For most people spending time in Tonga swimming alongside a sixteen metre long, forty ton whales is a dream come true. For some it is a nightmare! For Scott Portelli that is another day in the office.

Take time with us to learn about Scott on this episode of the podcast. Scott is a world renowned wildlife photographer with multiple awards and accolades. But he doesnt stop there!

It has taken Scott the better part of his career to understand how to read Whale behaviour and learn how to best interact with the whales with the aim to create organic interactions and build familiarity.

In this episode we discuss the dangers of interacting with humpbacks in light of the recent injuries sustained by tourists swimming with whales in Ningaloo.

Join us on this episode as we cover:

• Scott’s early career and interests
• Interacting with Whales and the dangers of being around such large megafauna
• How other photographers can get started with underwater photography

Connect with Scott here:

• www.scottportelli.com
• https://www.facebook.com/scott.portelli
• www.instagram.com/scott.portelli

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Underwater filmmaker, diver and self-proclaimed pirate Dean Cropp. Inspired by his father, documentary maker and conservationist Ben Cropp, Dean sold his house and now lives on a sailing boat that he travels the world in creating a web series called Barefoot Captain’s Log. On this episode we chat with Dean about life on the boat, how the days on the water are spent and the challenges that come with no fixed address. We also cover off a recent shark attack incident which injured one of his crew members (Anika Craney) recently. Safe to say it has been a tough year for Anika. She lost her home during the summer bushfires. “She seemed to be more worried about missing out on the adventure then the injuries,” Mr Cropp said. “While you hope it doesn’t happen to you, you know it’s part of the risk.”

Listen to the episode here.

Connect with Dean and the crew here

• YouTube channel Barefoot Captain

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Erin Carey and her family set out to sail the world with very little previous experience at sea. Having been inspired to take the leap and then following through Erin talks about what it takes to go from zero to sailing hero. With moments of inspiration and perseverance to the incredibly sketchy and borderline dangerous, this is the story of Erin, her family, and sailing vessel ROAM.

Listen to this episode.

See more about Erin, S/V ROAM, and her company ROAM Generation.

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How to learn freediving? (I hear you ask).

Well in this episode we speak with Yoram Zekri who spends his time teaching his students to breathhold for over 4 minutes and dive deeper than 20 meters. Learning to freedive is important if you are a surfer or spend time in the water. So who better to learn with then a former World vice-champion of freediving and French National champion multi-record holder. Yoram was among the world elite of this discipline. He is a scuba diving instructor and AIDA Freediving Instructor Trainer for more than 21 years and shares his experience and knowledge in this episode.

Connect with Yoram Zekri here:

• https://www.instagram.com/yoramzekri/
• https://www.oceanprana.com/about-us

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This episode is sponsored by

· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Interview with Alex Kydd discussing wildlife photography, epic adventures and life on the reef. Alex regularly swims with Whale Sharks, dives right into the middle of bait balls with sharks and currently spends his days on the Ningaloo Reef.

Topics covered in this episode include:

• Beginners guide to Underwater Wildlife Photography
• How Alex made his way in the art
• Some of the best times he has had in the water.
• Advice for those thinking about photography in the water.

As part of the interview we spent a lot of time discussing his top experiences. This included time with rays, jelly fish and sharks feeding in bait balls.

In his own words Alex is “on a mission to showcase the beauty of our oceans in the hope that we can all do our best to protect and preserve.”

Connect with Alex here:

https://www.alexkyddphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/alexkyddphoto/

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If you are a surfer you most likely know the name Russell Ord. His images conjure a sense of hard cold watery slab of a wave bearing down on the surer. Russell is one of Australia’s most famous photographers, a man who has made a name for himself by placing in the impact zone on some of the heaviest waves Australia (and the world) has to offer. Join us on the podcast as we speak to Russell Ord about his art, how he got into photography and what he is working on.

Connect with Russell:

https://www.russellordphoto.com/

https://www.instagram.com/russellordphoto/

Episode Music From:

Free Music Archive

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71 percent of the planet’s covered by ocean. It holds the most life, the most diversity, and it’s the source of life. Join us this week as we talk to Dr. Wallace “J” Nichols and explore Blue Mind. In one of our most fascinating interviews for us, Dr. Wallace Nichols explained to us the surprising science behind water and the human condition. Studies had been done on the effect music and stress had on the mind, but when Wallace went to search for research done on the effect water had on the mind, his results came up empty. So he decided to conduct his own research, and the results may surprise you! Take a listen and find out how water affects us all!Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols, called “Keeper of the Sea” by GQ Magazine and “a visionary” by Outside Magazine is an innovative, silo-busting, entrepreneurial scientist, movement maker, renown marine biologist, voracious Earth and idea explorer, wild water advocate, bestselling author, sought after lecturer, and fun-loving Dad. He also likes turtles (a lot).

• Blue Mind Wallace J Nichols
• Get Blue Mind for free with a subscription to Audible

Connect with Dr Wallace J. Nichols:

Instagram

https://www.wallacejnichols.org/

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Join us on Episode 2 of the Salty Journals podcast where we chat with Valentine Thomas. Valentine Thomas traded in her business suit for a wet suit. As a former finance lawyer in London, she felt constricted. Through luck or chance she ended up on a diving adventure in Egypt changed her life. By 2010, she was hooked, diving down the South Atlantic with whale sharks, lobsters, and African pompanos. Today she is a well-known spearfisher and an Instagram star with over 200,000 followers. She’s given several TED talks and has been featured in Forbes. She has also of course been interviewed on the Joe Rogan Podcast.

If you find her on Instagram, and you’ll usually see her posing with the catch of the day. “I eat everything I catch,” she says. Aside from that, Thomas pushes a message of conservation and what goes into putting food on the table. “Spearfishing allows me to feel one with nature. It shows me how to respect nature,” and adds, “When you are in the ocean with sharks, and you can easily be a part of their food chain, it makes you respect the hunt.”

In 2013, Thomas received recognition for breaking the world record after catching an enormous Atlantic Horse-eye Jack while diving off Ascension Islands. Join us on the show to get an introduction to Valentine and learn a little more about here experience, interacting with sharks, and her current projects.

You can learn more about Valentine here:

• Joe Brogan Podcast Interview
• Josh Niland and the cookbook THE WHOLE FISH
• Valentine Thomas on Instagram @valentinethomas
• Valentines Cooking on Instagram @valentinescooking
• Agua Negra Spearfishing Documentary
• Sink Phase Spearfishing | The Blackout Video Story