Surface Time with Stephanie Stephanie Luo

Recently, I went diving in Coron, Philippines. This place is famous for wreck diving where you get to explore some Japanese ships that were sunk by US Task Force during World War II in 1944.
We dived with Pirate Divers for a week. I think on the second or third day after we finished diving for the day and on the way back to the resort, the lady crew members of Pirate Divers – Michiko and Sherrie - were making some concoction that is made mostly with Tanduay, Filipino national pride rum.
Our DM Flora Camiros told me that they are making jungle juice. Then handed me a cup to try.
After a few more rounds of jungle juice, I told them about Surface Time and asked if they would take part in Women who Scuba series. So after we wrapped up our last dive, we went to Black Island for BBQ…and this time some Jungle Juice made with Filipino Gin.
This was an impromptu recording with Flora Camiros, Michiko Fusato and Sherrie Garcia from Pirate Divers on the beach of Black Island. By impromptu, all I had was my iPhone and the Voice Memo app and hope that the software will edit out some background noise.
I love that they were spontaneous and generous in sharing their stories. We definitely have 3 intelligent women. Each holds a deep well of inner strength, resilience and big heart. Driven by their own passion. They are distinctively different from each other; yet we can find them relatable. And it further validates the beauty of having scuba diving as the common language.
Speaking of spontaneity, have you ever acted on an impulse? What did you do when you were last being spontaneous? What did you gain or lose for being spontaneous?
Connect with Pirate Divers
W: https://piratediverscoron.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/piratediversbusuanga/
IG: @pirate.divers.busuanga
E: info@piratediverscoron.com
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Carrie Miller, Storyteller, Author, Traveller. You may recognise her name from the previous episode with her and her husband, Chris Taylor, sharing their stories behind the book, A Diver’s Guide to the World. By the way, I was particularly delighted to find  my birth country, Taiwan with Kenting National Park as one of the 50 destinations in the book.
Anyhoo, so Carrie is back and be part of the Women Who Scuba series. This time we chatted more on her journey of becoming a writer for National Geographic, her experiences of solo travelling and how those life experiences have shaped her as a person and as a woman.
She certainly is the living expression of “tenacity”. Being is a gifted storyteller, she generously shared her stories and stories of people, places and culture that she encountered.
In essence, stories are expressions of different life experiences. So through her words, we get to experience these vicariously. Also we may resonate with the stories and even identify the similarities and differences when comparing to our own. In that process, this is when inspiration, imagination and new perspective happen. And often we would refine our life narrative as a result.
So, think of a time when something happened – whether it’s reading a quote from a book, a movie or an incident, anything – but this something may be small and yet so significant that it changed your perception about life. What is your story there? What details would you like to share with your audience? And why is that?
Connect with Carrie Miller
W: https://beneaththesurface.media/
IG: @beneaththesurfacemedia | @carrimiller_writer
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Hester was the person who got me off my procrastinating mode and started to produce Surface Time. When we did the recording, she has been on the “mummy’s break” from scuba diving for some time. I am sure that all mums who happen to be scuba divers can relate.
One thing that really rings true to me from our chat is the Big Picture. Always take a step or more steps back and look at the greater version of the picture.
Her trip to Tonga and swim with Humpback Whale while being 6 months pregnant was originally intended as a “baby moon”. However, her narrative changes when she was floating in the water resonating with Humpback singing. It turns out to be the first big adventure of the family together. Her attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro became the life changing experience. The takeaway was that when you focus so much on the end-goal and become obsessed with not achieving that end-goal, you are actually depriving yourself from appreciating and enjoying what life is in the present moment.
Here is a little tip that you could try, especially, when you are dealing with any challenges…What would you say in completing this sentence: I don’t like the circumstance that I am in right now. However, if this difficulty did not happen, I would not have….
Connect with Hester Ross
IG: https://www.instagram.com/amasianheroines/
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Kate expresses her creativity through many media, including paintings and upcycling. Water is an element that plays a huge part in her life and how she shapes her own autobiography. I love what she said: we can all be a piece of art ourselves.
Speaking as a woman, when a woman knows herself well and is comfortable in her own skin, she can express her thoughts and visions more effectively. This applies to men as well. The journey of getting to know yourself is part of your life experiences. In that process, as you encounter various people, they can help you to refine your narratives. In Kate’s case, she uses her art and love for fashion as her medium to communicate who she is.
What represents your own self-expression?
Connect with Kate Padget-Koh
W: https://www.katepadgetkoh.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/katepadgetkoh/
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Katherine’s passion for photography fuels her, whether it is for underwater, wildlife or otherwise. Let’s listen to her recounting the incredible experience of diving in Anilao, Philippine when Taal Volcano erupted and the spectacular black water dives when she captured the award-winning photo.
When listening to the length that she would go to fine-tune her photography skills and her work, I could feel the joy of being immersed in what she feels passionate for. It reminds me of this quote:
Doing what you want is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness. 
So what fuels your curiosity? What drives your passion?
Connect with Katherine Lu
W: https://katherineluphotography.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/katherineluphotography/
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E: faith@surfacetimechats.com

Since money and investment are the two words naturally connected to her profession as a private banker, it is inevitable that we chatted at length about them.
The word “investment” tends to be given a meaning limited monetary terms. When we talk about returns of investment, it tends to be the penny-for-penny calculation on the growth.
If we take a step back and look at a bigger picture, it is important to take into account of the “impact” that the original capital has created.
Say, you are the CEO of the company. When you decide to spend money and time to enhance your physical health and mental wellbeing, you would be able to lead your company more effectively. This is because you have the physical and mental capacity to be present and, therefore, make the sound decisions all the time.
It is fair to make the bold statement that the best investment you can make is on yourself. What have you been investing in yourself lately? What will you invest in yourself next?
Connect with Bei Zhou
W: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beizhou/
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