I have always loved diving with sharks. There is something so indescribably fascinating about being in the water with some of the most ancient and ecologically important animals in our oceans. Ever since seeing my first grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) years ago as a young and bubbly Jr Advanced Diver in Sydney, each experience […]
Category: Scholar Journeys
Underwater Sydney – My First Love
Before (and after) the Scholarship Society Awards weekend in NYC (read all about the experience in my previous post), I spent some time in Sydney. Upon returning home to Sydney from Palau, I had a chance to reacclimatize, meet with sponsors, and get some productive ideas flowing for the crazy adventure ahead, before my year […]
2016: The Adventure of a Lifetime!
Hi everyone! My name is Maya Santangelo, and I am incredibly honoured and excited to introduce myself as the 2016, and 10th Australasian Rolex Scholar! What a whirlwind journey it has been to this point, and an absolute dream come true. I cannot wait to completely dive into (and use more wonderful puns throughout the […]
Preparation in Palau and Manta Mania in Yap
Visiting the sea cows at Crystal River
With 5 days in Florida again before I returned to Sydney, I decided to head up to Crystal River with Elena (2014 EU Scholar) and Daniel to spend some time swimming with the manatees. From Fort Lauderdale we drove and stayed overnight, then headed out with Birds Underwater early the next morning for our first […]