Interview with Freediver Lauren Landers
In an interview with freediver and captain Lauren Landers, she expresses her love for the ocean and desire to teach younger generations to protect the ocean and experience its beauty.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself
I grew up in Missouri with no ocean around, but every summer my grandfather took our whole family to the Bahamas for 1-3 weeks and we explored the islands by boat. This is where I fell in love with the ocean. I never knew exactly what I wanted to do; in middle school my mom said something along the lines of "if I went back to college, I would probably study marine biology". That put a bug in my ear, and I started looking at colleges with good marine biology programs. I fell in love with it, studying it in high school as much as possible. I attended Nova Southeastern University and graduated within 3 years; becoming a freediver and 100T captain during it. I still had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I loved the ocean and I love teaching others about it. I recently bought my own boat after spending a year in the Bahamas on friends' boats and will be offering charters and having as many people aboard as possible to experience the ocean!
What inspires you to dive?
There are so many things... My parents got us SCUBA certified at a young age and I just loved being underwater, but I remember seeing freediving pictures on Instagram when it started, and I was fascinated. I love the tranquility and beauty of being underwater and observing the marine life, but it has also become my safe haven and happy place. My mind goes quiet and it has also helped strengthen my mental health as well.
Do you have a favourite diving spot?
As of now, anywhere in the Bahamas! The water is crystal clear and there is so much marine life. But I'm about to sail the world...who knows if it will change!
What is your favourite aquatic animal, and why?
I have so many, but a tiger shark is my all-time favorite. I have spent so much time in the water with so many species of sharks, but I have only seen a tiger from above water (one of the downsides to being a captain sometimes haha). I love how interactive they are and keep you on your toes at the same time.
What has been one of the most precious moments you have experienced while diving?
A few years ago my parents, grandfather, and I were exploring some coral reefs that were new to us. We were heading back, cruising around and we saw dolphins. It is legal to swim with the dolphins in the Bahamas, and my mom and I rolled in. These dolphins were so interactive and we were on cloud 9. They would swim up to us, twisting and turning. I have never experienced anything like it!
Have you noticed any changes in the ocean since you first started freediving?
Every year we see more coral that has died, or less/smaller fish. One thing that has been prominent in the last year is the difference in seasons. The weather has been so different and it has definitely affected the migrations of many species.
What do you feel is the biggest threat that the ocean faces today?
The biggest threat is a lack of education and people generally caring about the health of the ocean in its entirety. I do not believe there is just one issue, as one of my professors told us in college "there is never just one thing". My largest passion is education, to the younger generation especially. If we can teach and instill just an understanding of the ocean, people generally start caring and want to protect it in whatever way is possible for them. Without education and knowledge, people can't change. You can't change something you don't know about. My hope is that we can teach the younger generation about the ocean and they can pass their knowledge down to future generations and help save the ocean.
What’s next for you?
I will be sailing the world for the unforseeable future! I will be doing charters, but my main focus is to just have amazing, like-minded people onboard to share the experience with!! While going around the world, I want to educate children in each country. God placed this in my heart a few years ago and it has been on my heart since. That is my main goal while travelling, just to open the eyes of so many children and let them experience something so beautiful and unique.