Giulia never imagined that a single scuba dive would completely transform her life.
What began as an attempt to confront one of her greatest fears became the start of an extraordinary journey. One that led her to discover not only the beauty of the underwater world but also a new purpose and a career built around sharing that experience with others.
In this Seashell Spirit interview, we speak with Giulia Stumpo, a scuba diving instructor currently based on the remote island of Pulau Weh, Indonesia, about her life-changing journey.
What first drew you to the underwater world?
Fear. I know that sounds contradictory, but I’ve always been afraid of the deep blue, of deep water, and of the idea of breathing underwater. It was something I was absolutely convinced I would never do. A few years ago, I was in Thailand, where I met someone who later became my diving instructor (and someone I’ve never really left since!). He tried to encourage me to dive, but without much success.
A year later, I returned to the same island. That place gave me much more than beautiful memories—it gave me a completely new perspective on life. It was a time of huge personal change. I started letting go of many beliefs and limitations I’d carried with me for years. One day, I found myself reading a book about fear. It described fear as such an irrational emotion, yet one we give so much power. It quietly settles into our minds until it stops us from experiencing things we’ve never even known… like the ocean, in my case. Maybe it was simply the right words at the right moment. Or maybe it was always meant to happen that way. I decided to try scuba diving for the very first time.
I genuinely believed it would be the hardest and most uncomfortable hour of my life, but at least I would be able to say I’d faced my fear. What I never imagined—not even for a second—was that it would completely change my life. By letting go of fear, I gave life the chance to surprise me. And it gave me one of the most beautiful, intense, and genuine emotions I’ve ever experienced.
That very first breath underwater will always remain one of the most precious memories of my life, and without a doubt, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. When I surfaced, I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen. There was an entire world beneath the surface—a world so rich, so colourful, so peaceful, so full of life and endless things to discover—and until that day, I hadn’t even known it existed. From that moment on, I completely changed my life. I decided I wanted to build my life around that feeling.
And here I am today. Now, the ocean is my home.
What's your favourite part of introducing someone to scuba diving?
One of the things I love most is seeing that same amazement, determination, and wonder in the eyes of people experiencing scuba diving for the first time. Knowing that you might be part of an experience that changes someone’s life forever is incredibly special.
Being able to support someone as they realize they, too, can overcome their fears—because on the other side, life is truly beautiful.
And then there are the friendships. The kind that become incredibly genuine because diving teaches you something very unique: how to trust others, and how to let others trust you.
Which destination has offered your most unforgettable underwater experience?
Without a doubt, Thailand. More specifically, Koh Lipe. Very few dives have gone by without me discovering something new. Healthy coral reefs bursting with colour—every shade of pink, purple, red, yellow, blue and green. An incredible amount of macro life. A reef full of biodiversity, always full of surprises.
(And yes… I was lucky enough to see a whale shark twice! A very rare and unforgettable experience.)
What's one lesson diving has taught you about life?
The greatest lesson the ocean has taught me is that every single day holds something new to learn. The ocean is the greatest teacher. It teaches patience. It teaches curiosity. It teaches humility. It teaches respect. It teaches us to slow down and simply observe. There is so much we can learn from it, and I’m grateful that every day underwater teaches me something new—not only about the ocean, but about myself.
Where have you still to tick off your bucket list?
My diving bucket list is way too long! My biggest dream is simply to explore the world—both above and below the surface. But if I had to choose my current top five destinations, they’d definitely be:
• Indonesia
• French Polynesia
• Japan
• The Galápagos Islands
• And more of the incredible atolls of the Maldives.
Thanks for sharing your Seashell Spirit with us, Giulia! To join Giulia underwater, find her on Instagram here.
