Beatrice Rivoira, a marine biologist and avid scuba diver, was born in Turin but has spent a lot of time at the seaside since she was a child.
He lives mainly between Piedmont and Liguria, all seasoned with frequent trips abroad for reasons related to the diving and research fields.
Scuba diving started as a hobby, but it was clear almost immediately that it wasn't going to stay that way!
I've seized every opportunity I can to learn and expand my experience, and now, 17 years after my official start, I teach recreational and technical courses, both in OC and CCR. I also promote environmental protection, working with both schools (children are, after all, our future) and dive clubs. In the meantime, of course, I try to dive in every body of water I can find: seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, dams... there's always something to learn and discover.
Although you're still young, you already have an enviable diving resume. When and how did you get started?
To be honest, I started quite early. My dad was diving before there were any certifications or rules, and my brother started at 17. By then, I was 14, and when they went diving, I started following them and waiting for them with my mask on the surface. Every time they stopped for their final safety stop, I'd dive down to them, and my dad would have me breathe through my second regulator. From then on, I never stopped. You could say it was love at first breath!
You're a prime example of a young person who's made it big, in a world that, unfortunately, has more seniors than juniors. What's your explanation for this phenomenon, and what advice would you give to a young person who wants to pursue a career similar to yours?
Unfortunately, it's true that the average age of divers in our country is quite high, and for a variety of reasons. Personally, I don't think I've rushed ahead, but simply started to consider it much more than just a sport since my early years in high school. I began working at diving centers during the summers, where I really gained experience, and with the local club during the winters. My scientific studies at university allowed me to delve deeper into physiology and, of course, biology; my personal passion did the rest. I was also fortunate to meet some special people who believed in me and helped me greatly in continuing my professional development. Finally, I haven't limited myself to the Italian context and have always sought out connections abroad to learn from different backgrounds. Ultimately, I'd say I've dedicated myself to the study and practice of diving in all its forms. Always with great curiosity, humility, and commitment. I think this would be the main advice I'd give, along with not limiting myself to our Italian reality, which, while rich, is certainly not the only one.
How do you reconcile technical diving with biology? Let me explain: as a biologist and enthusiast, I sometimes get lost in observing biological phenomena, and I forget to monitor my time and fuel consumption... technical diving requires constant monitoring. If during a really deep dive you were to encounter a completely new species, how would you react? Does the technician or the biologist prevail in these cases?
Personally, the choice was quite easy for me because, unlike many others, I made the opposite decision. For many biologists, a scuba diving course is a byproduct of their studies. I, however, chose marine biology for the scuba diving experience, to understand what I was seeing and how the environment I was in functioned.
When diving, I can't ignore the biological aspects; it's a magnificent world, and I believe every diver should dedicate time to this kind of study. But my safety, and that of others, always comes first in the water. Caves, wrecks, walls... they're not going anywhere! I can always come back another time. And when it comes to organisms... what's better than the thrill of research and discovery? If I have to abort a dive, there'll simply be a second round.
So I have no doubt, a good combination will allow you to get the most out of your dives but, in the end, the "technical" must prevail in terms of safety.
You must have seen all sorts of things underwater: tell us something, a strange, particular experience that thrilled you.
Oh, there are so many experiences I'd like to tell you about... but among the ones I'm most fond of, there's one that happened to me a few months ago.
I was in Scotland, specifically in Scapa Flow, diving the wrecks in the bay. The first week, we were diving the wreck of the SMS Cöln and were all divided into separate pairs.
That day, almost all the couples headed toward the stern of the wreck, while my buddy and I decided to head toward the bow. Visibility wasn't bad, and soon we saw a school of fish suddenly opening up and a cormorant swimming around fishing (about 25 meters deep). Shortly afterward, the school began to open up again, and a large, dark shape emerged from inside the wreck, swimming at full speed. It was a seal. Needless to say, keeping track of it was virtually impossible, and even with an action camera, we couldn't capture it.
Ever more determined to get some close-up shots, both that week and the following, we approached a nearby seal colony. The first week we didn't find many, but I assure you, it was always a magnificent encounter. The second week, however, I think I'll remember very well and for a long time.
The colony was definitely larger, and to avoid disturbing them, I stayed just below the surface after getting a little closer. Obviously, I tried to stay as still as possible and wait, with the action camera hidden beneath the surface. If you have the right amount of patience, after a while, they'll come closer. So, at a certain point... a curious baby approached the fins of one of the other guys I was with, then turned and began swimming toward me. He came within two inches of my face, breathing loudly and with two big, black, glittering eyes scanning all around. His little head was just above the surface and he began to peer above and below the surface. Needless to say, I was barely breathing to stay still! After what seemed like an eternity, he decided he'd had enough and swam away with a simple flick of his tail. He continued to circle me for a few minutes, but the close face-to-face encounter was a wonderful feeling.
You've written an interesting book on marine biology and translated other works. Are you working on anything new?
Well, yes, I admit it. This year we released the second volume of a trilogy about scuba diving written by Simon Pridmore, and we're obviously working on translating the last one.
But there's also the possibility of contributing to another English-language volume, packed with underwater anecdotes from professionals around the world and beyond. We're now in the final stages of proofreading. I'll keep you posted.
What's your favorite dive?
This is a difficult question because, obviously, there isn't just one, and it might be obvious to say "the dive from which you return without any problems," even if that's true. Overall, though, I'd say one of my favorites is Little River, a cave in Florida. It doesn't have anything special about its profile or morphology, but I'm attached to it, and it's a very personal dive.
This is a cave whose entrance is just below the surface and is often characterized by a strong outflowing current. The first section takes place at a depth of around 10-15 m and gradually descends to around 20 m, until reaching a sort of narrow bend, which they call "the chimney," which leads deeper to around 30-33 m. At this point, the cave begins to branch out and offer various routes with truly magnificent passages and rock formations.
In Italy, however, I'm very fond of nature diving on Elba Island, especially in the area of Capo Calvo, Punta dei Ripalti, Remaiolo... or the Scoglietto di Portoferraio, which is always magnificent! In all my years, I've never returned disappointed from one of these.
How do you see the future of scuba diving?
I believe we're currently at an important juncture where we need to decide what to prioritize. The growth of this activity in the 90s and the impact technical diving has had on the market are clear to everyone. Both factors have had both positive and negative effects on its quality and development. Personally, I believe we should take a step back, focus less on diffusion, and place more emphasis on the quality of what already exists. The average age of divers in our country is high, and there's not much generational turnover. I believe that, on the one hand, we're sorely lacking the figure of a mentor (not an instructor), and on the other, the patience and willingness to invest so much time and energy in a journey that's anything but simple or short. We live in a society of "everything now" and "everything for everyone," but personally, I don't believe this approach to diving is correct—quite the opposite.
Today, as it did many years ago, this race for records and visibility of all kinds has begun, and modern technology is making it much faster and, at times, dangerous. I therefore hope that the ease with which so much equipment and knowledge is now available doesn't compromise the safety and seriousness this discipline deserves.
On the other hand, however, there are many young people who have the potential and desire to play a role in this magnificent activity, and I hope that many "veterans" in the field will decide to give them space and, above all, that they will have the desire to guide them in the right way.
As in many disciplines, you need patience, humility, curiosity and a lot of training because, in the end,
Unfortunately, physiology and the sea of our personal passion don't matter much!
Facebook and scuba diving: what do you think?
I think this is a rather explosive mix. Indeed, while we have a tool with enormous potential, there's no control over it. Social media allows anyone to reach an unimaginable number of people, with any kind of message (right or wrong). The ability to share photos, videos, and texts with a simple click has obviously sparked a kind of "competition" that's now difficult to stop. Every day, lengthy discussions arise on the most diverse topics, and countless others on the same old ones. Unfortunately, even discussions that would be worth pursuing are penalized by the often "barroom" use of social media.
So, while on the one hand, they're incredibly useful tools that almost everyone uses now, including me, on the other, all of this makes me lean toward different venues and means for disseminating and discussing certain topics. Even if, unfortunately, or fortunately, the number of people able to participate will be smaller.
Not for everyone, but for many “diving” discussions that arise on social media, I continue to believe that the best answer is often the one written on a sticker they gave me on my first trip to Florida: Dive More, Post Less.
