Country of residence: Cancun, MexicoDiving since: 2021Level/agency of certification: PADI AOWFor over 10 years, Paola Gargari has turned her lifelong passion for the ocean into a driving force for change in the Mexican Caribbean. Born and raised in Cancún, Paola’s deep connection to the sea led her to environmental and social activism at just 15 years old. In 2022, she took her commitment to the next level by founding Corazón de Mar, a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, local...
By Rebecca Strauss|Published July 15, 2026|Updated July 16, 2026
Country of residence: United StatesDiving since: 2018Level/agency of certification: Advanced Open Water Scuba Certified/Level 2 Freediver Certified Alyssa Blake is a full-time content creator and aquatic adventurer who travels the world in search of unforgettable ocean experiences, sharing them with more than 1 million followers across platforms. Known as the “Paddleboard and Shark Girl,” she first went viral for her paddleboarding encounters with manatees in the Florida Keys, with one video accumulating more than 30 million views. Since then she...
By Rebecca Strauss|Published July 14, 2026|Updated July 15, 2026
Country of residence: United StatesDiving since: 9 years old Level/agency of certification: PADI AOW Jordan Manning is an underwater filmmaker, photographer, and ocean conservation advocate based in Southern California. Having first learned to free dive at just 9 years old, Jordan has spent much of his life exploring and documenting the underwater world, from the rugged coastline of Northern California to the kelp forests of Laguna Beach, Catalina Island, and the Channel Islands. Through his filmmaking, Jordan works to bring...