I have worked below offshore oil platforms in California and the Gulf of Mexico, repaired valves and infrastructure while staring at the faces of immense structures like the Hoover Dam in Nevada. I have inspected brick-lined tunnels during deep mixed-gas penetration dives, supported public agencies during the aftermath of spectacular disasters such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and the Northridge earthquake in California. I have shared the ice of the Beaufort Sea with a polar bear, come face to face with sea snakes and stonefish in Okinawa, Japan, and tickled sea lions and swam amongst canons from long-passed sea battles off the coast of Spain. In El Salvador I assisted with the construction of pipelines, while marveling at the beauty of this rugged country and its colorful citizens. I have been humbled by the poverty experienced in India, and by the creativity of artisans in Bali. Most recently, I have swum with sharks in the Caribbean Sea and attended meetings with them on the streets of New York City.