In 1994, a seven-year-old witnessed something unforgettable: a coral reef blown to pieces by dynamite fishing.

What looked like an underwater graveyard was actually the aftermath of a copper mine shutdown that left thousands jobless, desperate enough to use explosives to survive.

Armed with a mask and snorkel, that child explored tide pools by torchlight. That single day became a lifelong calling.

Now a marine conservationist, Nikki Lizares is restoring devastated reefs and working with the communities that depend on them, because saving the ocean isn't just about understanding the people fighting to survive.