New Normal – Jules of the Sea

Discovering the New “Normal”

October 4, 2020June 2, 2022 by julesofthesea, posted in CONSERVATION, ISLAND LIVING, TRAVEL: The World Beyond the Wall

7 months of isolation and sanctitude from a terrifying virus - and the society that created it. As we race eagerly back towards "normal" with the hunger for a previous world ignited in our eyes, a simpler yet fulfilling, different but deeply satisfying way of life over previous months makes me wonder why we don’t instead propel ourselves forward.

Freediving the waters surrounding Lord Howe Island, NSW Australia. Due to a sustained conservation effort across the island’s community & governance, marine ecosystems remain remarkably pristine, preserved & rich with an incredible biodiversity of life.

Mt. Lidgebird (left) & Mt. Gower (right) towering above the Lord Howe Island lagoon. Above & below the surface, the island supports an immense biodiversity of life. You can truly feel how the health of both land, sea, & the human community are inextricably linked to health of the island as one whole, connected living system.

Nelson & I exploring some of the volcanic features of Lord Howe Island’s past.

Blinky Beach, Lord Howe Island NSW Australia.

Diving with a Giant Pacific Manta Ray off of Socorro Island. These peaceful giants are some of the most majestic & beautiful creatures I’ve ever had the pleasure of diving with. I could list all sorts of facts about their complex & important role in marine ecosystems, but there is nothing more powerful than the way they approach divers & stare directly into your eyes. All living things have a soul.

Freediving the cool, blue waters surrounding Santa Cruz Island, California. While kelp forests are some of the world’s most important ocean ecosystems in terms of carbon sequestration & oxygen production, they are also some of the most magical to explore. These days in Australia, I’m diving lots of coral reefs, but I find myself missing the sensation of cold water & diving these majestic forests.

Low tide on the Lord Howe Island lagoon. Lord Howe Island boasts the world’s southern most coral reef, created by the bending of warm water from the East Australian current outwards into the Tasman Sea. Due to its southerly location & cooler water temperatures, Lord Howe Island has withstood severe coral bleaching events that have afflicted northern reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef. However, nowhere is immune to the effects of a changing climate & action needs to be taken to protect reef systems like this one, before it’s too late.

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Discovering the New “Normal”

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