I learned how to scuba dive with my dad, and though he stopped diving years ago, we recently had the chance to explore the ocean together again for the first time in almost ten years. 🩵🤿 We went diving in French Polynesia, creating unforgettable memories.
Read MoreDiving with Mola Mola in California: A Surreal Experience
Encountering a sunfish, or mola mola, was one of the most surreal diving experiences I’ve ever had. These fascinating creatures develop their truncated, bullet-like shape because the back fin they are born with never grows. Instead, it folds into itself as the enormous creature matures, creating a rounded rudder called a clavus. The name "mola" means "millstone" in Latin, describing the ocean sunfish’s somewhat circular shape.
Read MoreFree Dive For Longer! Must Know Exercises & Tips For EVERY DIVER
Salt Life Video - Let me walk you through my most effective exercises to free dive for longer. I focus on breathing techniques, stretches, exercises for depth, and more. Make sure your buddy knows what to do and stay safe- happy diving!
Read MoreWelcome to My Life in Shades of Blue!
Gabriella Gerbasi - Ocean child passionate about ocean conservation and sustainability. I’m a waterwoman living life in shades of blue. Whether it’s freediving, spearfishing, scuba diving or boating I try to spend as much time as I can in the water.
The sea is my second home. The ocean is central to my existence, it is where I go to exercise, to explore, to fish and feed myself. For me, the ocean is a source of energy and power. It calms my mind and recharges my body. When I’m in the water, I experience joy and contentment. I delight in the sea, I can taste the life in the water.
Read MoreThe Daily Salt - Get to Know Me Better
‘‘The Salt Life has always come naturally to one of our newest team members, Gabriella Gerbasi. The French-Canadian native and self-proclaimed “ocean child” has been diving for as long as she can remember. She first became a PADI-certified junior diver at the age of 12, and by 14, Gabriella had a full open-water certification.’’
Read MoreSisters of the Tide
We all come from the sea, but we are not all of the sea. Those of us who are, we sisters & children of the tides, we are bound by sand, salt, sea and we must return to it again and again 🧜🏼♀️🌊
I love how diving and the ocean forms bonds with people. Ocean people are my people. We still like to play just like when we were kids meeting after school. We look outside in the morning and when the weather’s nice and the water is calm, we make plans to spend time outside, no phone, no distractions. Just friends, nature and stories to tell.
Read my Interview with Salt Life on Cold Water, Warm Water, and my Mermaid Diving Bucket List
Read my Interview with Salt Life on Cold Water, Warm Water, and my Mermaid Diving Bucket List
It seems with every passing year more and more people are taking up diving as a hobby, and for good reason! The ocean is absolutely breathtaking and the creatures that live below the surface are equally as fascinating. Many divers have their sights set on warmer waters such as those in Cozumel or Belize, but often forget you can also dive in colder waters.
Read MoreJoin me in the Florida Spearfishing Tournament
Join me in the @floridaspearfishing tournament. An event that allows people from all over the state of #Florida to compete! Spearfish all the time like you normally do, except now when you get a fish you can enter it to win prizes.
I’ve always felt inspired by the sea women of Jeju and the Ama divers who represent the feminine strength and resilience as a self sufficient sisterhood of diving women, mothers and grandmothers. These women are treated like heroes by the people of their island because they support their families, they fish and harvest what they eat and provide in the most natural way possible.
Read MoreNew Dive Mask Pre-Treatment
I recently shared a video on TikTok showing how I was taught to prepare a new dive mask to make sure it doesn’t fog while diving. It got so many reactions and comments because a lot of people never new you had to burn your dive mask. New masks require pre-treatment before you dive with them because they leave the factory with an invisible protective film coating the tempered-glass lenses. Left untreated, a mask is prone to fogging.
Many divers are adamant that using fire to burn the silicone coating off the lenses is the most effective way to pre-treat your mask. It may seem counter-intuitive to your shiny new mask but when done correctly, it can be very effective.
You can only use this method on masks made of tempered glass and which do not have bifocal lenses.
Here are the steps to prepare your mask like I did in the video:
Find a sheltered area at the dive site or on the boat if you’re outside. Don’t position yourself on a windy dive deck where the flame will dance in the wind. You must be precise to make sure you don’t damage the mask’s skirt and frame.
Try to use a lighter that has a mechanism at sufficient distance from the flame. Unlike using it for a second to light a cigarette, you’ll need to keep the flame ignited for at least several seconds and you don’t want to burn your fingers or the mask’s skirt.
An ideal tool is a wand-style lighter for candles or barbecue grills that’s got a longer stem and keeps your fingers far away from the flame. If you’ve got one at home, burn your new mask before your trip.
Hold the lighter’s flame close to the inside of the lens, but not directly in contact with it. Begin at approximately 1.5 to 2 inches (35-50 mm) away from the surface.
Gently move the flame around the center of the lens in a continuous motion. The intense heat from the flame will make the mask fog and blacken slightly, but you will be able to see the silicone burn away and leave a clear area. When moving the flame closer to the frame be extremely careful not to get too close to the edge or you may burn or deform the skirt.
When you’re done, remember that the lenses will be hot. Put the mask down on a safe surface where it will remain untouched for 2-3 minutes. Wipe any soot away using a tissue or cloth. Make sure to wipe the soot away from the skirt without smearing it, especially if you have a clear or pale skirt. Once the mask is completely cool, rinse it with water to remove any remaining residue.
After using the lighter, I used some toothpaste with no microbeads.
Gently squeeze a small, pea-sized blob of toothpaste into the center of each lens on the inside.
Firmly rub the toothpaste around the inside of the lenses with the tip of your finger until you’ve worked the paste into all parts of the lens. In contrast to the burning method, there is no danger in going right to the edge of the lenses where they meet the skirt.
When done, put a small amount of water into the mask to cover the lenses.
Thoroughly rinse your mask and repeat two or three more times. The greater the repetition, the less chance you’ll have a foggy mask or condensation on your initial dives.
Need a New Mask?
Find everything you need for your next diving adventure in my Amazon List of essentials.
So let me know in the comments on the video, do you burn the lense of your new dive masks? If not, how do you prepare it?
Ready to Start Freediving & Spearfishing ?
Read my previous blog post about my favorite gear to either start or upgrade!
Sustainable Spearfishing
Nowadays, we are almost completely divorced from our food sources; it is a recognized symptom of modern life. This is one of the reasons why I like spearfishing so much. It allows me to prepare an entire meal with my own hands, breath and body.
Read MoreThe Siren Call
Last time I went to the Bahamas, I played mermaid with my friend Charyse and we made this creative underwater video with The Musician. A full-scale sculpture of a mermaid and baby grand piano hidden underwater by David Copperfield just off the coast of Rudder Cut Cay hidden about 12 to 15 feet below the surface.
Read MoreShop my Essentials on Amazon
Ocean child passionate about ocean conservation, imperfectly sustainable ocean advocate. Visit my #amazoninfluencer page where I’ve listed a selection of my favorite beach, travel & diving essentials from sustainable fashion to clean beauty. These are brands, companies and products that I like and use everyday.
Read MoreWhat is a Mid Life Awakening?
I recently met Mike Savas and Charyse Schark while adventuring on Boom Sharkalaka in the Bahamas. Mike started Month in the Making where he set himself on a personal journey and challenged himself to learn 12 unique skills in 12 countries over 12 months!
Read MoreBahamas Adventures - Chasing Coral
Did you know that coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate ?
Coral reefs are the rainforests of the oceans, providing a home for a dazzling array of life. Reef-building corals are the trees that form the foundation of the ecosystem.
Coral reefs play a vital role in sustaining the health of our oceans and our economy.
Even if you live far from coral reefs, you can have an impact on reef health and conservation.
Read MoreFreediving & the Art of Letting Go
I recently started my journey into freediving and so far, it’s been magical. Freediving offers more opportunities to see marine life and it’s a great complement to scuba diving.
I like freediving because it’s the most direct and intimate way to connect with the ocean. Freediving is all about letting go, all the distractions of life are left at the surface.
Read MoreBahamas Adventures - Caribbean Reef Sharks
When I first started diving, I never thought I would ever jump in the water on purpose to swim with sharks. A few year later, here I am observing and diving with sharks in the ocean. I discovered that they are not only fascinating creatures, their symbolism also really resonated with me.
Read MoreBahamas Adventures - Sailing Around the Islands in The Bahamas
These past few months I’ve had the incredible opportunity to go sailing around The Bahamas. We started off in Nassau and set sails towards the Exumas and Ragged Island. I ended up spending a total of 5 weeks on the boat, adventuring and exploring the islands.
Read MoreScuba Diving & The Healing Power of Water
I’ve been a certified diver since I was 14 years old but I was initiated to diving even before that because my dad was a diver. He took my sister snorkelling and made us try SASY (Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youths) when we went on vacation. As soon as I was old enough to dive, I took the classes and got my PADI certification, I just couldn’t wait to be in the water. I mean… how cool is it to be able to breathe underwater for up to an hour?
Read MoreOcean Atlas
The artwork depicts a local Bahamian girl carrying the weight of the ocean above her in reference to the Ancient Greek myth of Atlas, the Titan who held up the heavens.
Read MoreMeet the Sea Women of Jeju
Meet the sea women of Jeju. The haenyeo represent feminine strength and resilience as a self sufficient sisterhood of diving mothers and grandmothers. Haenyeo roughly translates into ‘Women of the Sea,’ and these free divers are treated like heroes by the people of Jeju island. For these women, diving is a way of life.
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