The ocean provides more than half of the oxygen in our atmosphere, contains 80% of the planet’s biodiversity, and if it were an economy it would be the eighth largest in the world! If you have spent any time in this massive expanse of blue, you’ll know the power and magic that lies within it.  Today’s guest is on a mission to make sure that you get that opportunity. Scientist, divemaster, marine biologist, virtual reality filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer, Erika Woolsey is the founder of non-profit organization, The Hydrous. The Hydrous uses virtual reality technology to recreate ocean experiences and inspire the next generation of ocean explorers, who will play a vital role in protecting our ocean,  our planet and our species. Join us as we take a dive into the depths of the magnificent and still largely undiscovered underwater world. Key Points From This Episode: ●  Sobering learnings that Erika had during the 7 years she spent studying the Great Barrier Reef. ●  Goals that Erika hopes to achieve through her non-profit, The Hydrous. ●  Physiological changes that occur within us when we are underwater. ●  The power of the ocean in shaping our planet and our lives. ●  A brief explanation of each of the seven ocean literacy principles.  ●  How little we know about the ocean that sustains us. ●  Human activities that are severely harming coral reefs. ●  Decade of Ocean Empathy; a partnership between The Hydrous and the United Nations.  ●  An explanation of Erika’s film project, Immerse.  ●  Erika’s experience at National Geographic’s Virtual Reality Theatre.  ●  Explore; one of Erika’s recent ventures. ●  The augmented reality project that Erika has brought to life through a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institute and Adobe. ●  Examples of how virtual/augmented reality ocean immersions can change people’s lives.  Tweetables: “If the ocean were an economy, it would be the eighth largest economy in the world. Unfortunately, it’s also very much out of sight, out of mind, as well as under-protected and overexploited.” — @ErikaWoolseyPhD  [0:12:07] “That sense of exploration and pushing limits; that can be done on this planet. You don’t have to go into outer space to make incredible discoveries.” — @ErikaWoolseyPhD [0:19:07] “Not only do corals have climate change to worry about, they are also severely impacted by the effects of overfishing and marine pollution and habitat destruction . . . it’s important to, while we combat climate change, also look at marine protection.” — @ErikaWoolseyPhD  [0:22:54] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Erika Woolsey and The Hydrous Immerse Explore The Decade of Ocean Empathy Coral Collection 21st Century Mermaids Podcast on Instagram and Apple Podcasts Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols Virtual Human Interaction Lab United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development