.
So what I've learned through all this
work is, you know, when communities and
industries are connected to the reef and
involved in protecting it, that's when
you can see long term positive outcomes.
So I think all of that
incorporated is, yeah.
Jess: I love it.
One nice little
package deal
Um,
what's one thing you would
tell people listening?
To do to protect our ocean a little more.
If they could just pick one thing
to do each day or a change in their
lifestyles, what would that be?
Sarah: Ooh, one thing I feel like.
Staying curious and
engaged is a big thing.
Just like learning a little bit about
what you are seeing underwater and
being able to, you know, connect
and share that with other people.
That that's how people start to
protect, you know, an ecosystem and,
and change their behavior or choices.
Um, but I think if anything that
recent world events has taught us, it's
the importance in voting and voting
for the right leaders, I think is.
Honestly, one of the most important
things that we can do as individuals,
you know, to use your voice to
support politicians and policies that
prioritize ocean and climate protection.
Um, and you know, there's
plenty of resources out there.
Like, I wouldn't say that I'm like.
Super well versed in all the
politics, but Project Planet
is another good organization.
They have a tool called Build a Ballot,
and it makes it so simple and so easy
to go on and like put your values in
and they help you figure out who to
vote for and based on your values.
And I feel like, yeah, it's one of the
most important things I think we can do.
Jess: Yeah, I love that.
I was one of those like kids growing
up that never wanted to vote and
my, my parents, my grandparents
were always like, it's so important.
I was like, what's my vote?
Gonna make a difference?
But then.
You realize how important that is in
changing legislations and regulations.
And at the end of the day, that's
what controls what happens.
And if you wanna make a
difference, you're gonna vote.
So that's a super important one.
I'll
Sarah: hundred percent.
Jess: get their link and link
it below as well for people.
'cause that's a great
tip for one
Sarah: Yeah.
Jess: kind of have a
say in what's going on.
Sarah: Because I feel like for
young people as well, it's just
like, it's, it's, there's so much
information out there about like
policies and who to vote for.
It's so overwhelming.
But yeah, I feel
like very important.
Very
Jess: Yeah.
It can be overwhelming,
but that'll make it easy.
Well, thank you so much for
sharing your story with us today.
Uh, your work is such
a special reminder of.
Not only that, there are challenges
in this field, and it can be hard and
it can be rough to see some of these
things, but there is positivity in coming
together, moving forward together, and
taking action as a team and all working
to make a little bit of a difference.
And we can.
Be part of the solution if
we all do our little parts.
But thank you so much.
I appreciate you coming on.
Um, I'll share all your stuff
below as well so everyone can
follow you and learn more about
Divers for Climate and all that.
But thank you so much.
Thanks for being my first guest.
Sarah: for having me.
Oh, I love it.
Thank you for having me.