As a child, I grew up in the Keys — it's the place I call home, and it shaped the ocean-loving, fun-in-the-sun person I am today.
Sailing every other day was my escape — the silence, the wind in the sails, no particular destination, just the space to think about the bigger questions in life. Those hours away from it all were invaluable to shaping my future.
Free diving was my other great love. Without air bubbles or the sound of breathing, wildlife responds with far more curiosity than it does to a scuba diver — you hear the ocean in a way you can't otherwise. Schools of fish, a passing stingray, a slow-idling Goliath grouper — these quiet, surreal moments shaped a deep appreciation for the beauty this world has to offer.
Growing up in the Florida Keys, filled with days of snorkeling, diving, sailing and other water-based adventures, gave me an insight into myself and the world around me I couldn't have found anywhere else.