Scientific diving combines the magic of being underwater with the challenge of collecting meaningful ecological data. From learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef to coral surveys in the Philippines and fieldwork for my Honours project in Sydney, diving has become central to my journey as a marine scientist. It can be exhausting, highly regulated and paperwork-heavy, but few things compare with gathering the data that ultimately drive ecological research and conservation.

Our new research shows that “forever chemicals” (PFAS) have reached every corner of the ocean, contaminating a far wider range of whales and dolphins than expected, even deep-diving species far from human activity. Surprisingly, habitat had little influence on exposure while age and sex mattered more. These findings reveal PFAS are deeply embedded in marine food webs, raising urgent concerns for ocean health and the species that depend on it, including us.