Introducing the GUE NextGen Scholarship

The start of my journey as the 2019 GUE NextGen Scholarship has begun and what an incredible week it has been! You’ll be able to follow all my adventures on this blog, the GUE NextGen Scholar Facebook page and my instagram @annika_andresen.

Image - Dive! Tutukaka, Cameron Barton

The ocean is an integral part of my life. I was fortunate to have been raised on a yacht my father built and spent my summers sailing and diving along the East Coast of the North Island, New Zealand with my family.

I began working in the marine industry in 2013 as a deck hand and snorkel guide for Dive Tutukaka during my semester breaks from University. Whilst there, I completed my PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and gained a technical pass in the GUE Fundamentals course. You can read more about my background and early experiences underwater in my interview with In-Depth here.

Being selected as the 2019 Global Underwater Explorers NextGen scholar is an incredible opportunity that I am honoured to share with you all. The range of wonderful experiences this life around the water has given me, has made me determined to share these experiences with the people around me, working to build an awareness and understanding around issues facing our ocean whilst igniting a sense of wonder with what lies below the surface. 

These are my goals that I would like to focus on throughout the scholarship year:

• Education - to expand and develop my skillset as a diver through different courses provided by Global Underwater Explorers and assisting on a range of on-going projects.
• Conservation - learning through hands-on experiences, effective conservation efforts and how our marine environment is translated into public awareness.
• Exploration - expanding and communicating my knowledge both within and outside of New Zealand in order to inspire the diving community.
• Community - most importantly I don’t want to leave anyone behind, bringing people on this journey with me and using these skills to better educate, inspire and empower.

Image - Annika Andresen