My name is Lauren Coker and my bio is about how I want to become a marine biologist. I’ve been diving over 20 times since I got SSI certified for my 16th birthday. All my drives have been off of the coast of Florida so far, and most of them have been in the keys. In the future I hope to be an oceanographer, and work off the coast of Georgia and save the habitat there. I actually went through a phase where I was terrified of the water, after I almost drowned in the Caribbean in a natural pool. A huge wave held me under and pulled me across the rocks, but I wasn’t afraid for very long. Before I could swim I used to draw pictures of fish and sunken treasure. I learned to swim in Alaska and I don’t plan to thank my parents for that. I also got certified to dive in January in water that was about 30 degrees. Even in the freezing cold I’ve always felt the calmest in the water. I’ve swam with sharks, eels, and poisonous fish, and I loved every second. Nothing would make me happier than to get paid for it. How cool would it be to be paid for something I’d happily pay to do! I’m a total homebody/couch potato. This makes Georgia the perfect place to work because it’s an important breeding ground for turtles as well as wright whales as most of the beaches are too rocky for tourists. Despite my temporary fears caused by crashing against the rocks there is nothing I love more than the water. I hope to make a difference in our unique ecosystem.