What is your favorite place in the South Pacific?

I would have to say the Great Barrier Reef. It's one of the most beautiful places I have dived in and I did my Open Water license there. The variety of marine life is extensive and there are so many boat options to get to the reef that you can find the perfect one for you. However, Australia has a lot of amazing, unique natural places such as Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), the 12 Apostles along the Great Ocean Road and the many beautiful beaches along the coast of New South Wales. Of course the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge are a must-see as well!

Tell us about a special discovery that you’ve made in the South Pacific.

Hang gliding in Cairns was an amazing activity I didn’t even realize existed there. I did a tandem glide from Rex Lookout which is along the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas, and once you're high enough you can see as far as Port Douglas with a real eagle-eye view of the rainforest. The total glide was about 25 minutes and it ended on Ellis Beach, so keep an eye out for marine life in the water like turtles and dolphins.

What is your best travel memory in the South Pacific?

Visiting Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia was a very special moment for me. It's a very spiritual place and you learn a lot about the Aboriginal culture through their drawings and by walking around the rock. We watched the sun both rise and set over it, and the colors were just spectacular. The perfect end to the experience was camping out close to the rock in a swag (small, single-person tent) under the stars!