By Sofia Pluciennik
Growing Up with the Ocean
I grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, and my grandfather was a sailboat captain. Sailing was the best part of my childhood.
“Every single one of my happiest memories was in the ocean, and I’ve always been super drawn to it.”
There was always this mini scientist in me. I was obsessed with how little we know about the ocean. I would ask questions, and most of the time, the answer was, “We don’t really know.” That made me even more curious.As I got older, I started learning about climate change and extinction. It terrified me that we could lose so many species without even knowing they existed. But in São Paulo, the idea of working with the ocean didn’t feel real. There are not many opportunities to study and work with marine biology or to become a professional guide or a diver there. So, I never really considered it.
Life After School
After high school, I tried medicine, then biomedicine, then social science. Nothing felt right. I temporarily gave up on uni and went travelling. I ended up in the Caribbean and lived on a sailboat for four months, island hopping.
That trip changed everything. I met the most inspiring people of my life. Dive instructors, sailors, marine biologists, ecologists, and oceanographers. I went to lectures on the islands. That’s when I realised this was a real possibility. I could do this as a career.
When I got back home, to São Paulo, I knew what I had to do. I wanted to be somewhere I could live that life. I felt this huge need to give back to the ocean.
Starting Over in Australia
I started researching the best places to study and found a program in Australia. I applied, got in, and moved here. Like most people, I initially worked in hospitality to get by.
Then I saw a Facebook ad for a guide with Whale Tales. I thought, wow, that would be super cool. But I also thought I had no chance. I wasn’t a whale expert. I’d never been a guide before. But I emailed them anyway and said, “I might not be the most experienced, but I’m probably the most passionate person you can get.”
Rob and Katie invited me for an interview, and we got along super well. As soon as they said yes, I went to the library that same day and borrowed five books. I wanted to learn everything I could about whales.
Now, after many hours on the water and in the library, I’m completely obsessed. Going to work is the best part of my day.
“If I don’t go for a few days because of bad weather, I start dreaming about whales.”
Studying Marine Science
I’m in my second year at the University of Sydney, doing a Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation through the Taronga Program. It’s a partnership with Taronga Zoo, and I’m also majoring in marine science. There isn’t a lot of fieldwork yet, but that will come in the later years. We’ll even get to dive at the Great Barrier Reef.
This is my second season working with Whale Tales. During that first season, I was a little uncertain. I wouldn’t say it was imposter syndrome, but I was still figuring things out. Now I feel much more confident in my knowledge and ability. I know how to structure my talks and what facts I want to share.
“I’m always learning. Every day, there’s new research, new sightings, and new stories to bring to the tours.”
One of my favourite things is watching how people react whilst on the boat. Sometimes I don’t even want to look at the whale breaching. I want to look at people’s faces. I feel that way every time. You don’t get used to it.
What Whales Have Taught Me
Whales have taught me a lot. They help break the human superiority complex. They’re smart, social, and cultural. They sing. They care for each other. People don’t realise, and when they hear this, they’re amazed.
But the biggest lesson is resilience. When whaling ended in Australia, there were maybe 100 whales left. Now there are around 40,000. All we did was stop whaling. That gives me hope. We can turn things around, even when it feels like we can’t.
What Comes Next
I miss my family. Sometimes it’s really hard. But I couldn’t do anything else. This is me. I come from a family of activists. My grandma fought the dictatorship in Brazil and was arrested while pregnant with my mum.
I believe in people. I believe in education. I believe in nature. If you take care of nature, nature takes care of you.
“If I can impact one single kid… help create this connection… help people feel connected to the earth, to the oceans, that’s so rewarding.”
In December and January, I’ll spend two months in Patagonia with Rewilding Argentina. It’s a volunteer program focused on marine conservation including lots of work with whales too.
Being a whale watching guide made a big difference in the selection process.
I never thought I’d become a whale expert, but here I am. Maybe I’ll fall in love with penguins next.
“As long as I’m doing work in conservation, I’ll be happy… I think that’s my main role on this planet, to spread hope.”
