We’re proud to introduce our seventh star, Grace; Scuba Diver. Photographer. Explorer.
For Grace, the outdoors is a place to reset. Long before most people are awake, they slip beneath the surface into a world that feels calm, quiet, and completely different from the one above. They first learned to dive with their dad, and it’s something they’ve returned to ever since. Underwater, there are no expectations, no distractions; only the rhythm of their breathing and the world around them.
We caught up with Grace to learn more about their interests and love of the outdoors.
Rocco: On a nice day, I will get up and try to get in the sea before work if possible. I like to take my breakfast, a coffee and sit on the rocks after a swim to really relax before the day begins. When I get to work, I could really be doing any kind of outdoor activity depending on the sessions I have that day. It could be rock climbing, zip wiring, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, bushcraft – you name it. If it’s been a super active day, once I get home, a lot of the time I will just chill with my friends, make dinner, maybe play some cards or watch a show. But if the sun’s out, it’s hard not to go to the beach when it’s so close!
I was fortunate enough that my mum, dad and I used to go on holiday to Egypt quite often when I was younger. From a young age, I absolutely fell in love with snorkelling and seeing the beauty of the underwater world. When I was 10, we realised that I was old enough to do my first diving qualification. My dad and I started diving at the same time and learnt together, which was a super lovely experience. When we got back to the UK, I just didn’t stop and carried on training. For years, diving was literally the only thing I would talk about, and I committed all my free time outside of school to progressing further in the diving world.
This winter, I discovered that hot water bottles are an absolute lifesaver. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to diving without having one ready in my car waiting for me when I get out. Apart from that, I personally prefer putting a down jacket on over a T-shirt rather than wearing lots of layers because, when you are cold and trying to put on loads of layers, it can prove quite difficult. Whereas a down jacket just feels like you’re putting on a cosy sleeping bag.
In the UK, Pendennis Point has to be my favourite spot. I have been exploring it for four years now, and every time I go there, I still find places that I haven’t seen before. It’s a constantly changing landscape. There are incredible caves to look in and masses of kelp that glisten an amazing yellow colour when it’s sunny. I have had some amazing sunrise dives and snorkels at the point.
It’s also great when the weather and wind are not on your side because there are multiple options for places to get in. You are more than likely to find somewhere sheltered, which can be tricky in the UK sometimes.
A couple of summers ago in Falmouth, there was a massive swarm of mauve stinger jellyfish that washed up due to unusual currents. I remember hearing that a few people had spotted them, so the next day I got in with my camera to try and see them for myself. Incredibly, when I got in, I was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of them. It was like being in space – it was so surreal. It was crazy seeing a dive site that I go to so often looking completely different and taken over by a species that I’d never seen before. It was definitely a bad day to forget my gloves. I came out with massive stings on both of my hands, but the photos were worth it!
I like to get all of my kit together the night before so that I can have a good night’s sleep without worrying about forgetting anything. In the morning, I have to have a coffee and a good breakfast to fuel me for getting in the water, especially if it’s cold.
I work for an amazing charity in Cornwall called BF Adventure. At BF, we work with young people in Cornwall who struggle with the mainstream school system, the majority of whom have special educational needs. We use 60 acres of incredible woodland based around old flooded quarries to give young people opportunities to experience nature and learn in an alternative way. Luckily, I found this incredible job through being a water sports instructor. I spend most of my time in the quarries paddle boarding, kayaking or canoeing with young people. It’s amazing to have a job that aligns so directly with my hobbies outside of work and allows me to be surrounded by water and nature all of the time.
I definitely find my peace in being outdoors. No matter the weather, I feel like being outside means that I will have a great day. I love adventures, and the best adventures, in my opinion, happen outdoors! I’m not quite sure why I am the way I am, but I’m so glad that I’m lucky enough to experience what I love every day. All I can hope for is to stay involved with nature and advocate for it for the rest of my life.
The young people I work with inspire me every day. They are constantly overcoming massive personal battles and choosing to challenge themselves by overcoming fears and learning new skills. Working with young people has also taught me a lot about how, as adults, we should allow ourselves to have more fun and play more than we already do. Running wild in nature and just letting go for a bit is genuinely one of the best things you can do for your soul.
I enjoy the challenge of taking photographs, especially underwater. No photoshoot is ever the same, particularly when you are dealing with fish! It’s an amazing feeling when you have been picturing a certain photo in your head for a long time and one day the opportunity arises to take that shot. You get the shot, and the feeling you get when showing people the image is a really proud one.
