Bianca | Conservationist | Underwater Photographer & Videographer | Costa Rica
Bianca was born in Chicago, now living in Costa Rica for 12 years, and is passionate about sharing her love for nature.
As a travel and underwater photographer, she is always on the lookout for the most beautiful hidden gems in the country and is happy to share this knowledge with the world and her guests that indulge in eco-home and ‘van life’ with Roam to be Wild adventure trips.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
I remember loving animals so much. Growing up in the city of Chicago (suburbs) I remember having a deck of animal cards, including the endangered and extinct, and I remember sitting in my closet and laying them all out and wanting desperately to be able to help. That memory always stuck with me for some reason.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
While focusing on environmental sociology as my major in Chicago, I decided to spend a semester studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. There I was reminded of just how much I love nature and animals.
After returning I decided to apply for an MSc in Conservation, Biodiversity, and Management at Oxford University. With a stroke of luck I ended up volunteering with sea turtles in Costa Rica the summer before I went to England to study.
After exploring Costa Rica for a month, I knew that it had to be one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and chose to move there after my MSc.
To be honest, I hadn't done much with my degree since, but I have lived a life completely connected to nature and especially the ocean. I studied and built two sustainable eco homes made with natural materials and planted over 60 fruit trees.
As a surfer, I know I thrive mentally and physically near the ocean.
In 2021, I took a Free-diving Level 1 course, and only this year did I invest in a water-housing and a new camera and start underwater film and photography. Interestingly enough, although I loved studying conversation, only this year did I realise what I am really drawn to, and that’s visual storytelling. Although it discouraged me that I figured this out 12 years later, I decided it is never too late to start to follow your dreams. And here I am!
Who/what currently inspires you?
The ocean inspires me. It does not cease to amaze me. To be honest nature as a whole is inspiring to me. How connected and synchronised everything is, and how small we are in comparison, yet we are the greatest force of destruction.
What current projects/stories are you working on?
2022 has been about learning how to navigate the camera underwater and also practising the art of free-diving. However, I am looking into a project/story that will guide my travels next year. In May 2023, I plan on travelling for another 6 months to remote places that are rich in marine diversity (Ningaloo, Raja Ampat, etc). and hope that between now and then, I can hone in on a particular story I can tell along the way.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
I believe industrialised fishing needs to stop. I believe in sustainable fishing practices as a form of sustenance for local communities.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
The Docu-series Tales by Light. Thanks to the episode Paradise in Peril, I have discovered a world deep in my heart.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
It is never too late to find your purpose and to always fight the good fight.
Do not let fear (of the unknown, of failure, of difficulty) get in the way of you following your dreams. Once you make your dream a priority, you will see your doubts fade away and courage build. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
INSTAGRAM: @roamtobewild
