FREEDIVING AND MERMAID INSTRUCTOR: I ended up becoming an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor and Mermaid Instructor! All of my equalization issues that I had to work through gave me a solid foundation to help others work through their equalization issues. I’m now running courses in both Las Vegas, Nevada and near Port Angeles, Washington. For more information or to schedule a course near you, feel free to reach out! www.aquanautsfreediving.com

OCEAN-THEMED ATHLEISURE CLOTHING LINE FOR OCEAN ENTHUSIASTS: For those who have been following my vlog or other social media, you’ll know that I’m a very active person and I love to cram as many activities into my day as possible, from rock climbing, to freediving, to trail running, cycling, acro, and more! I’ve created an athleisure line geared towards freedivers, merfolk, and other ocean enthusiasts. The matching rash guards, leggings, and sports bras provide stylish and color coordinated protection against the sun and jellyfish stings, and they’re a reef friendly alternative to chemical sunscreens! I have merchandise for both men and women. Check out my clothing line at www.aquanautsclothing.com and let me know what you think!

DIVING EDUCATION FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION: I recently won the title of Miss Mermaid Nevada 2021, and it has been my goal to provide affordable diving education to get people into the ocean and more passionate about ocean conservation. To learn more about this project, please look up We of the Sea on Facebook.

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This is the first video documenting my formal freediving training on the journey of becoming an SSI freediving instructor. It shows a bit about the concepts you learn in level 1, as well as how quickly (or slowly) or slowly you can progress. I'm documenting my challenges and successes in order to show freedivers of all levels what the learning process looks like and answer any questions that new freedivers might have about getting into the sport.

As you can see from the title, I failed my freediving course on the first try. Apparently, this is a fairly common thing to do, with somewhere around half of students not passing within the 2.5 days that are allocated to the course. However, this isn't a reason to give up as the sport is about a gradual progression of learning the skills to become a better freediver! It's not just about certifications. It's about learning the skills to make you a safe and competent freediver, and it's about knowing when to take a break from pushing yourself to get a certification so you can continue to freedive another day.