Generation Blue: Isabelle Ho’s Ocean Mission  

Isabelle Ho on Diving, Advocacy, and Inspiring Other Youth Divers.

At Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet®, we love seeing young divers turn their passion into purpose—and Isabelle Ho is doing just that. After recently joining us aboard the Humboldt Explorer® in the Galápagos, we were inspired not only by her excitement for the underwater world, but also by the work she’s doing to connect other young people to the ocean through her youth-led Kaia Initiative. With over 200 dives under her belt at just 17 years old, Isabelle is helping to shape the future of marine conservation.  

We caught up with her following her inspiring (and impressive!) presentation at the ADEX show in Singapore to learn more about her journey, her mission, and how diving with us in the Galápagos deepened her commitment to protecting the ocean.  Read about this youth ocean advocate below.

Let’s start with Isabelle Ho’s story:  

EV: Can you tell us a little about yourself?   

 IH: I’m Isabelle Ho, a 17-year-old born and raised in sunny Singapore, and I’m currently studying in high school at Hwa Chong Institution. I started diving when I was 8 years old, and I’m now a PADI Rescue Diver and Manta Trust Ocean Ambassador with over 200 dives. Beyond diving, I’m passionate about linguistics and literature, and I also love singing and skiing!  

EV: What first sparked your passion for the oceans and climate action?  

IH: I fell in love with the ocean at 7 years old, when I snorkeled for the first time, enchanted by the beautiful and diverse life living below the water’s surface. The following year, when I was 8, I had my first encounter with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay. At 10 years old, on one of my first PADI Open Water dives, I had the amazing privilege of having a majestic manta hover above me and my dive group for about 30 minutes, just inches away from our faces!  

That awe-inspiring experience sparked my deep passion for the ocean and made me want to give back to the ocean by supporting and striving to advocate for marine conservation. These beautiful underwater moments made me want to share this incredible ocean realm with other young people and inspire them to make a difference.  

EV: You founded the Kaia Initiative at just 16. What inspired you to take that leap, and what does “Kaia” mean to you personally?  

IH: “Kaia” is derived from the word “sea” in Hawaiian, and our logo is a tribute to that beautiful manta ray I saw when I was 10 years old. After that experience, I kept thinking back to that particular manta, and it was a reminder of how I felt so compelled to give back to the ocean. At 16, I decided to wait no longer, and decided to start a youth community and take action.  

Driven by my love for the sea, I founded Kaia Initiative at the end of 2023 with a group of like-minded friends. Our aim is to inspire & educate today’s youth about scuba diving and marine conservation. We strive to grow a community of like-minded young people to do our part to save the ocean and empower them – harnessing youth voices to make change – and we are completely run by youths aged 18 and under. At Kaia Initiative, we’re youth diving advocates as we believe that in order to love and protect the ocean, one must first see it and understand it.  

Through our various programs, we have:  

• Funded and certified young divers 🤿 through our Kaia Initiative PADI Open Water contest that enabled 4 youths to obtain their PADI Open Water certifications at the S.E.A. Aquarium in Singapore last year.  

• Hosted virtual sharing sessions with leading scientists and researchers around the world 🌎, including National Geographic Explorer Dr. Isla Davidson, GaiaOne, and secured upcoming talks with various experts.  

• Organized intertidal walks and beach cleanups 🐚  

• Conducted corporate talks & educational talks at schools 📚 with hands-on, immersive experiences.  

On Activism & Advocacy:  

EV: The Kaia Initiative focuses on empowering youth to speak up for climate and environmental justice. What’s your message to other young people who want to help but don’t know where to begin?  

IH: Everyone can make a difference and everyone starts somewhere! You don’t need to be an expert or know all the answers to make an impact. I would say that you should find what matters to you most – whether it’s ocean conservation, sustainable fashion, food waste, or recycling – and start doing something (whether it’s big or small). Your voice matters, and we can all do something to save the earth!  

EV: What’s been one of the most rewarding or surprising parts of your advocacy journey so far?  

IH: One of the most rewarding parts of my journey has been seeing other youths’ incredible efforts to be a part of marine conservation initiatives, and witness the impact that we’re making, no matter how big or small. Through our competitions or programs, I’m always full of joy to see the enthusiasm coming from applicants and the amount of time that they put into crafting their submissions. I’ve also been surprised by the support and generosity we’ve received from the wider marine conservation and dive community! It’s been awesome to see how meaningful our work can be, and that we’re all in this together.  

EV: You’ve spoken at global forums like ADEX—how do you manage everything, from activism to school and just being a teenager?  

It’s definitely a balancing act, and I won’t pretend it’s always been smooth sailing. There have been many times where I feel like I’m juggling too much – from my extracurricular commitments, to leading my choir, academics, competitions, and more. But I’ve learned to trust my team, set boundaries, and make time for rest and fun, too, and I’ve been very fortunate to have support from friends and family, as well as my teachers in school. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story – scuba diving and the ocean are a huge part of my life, and it’s who I am!  

On Galapagos & the Humboldt Explorer® Experience:  

EV: You recently joined us aboard the Humboldt Explorer in the Galapagos. What was your favorite thing about the trip? What was your favorite part of being on the Humboldt Explorer?   

IH: My favorite thing about the trip was the spectacular wildlife in the Galapagos, and getting to see animals (in the wild) that I had only seen in books or in documentaries – sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, the different kinds of boobies… The sights of the underwater creatures were also unbelievable to take in, like a huge pod of hundreds of dolphins, hammerheads everywhere, various species of rays, and the “gentle giants”, whale sharks! It was absolutely a dream come true!  

I loved that everyone on the Humboldt Explorer, whether it was the dive guides, guests, or the crew, seemed to be equally in love with the natural environment we were immersed in. It was a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by people who are drawn to the ocean as well, and I felt that lasting bond between other divers who became good friends, and the wonderful crew. The Humboldt crew is amazing too, with the friendly, dedicated, and hardworking staff that elevated our experience above and beyond expectations.  

EV: Was there a moment—underwater or above—that made a lasting impression on you?  

IH: My favorite part of the trip was having a [blue-footed] boobie land right on my head while surfacing from a dive, right in front of Darwin’s Towers! That was simply unexpected and having a close encounter like that really made my trip, and my whole year! This was definitely one of the highlights of my dive journey, despite (surprisingly) not being underwater!  

EV: How did diving in a place as unique as the Galapagos impact your commitment to protecting the ocean?  

IH: Diving in the Galapagos has truly strengthened my commitment to protecting the ocean and its creatures. I’ve previously dived across Asia, from Raja Ampat and Sipadan to Manado, the Maldives, Lombok and the Gili Islands, Thailand and more, and witnessing the wonders of the Galapagos Islands has broadened my view of the world and allowed me to see the landscape and so many new creatures worth protecting. I also had the opportunity to travel and meet people who are extremely dedicated to saving the ocean, and this has inspired me to do more for marine conservation and ultimately share more stories with others.  

Isabelle’s Philosophy & Staying Resilient:  

EV: What drives you on the hard days? Where do you find hope and strength to take action even when things feel overwhelming with the state of the planet/ocean?  

IH: On the hard days, what drives me is the deep love I have for the ocean as well as the cruel destruction and damage to our environment that I’ve witnessed firsthand – like hearing the jarring explosives of fish bombing, seeing plastic floating around, or endangered sea creatures being sold in markets, I remind myself that I have to do something about it. I know that even small actions can ripple outward, and together, we can make waves! I find hope in my community, especially in other young people who refuse to give up. Knowing that I’m not alone in this gives me the strength to keep going, even when it feels overwhelming.  

EV: What would you say to another teen or adult who either dismisses climate change or is apathetic to making a difference.   

IH: To those who dismiss or feel apathetic about climate change, I’d say that doing nothing isn’t an option anymore, and we can’t wait or it will be too late. If everyone has the same mindset that their small actions won’t make a difference, then nothing will get done and our earth will be doomed. But if everyone tries, even a little bit and even if it’s imperfect, we’ll have hope for our future.  

EV: Do you think youth-led movements bring something unique to the climate conversation that’s been missing in past generations?  

IH: Yes! I believe that when youths speak, their parents and family members will listen. Youths have the power to create immense impact in their communities, and at Kaia Initiative, we hope to empower and amplify youth voices in conservation – to create more impact as a collective with the shared goal of saving our oceans. Hearing the voices of young people, adults realise the importance of sustaining our environment and safeguarding it for the future generation.  

   

Looking Forward:  

EV: What’s next for you and the Kaia Initiative? Any upcoming projects or goals you’re excited to share?  

IH: This year, we’re excited to announce that we have launched the Fund A Youth Diver programme! Youths can apply to take the PADI Open Water course for free, and sponsors can select from a group of youth applicants to “adopt” a young diver-to-be. As youth diving advocates, we recognise the financial barrier that prevents many passionate youths from becoming scuba divers and voices for ocean conservation. We want to create more opportunities for youths to explore the underwater world and experience its beauty, and nurture & inspire the next wave of ocean changemakers. By adopting a youth diver, sponsors empower young people to become the next generation of future ocean leaders — allowing them to take a dive into marine conservation.  

EV: If you could share one message with global leaders, what would you want them to hear—from your generation’s point of view? 

IH: If I could share one message with global leaders, it would be to stop underestimating young people, and to allow more youths to have a say in global issues. We’re directly impacted by decisions regarding our climate and the future of our planet, and we’re here today as well as tomorrow. We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past, and create a better earth for everyone, because there is no planet B.  

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  Isabelle’s story is a powerful reminder that no one is too young to make an impact—and that young people bring a unique perspective and energy to the table, something the world needs now more than ever. Her passion, curiosity, and commitment to protecting the ocean are deeply inspiring and help turn hope into momentum and action. At Explorer Ventures Fleet, we’re honored to play a small part in Isabelle’s journey and proud to support efforts that connect and empower the next generation of ocean advocates. It will take all of us, working together, to protect our blue planet—and that’s a future we’re excited to help shape.  

BONUS – Quick Fire Round:  

EV: Favorite marine animal?  

IH: Manta ray!  

EV: Dream dive destination (besides the Galapagos!)?  

IH: Palau and maybe Komodo!  

EV: A book, film, quote or podcast that’s inspired you recently or maybe changed the way you think?  

IH: Name me. A poetic provocation by Ashanti Kunene for the Systemic Investing Summit 2025: the link is here!