The Diva of the Deep Sea
Did you know that only 5% of the ocean has been explored by humans? Since the oceans account for 71% of the Earth’s surface, that means that 66% of the space that exists on our planet has gone undiscovered. It is this staggering fact which sparked a desire in Diva Amon to pursue marine biology.
“The deep sea has a real PR problem. Not many people know about it. Not many people interact with it. Not many people care about it. Yet already unprecedented changes are happening, and that’s only set to increase in the future…” - Diva told Carribean Collective Magazine
Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Diva Amon knows the ocean inside and out (well, as much as she can at least). Having grown up reveling in everything the beautiful Trinidadian landscape has to offer, Diva now studies the intersection of research, policy and communications as it pertains to our oceans. As a deeply curious young girl, Diva says she had many questions, but very few answers were available. Now, she’s on a mission to find the answers herself. She is an active advocate for marine life, both known and unknown. Her deepest dive to date was 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) below the surface in the Cayman Trench, and it is in these depths where her passion and curiosity ultimately lie, even discovering new species!
“There is lots of colour, even in the darkest parts of the planet”
Diva is the co-founder of SpeSeas, a non-profit NGO that supports marine research in the Caribbean across multiple educational initiatives. She is paving the way for young women, especially those of Carribbean descent, to access and pursue the careers in science. As an additional fun fact, Diva isn’t the only female scientist in her family. Her sister, Dr. Alexandra Amon, is a cosmologist, funnily enough. One studies all the way up, the other studies all the way down! Talk about remarkable women.
At home, you can catch Diva alongside actor Will Smith on the small screen in National Geographic’s TV series Welcome to Earth, streaming on Disney+. For the real thing, you can catch a rare glimpse of Diva on shore at Arts Commons on May 7 & 8 with From Shallows to Seafloor.
