Some things in life really do sound too good to be true. For example, what would someone say if I was to tell them that each year, three young divers are granted an all-expenses paid opportunity to travel and scuba dive around the world? During this time, they work with a variety of leaders and pioneers from various underwater-related fields – from marine biologists and tech divers, to photographers and explorers – all to help them figure out and kick start a career in the underwater world? Oh, and they’re suited out from head to toe in top-of-the-range dive gear too. I am sure many a pragmatic diver would chuckle in disbelief. They’d smile politely, and tell me that I’d have a better chance of seeing a whale, a tiger shark, and a manatee circle me in unison during a single safety stop. Non-divers would probably think I’m just straight-up lying – surely such experiences can only be a thing of dreams!
Given that you’ve found your way to this blog, I should imagine many of you reading this are all too aware that this incredible opportunity is far from make-believe. As a matter of fact, it has recently become my reality – I’ve been fortunate enough to be awarded the 2015 European Rolex Scholarship by the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society. In short, I’m in for a pretty unforgettable and life-changing year!
For the newcomers amongst you, let me introduce myself! My name is Danny Copeland, I’m a 23 year old Zoologist from a small, seaside town in North Wales, and I have two great loves in my life. The first is the ocean – as cheesy as it may sound, I cannot get enough of it! Several years ago during a try-dive in Malta, I had a captivating encounter with a cuttlefish, and shortly after I realised that scuba diving and the underwater world would form an integral part of my life. Since then I have filled my years with as many aquatic experiences and training opportunities as possible; from researching manta rays in the Maldives, teaching as an Assistant Scuba Instructor in the UK, to unexpectedly attending the world’s second largest underwater wedding! But over those years, my motivations morphed from simply wanting a career involving scuba diving, to wanting one where I would play a significant role in promoting and ensuring its conservation. But I had no idea how I could make that happen.
Then one day, back in 2011, I was mindlessly perusing Google looking for inspiration on ocean-related stuff, as you do, when I chanced upon a scuba diving blog nestled in a little corner of the internet. The blog was following the adventures of a young Scottish lass named Erin McFadden, and how she was travelling the world, scuba diving and doing incredible things in the underwater realm as part of some crazy scholarship. It sounded far too good to be true. Over the course of a year I eagerly read about Erin’s adventures and the incredible opportunities presented to her, all the while dreaming about what it would be like if I was in her shoes. It didn’t take me long to decide that, no matter how low the chances, one day I would give it a go. When I was old enough, I just had to apply!
Fast forward to April 2015, and a five-year dream has just come true. I’ve won the European Rolex Scholarship and about to embark on a crazy, year-long journey just like Erin and dozens of other scholars before me. In all honesty, I cannot think of the right combination of words to describe how that feels. Incredible, mind-blowing, beyond fantastic, stupendously awesome and something about it not sinking in. You get the picture – it’s been a rollercoaster of feels these last few weeks! What I can tell you is that I cannot wait to share my adventures with you through this blog. Aside from keeping a record of the incredible things I get up to over the next 12 months (I’d love to be able to read back on my experiences in years to come!), I’m sincerely stoked about the idea that maybe there’s another young, eager scuba diver reading this blog somewhere in the world. Maybe they become inspired to one day apply for this coveted scholarship, just like Erin’s blogs inspired me. Maybe one day I’ll get to meet him/her. That’d be truly awesome.
My scholarship began much like those of the scholars before me. Having gone through a gruelling selection process (including the most intense interview imaginable, and what felt like the longest subsequent phone call in history), I quickly found myself on a flight across the pond. I was to spend a long-weekend attending the OWUSS Annual meet-up that is held in the Big Apple. New York City, here I come!
*Queue New York, New York by Frank Sinatra for added effect*
Having never been to the US, I was pretty pumped to see that NYC lived up to everything I imagined it would be. The cars were massive. The buildings monumental. Everyone, everything was in a hurry. It was big, it was loud, and it was proud of it!
After checking into the hotel that was to serve as the weekend’s base camp for all things OWUSS, my roommate, Dean Martin (not the singer, but the Lord of Sales from Apeks / Aqualung), Howard Painter (UK Regional Co-ordinator) and I went straight out for some pizza, where I got to meet up with Team Australasia – namely Jayne Jenkins, Sue Crowe, and my Aussie scholar brother Ben Buchan – and chat about the craziness of what was about to go down.
Indeed, the following days were a blur. A few formal gatherings here, some visits and tours over there, all jam-packed into a couple of days. Safe to say, very little sleep was had! Thursday and Friday consisted of several meetings with various members of the society, including a formal (and slightly scary!) introduction to the Board, as well as Ben and I meeting our third scholarship sibling, Michele Felberg (representing North America). What was especially cool was that the three of us subsequently went off for a quick tour of Rolex USA HQ, where we met some of the wonderful people that help make this scholarship possible. We had a final-fitting session for the Submariner timepieces that were to be gifted to us – the first of several “oh my god is this actually happening?!” moments that would follow over the next few days.
Then came Saturday. A big day. Arguably the biggest day of the weekend, especially for incoming scholars. The morning started off with some serious epicness as the OWUSS crowd flocked to The Explorer’s Club to listen to several presentations from Society members, including end-of-year presentations from Elena, Courtney and Ana, the returning Rolex Scholars. It was awesome to sit there and listen to the incredible year these three ladies had just returned from, each littered with underwater anecdotes that oozed with an excitement that only divers will understand. Simply put, they were inspiring, and gave Ben, Michele and I a taste of what was to come, and the standard we needed to live up to in 12 months’ time. No pressure then!
After rushing back to the hotel, we quickly suited up (well, Ben and I did anyway), and found ourselves on our way to the extra BIG event of the biggest day – the OWUSS Annual Banquet, held at the New York Yacht’s Club. Queue an evening filled with a million more “oh my god is this actually happening?!” moments.
The NYYC is something special. The outer-wall of the building mimics the stern of a 15th century galleon, and after passing through the main doors you quickly realise you’ve arrived in what can best be described as a ‘Waterman’s Cathedral’. Dozens of scale-model yachts and ships line the borders of a grand hall that’s too impressive to describe. It commanded an instant feeling of awe and wonderment, much like the many yachts that the models were based on, a feeling that was further exaggerated when I remembered what was going to happen over the next few hours. We were treated to a stellar three-course meal whilst we watched the premiere of Elena, Ana and Courtney’s End of Year Films (again, another slap of inspiration and pressure to the face, just for good measure…).
Following several speeches, including a moving tribute to honour the late Dr. Lee Somers (one of the Society’s Founders), the moment that had been terrifying me the entire weekend had arrived. Michele, Ben and I were brought up on stage, and one by one were given a brief moment to formally introduce ourselves to the entire society. I’ve always found public speaking a bit nerve-wracking – I know few people that would say otherwise. But standing up on a stage and speaking in a hall filled with over a hundred people of immense knowledge, experience and authority, whilst you try your best to not look or sound like the biggest Muppet to grace Sesame Street, is something that sits on another scale. That minute felt like a winter that would never end.
Thankfully all went well, I didn’t fluff up (at least not too badly!) and before I knew it the three of us were officially awarded our Rolex Submariners and scholarship flags. And yes, you guessed it, that was a pretty major “O.M.G.I.T.R.H?!” moment! The weekend wrapped up with a bagel-filled Sunday-morning brunch at Mike Emmerman’s house in Manhattan (President of the OWUSS), before everyone slowly but surely dispersed to the airport to return to all corners of the world.
The OWUSS Annual weekend was exhausting and an emotional rollercoaster, but in all the right ways. Aside from everything that went on, it was incredible to meet all the names and faces that make up this prestigious scholarship family, and even more amazing to be welcomed into it with such open arms. Even now, it’s still sinking in (a phrase I will now adopt as my motto for the coming year). Having dreamt of this scholarship for several years, I never thought the day would actually come where I would be inaugurated as the European Rolex Scholar. It always felt like just that – a dream – and one that I was beginning to think would never come true. Yet here I am. I cannot thank everyone in this Society enough for making that dream come true. Here’s to the start of adventure I never thought I’d embark on – and I hope your join me for the ride!
Oh, and for anyone else still wondering…the second great love of my life is custard. Yes, that gloopy, gelatinous yellow dessert. I can’t get enough of it! 😉
