Julia Baumgartner: Writer, Producer, Free Diving Instructor

What makes you an “Underwater Lunatic”?

Honestly, there are so many reasons why I consider myself an Underwater Lunatic, and I could probably write a whole Ph.D. on it. But really, it all comes down to the fact that the ocean, ironically, has saved me from drowning on land. Being underwater gave me back my breath when I felt like I couldn’t catch it anymore.

There was a time when I was going through 5 incredibly rough years when I totally lost who I was. I wasn’t living, just barely existing. But then, almost by accident, I gave freediving a try and it was like the ocean brought me back to life. The saltwater in my wounds healed so much more than just skin; it healed me deep down. 

Now, I feel like it’s only right that I give back everything I can to the ocean, returning the kindness and love it’s been showing me ever since. 

How did your love for the ocean emerge?

I’ve always had a profound love for the ocean, but growing up in the Austrian Alps, the ocean was a rare sight for me. There was something about it that revitalized me, providing healing and energy unlike anything else. Yet, this love for the ocean felt like a platonic love—living by the sea seemed like a far-fetched dream, something beautiful but unattainable in my life.

However, that changed in 2021 with my first freediving experience. It was a transformative moment that shifted my perspective and made me realize that I had all the power to make the ocean a main character in my life and turn a utopian fantasy into a tangible reality. 

How did you get to where you are today, and which life choices brought you here?

The biggest driver and motivator that steered my life choices after having started freediving was the realization that our ocean is dying. Witnessing firsthand how fast and relentlessly the deterioration is happening, provoked a commitment within me: I decided to dedicate my life and energies to mitigating this degradation. My mission became to narrate the tales of the ocean, to amplify its voice, and to ensure it’s being heard, honored, and preserved. 

Valuing remote work opportunities over climbing the career ladder, helped me to move my life next to the ocean, facilitating my engagement with the marine environment and making it easier for me to travel for my cause.

Which artistic medium do you use to share your underwater experiences?

My primary focus is writing. This includes a range of formats from articles and stories to film scripts and concepts. However, I do increasingly find myself behind the camera as an underwater videographer and photographer. I’m improving my skills in capturing the aquatic world, both while freediving and scuba diving. 

Can you share any books/films/documentaries/podcasts that have guided you and that you would like to recommend?

Documentaries/Films:

• Revolution by Rob Stewart
• Beasts of the Southern Wild by Benh Zeitlin
• The Blue Planet co-produced by the BBC and Discovery Channel
• Ocean Souls by Philip Hamilton
• Pocahontas by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg

Books:

• We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmer
• Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert
• This One Wild and Precious Life: The Patch Back to Connection in a Fractured World by Sarah Wilson

Who is your greatest source of inspiration?

Through the years I have been inspired by so many individuals. Individuals close to me, like friends and family, but also celebrated conservationists like:

• Rachel Carson
• Calum Watson
• David Suzuki
• Dr. Jane Goodall
• Wangari Maath
• Paul Watson
• Robert Marc Lehmann

If you had the power to change one aspect of today’s world, what would it be?

I’d like to change how humans think about themselves and nature. Generally, humans don’t see themselves as part of nature. They see themselves as a different entity whilst, in reality, we’re all one. If you were to ask someone, “What does nature mean to you?” the vast majority would mention trees, animals, mountains, rivers, or the ocean. Very few would consider themselves as part of that equation.
Once people understand that everything, including humanity and nature, is interconnected, they will quickly recognize that our fate is tied to the health of the natural world. If nature goes down, we go down with it.

What advice would you give to individuals aspiring to pursue their dreams?

Approach everything you do with love and follow your passion unapologetically. Many people navigate through life without ever discovering what passion is. If you are one of the lucky few who have found and identified their passion, hold onto it tightly, even if it requires sacrifices. Follow your passion, even if others advise against it.
Once you have found and held onto your passion, you are already on the right path. Then, by doing everything with love, you will ultimately succeed, sooner or later.