Dive Into Your Imagination

When I was growing up, my family took annual vacations to Siesta Key, FL. Every evening I joined my brother, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins along the beach to collect shells and admire the beautiful sunset. But I was addicted to the water, and every evening while everyone walked, I would splash around and drench my clothes with ocean.

I have a vivid memory of one evening in particular, when my dad and I showed up at sunset with our bathing suits on, ready to get wet! My dad swam much faster than I could, so I would put my arms around his neck as he darted between the waves with me across his back. I liked to imagine that I was riding a dolphin!

This one special night, I remember seeing dolphins in the water with us – only yards away! The sun was coming down and crackling across the water, and I

desperately dove into the waves, trying to catch up with the dolphins. (Of course, I was much to slow to catch up with the dolphins and as I know now, it actually wouldn't have been good for the wild dolphins, or me, if I had. Working with the trained dolphins that live at Mote, Harley and Moonshine, is very different than how people should encounter dolphins in the wild.) It was that spontaneous sighting with those dolphins that gave me wonderful dreams that night so long ago! I remember dreaming that the saltwater didn't sting my eyes, and I was zooming along underwater with my new dolphin friends. It felt magical!

And then I was introduced to the artwork of underwater life artist, Wyland. My family was vacationing in Maui, and my Mom and I poked our heads into his gallery in Lahaina. I think what struck me so powerfully about Wyland's artwork was that he painted what I dreamt in my head! It was like another world, with beautiful blues and greens, dolphins jumping through waves under moonbeams, vibrant sunsets, whales, sea turtles, and colorful corals... He made the ocean look beautiful, intriguing, and most of all, mysterious. I remember examining a huge painting in the gallery and standing up close to the paint. The foam on the waves sparkled. Was that the paint that sparkled or the way the light hit the paint? I vowed that someday (granted, maybe a long time from now) I would own one of his paintings!

So you can imagine my surprise when Wyland, of all people, paid a visit to Mote! The outer wall of my department is a huge underwater mural, which Wyland painted years ago. And today, Wyland was coming to touch-up his work! A crowd gathered in the parking lot in the early morning. Some people even brought folding chairs and picnic lunches! Throughout my morning at work, I kept peeking outside to see if the artist had arrived. And finally he was there, being hoisted by a crane to spray-paint the top of the building! Throughout the afternoon, Wyland paused from his work and spoke with the crowd. He signed autographs, took pictures, and answered questions.

Wyland is known for his dedication to the conservation of the ocean. At Mote, he spoke to the public about a recent project he completed this summer called, "Hands Across the Ocean." With the help of thousands of children around the world, Wyland created a mile long "Whaling Wall" mural in Beijing to celebrate this summer's "Green Olympics." Canvases were decorated by the artwork of children from over 100 countries, depicting marine endangered species from each area of the world.

As Wyland described this project, it struck me how much of an impact our childhood dreams can have on our world. The experiences from my childhood revolving around the ocean have played a huge role in acquiring my current internship at Mote Marine Lab (and climbing over the obstacles it took to get here). Because I fell in love with the ocean, I have worked to protect it, and right now I am doing my part as a conservationist and rehabilitator. The ocean is a substance that connects countries all over the world, and I think it is wonderful that kids are working together to protect it.

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