I got the chance to help Jr Scientist in the Sea with a high school diving camp run through a Florida marine sciences program—and honestly, it s one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had underwater.

The camp was based out of Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, and I got to assist the group with everything from full face mask demos to just being an extra set of hands in and out of the water. I ended up staying underwater for a full 24 hours with four students and our camp leaders—yep, actually living down there! During that time, we earned our saturation diver and aquanaut certifications, which was pretty awesome.

One of the highlights? Night dives in Jules Lagoon. There’s something wild about floating through a lagoon in total darkness, your dive light catching glimpses of fish cruising by or hiding in the rocks. It’s peaceful, eerie, and beautiful all at once.

We also got to dive the Benwood wreck, which was an epic dive full of history and marine life. I knocked out my Advanced Open Water certification during the trip, and even finished my Nitrox course right there on the patio at Oceans First and Jules.

And yeah—I totally signed my name in the concrete around the lodge before I left. It probably got washed away a long time ago, but still, it felt like a rite of passage.

What really made the experience special was getting to help the students with their training and watch their confidence grow. Being a part of their first big steps into the dive world reminded me why I love diving so much in the first place.

By the end of the trip, I didn’t just feel more skilled—I felt more connected to the ocean being I usually dived the springs in North Florida, to the dive community, and especially to Jules Undersea Lodge. It’s a place I’ll always come back to, and now more than ever, I know this is exactly where I’m meant to be.