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Welcome back to Beneath The Waves Radio. Today, we are introducing our Blue Carbon Program Manager, Wells Howe, to discuss how blue carbon is a tangible solution to greenhouse gas emissions. Seagrass is already working hard to store carbon in the ocean’s seafloor, proving that nature always finds a solution. When humanity is faced with a crisis like climate change: what if the best action is to simply get out of nature’s way? We want to protect the natural mechanisms already in place and allow nature to take its course.

 

Conversations about conservation don't have to be depressing. The truth is, every expedition is an adventure. Tune in to hear the team share their experiences diving with tiger sharks at Tiger Beach. What would you do if you were face to face with an apex predator? Don’t let their size fool you, tiger sharks may seem big and slow but they are graceful ambush predators. The team describes just how humbling it is to interact with these amazing creatures and how they manage to keep their cool when dealing with such a dangerous animal in its element. 

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:11] Wells’ first certified dive with apex tiger sharks 

[3:30] Even these massive sharks are effective ambush predators 

[4:25] The aggregation of tiger sharks at Tiger Beach 

[5:05] Diving through reef and lemon sharks to get to the tiger sharks below 

[8:24] What goes through your mind when you’re face to face with a mega predator 

[9:55] Sharks don’t want to kill humans but they are dangerous and should always be respected 

[11:20] Entering the flow state in the presence of hypnotic tiger sharks 

[14:10] Forging deep familial connections while on expedition 

[15:40] It’s challenging to get a good cup of coffee on an expedition 

[24:37] Beneath the waves merch available 

[25:30]What is blue carbon? 

[26:30] Seagrass undergoes photosynthesis and actually traps carbon in the marine sediment [28:47]Providing a tangible solution to greenhouse gas emissions 

[32:45] When humans do less and let the earth do its thing, nature heals itself 

[34:48] Conservation doesn't have to be depressing 

[35:54]Celebrating with a waterslide every once in a while! 

[38:50] No matter what the objective is, every expedition is an adventure! 

[40:10] Getting stuck on a zipline in Costa Rica 

[43:34] Pushed over the edge bungee jumping in Puerto Vallarta 

[47:20] Working to combat the climate crisis 

Where to Find Guests:

Austin Gallagher PhD: CEO: www.austingallagher.com

Jamie Fitzgerald: Managing Director: www.instagram.com/jamielfitzgerald

Sami Kattan: Media Director:  www.instagram.com/sami.kattan

Wells Howe: Program Manager: www.instagram.com/howe_wells

Memorable Quotes:

 

“There really is no logical explanation for how big sharks just appear out of nowhere and it literally happens with white sharks as well, in crystal clear blue water at the surface, so they’re just ridiculous animals. Insane predators.” [1:57] -Austin Gallagher PhD

 

“You’re out in, what feels like, the middle of the ocean and you can’t see anything other than just blue, blue water and just to sink below and be completely surrounded by this shark whirlpool, shark spiral, is just unreal!”   [6:00] -Jamie Fitzgerald

 

“There can be so much grace in that moment, knowing where you are, grounding yourself and not taking your eye off the ball or in this circumstance the shark’s eye.” [12:03] -Sami Kattan

 

“To grow underwater, seagrass is using sunlight, undergoing photosynthesis, just like grass outside…and taking in carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen from its leaves. So, if you actually look underwater sometimes you can see little oxygen bubbles leaving seagrass and you can hear them popping, which is a really cool thing to see when diving but then all those carbon molecules are getting transported straight through the root system and trapped underwater in marine sediment” [26:46] -Wells Howe

 

“What we are talking about is supporting life processes on earth that have existed for a millennia and simply either getting out of the way or stopping the degradation of that and providing a real tangible solution to the issues around greenhouse gas emissions.” [29:10]  -Wells Howe