Local waterman and passionate East Gippslander, Andrew Dooley, has dreamed of a way to share the heart of his favoured little pocket of eastern Victoria, the outcrop called Cape Conran.

And he’s found it.

KELP Magazine is his brainchild and an extension of spirit for the environment that he cherishes and calls home.

It was with pure excitement that the budding candidates joined me early on a sunny November Thursday morning at Queenscliff harbour, for what could be the first ever Freediving Instructor course held in Victoria.

Seconds ago, you surprised yourself with the level of calm, poise and fascination that you held whilst immersed 10-metres deep on one single breath, staring contentedly out of your mask and straight into the curious eye of a 2.5m long Grey Nurse Shark suspended there like a torpedo, very much within your arms reach.