I was so honoured to be selected as the 2022 NextGeneration Global Scholar for Global Underwater Explorers GUE (as their second ever scholar, and the first one post-pandemic). In my determination for skill refinement, diving excellence, and experience in scientific and exploration operations; I embarked on a year of scuba training and social media outreach sponsored by GUE and Halcyon.

Photo by Erik Wurz

year-in-review: my 2022-23 NextGen Scholarship journey

2023 GUE Conference Presentation

PAST: Tales from the field: perseverance, resilience, and problem-solving when creating your own exploration journey.

PRESENT: My year as the 2022 NextGen Scholar: training, projects, experiences; and the development of the NextGen Legacy project - both for young divers and project scientists. 

FUTURE: The intersection of exploration: foraging collaborations between project developers, expedition vessels, scientific diving, and sea-to-space programs - and my video: 

DAN Europe, In Depth, Quest

projects, experiences and training course profile

PROJECTS

  • Antarctica Dec 2022 - WAP expeditions

  • 2023 media creator / project co-ordinator

  • Dahab Jan 2023 - REEF check surveys

  • Dibba March 2023 - EMP / coral surveys

  • Musandam March 2023 - Live-aboard

  • Sardinia 2023 - seagrass research program

  • Sardinia June 2023 - GUE Creative Trip

  • Hawaii-Mexico transit Aug 2023 - Inkfish

  • UK Oct 2023 - BBC NHU / DEEP visits

COURSES

  • London Dec 2022 - DAN DMTC

  • Dubai 2023 - Drysuit / Doubles Primers

  • Dubai Feb 2023 - Gas Blender

  • Dubai Feb 2023 - Photogrammetry

  • Croatia April 2023 - Rec 2

  • Zeeland April 2023 - Scientific Diver

  • Sardinia 2023 - ITC (Fundies / Rec / PD)

  • Vinkeeven 2023 - Documentation Diver

  • Florida Nov 2023 - Rec teacher workshop

EXPERIENCES

  • Florida 2022 / 2023 - GUE conferences / diving

  • Dahab Jan 2023 - the 25+ experience dives

  • Deep Dive Dubai Feb 2023 - skills / media

  • Houston March 2023 - NASA NBL visit

  • Seattle March 2023 - GUE community events

  • Sardinia May 2023 - project diving

  • The Fifth Point Oct 2023 - beach cleans / diving

  • Indonesia November 2023 - Bali / Sing diving

  • Dubai Dec 2023 - GUE project development

currently, I am aiming to become a Rec1 and Scientific Diver GUE Instructor in the future

personal blog - the NextGen Diaries

personal vlogs - the NextGen Videos

the NextGen Legacy Project

This is a community of GUE NextGen Scholars, Trainees, Members and other up-and-coming young scientific divers – providing a ready-made network of friends and collaborative opportunities for training, exploration, and conservation projects. This will be in the form of a webpage showcasing what the scholars and trainees get up to, a Facebook group to foster active networks, a yearly scholarship deliverable led by the current NextGen Scholar, and a scientific panel to provide mentorship and research opportunities.

Welcome to the NextGen Legacy Project - a way to give back to the GUE community

other events and media