Nova West is an award-winning filmmaker, artist, scuba diver, and conservationist. While Nova and I have both worked as video engineers and documentarians aboard E/V Nautilus for the past few years, this fall was the first time we had the opportunity to sail together.

Working alongside Nova every day for the past six weeks has been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a ship, both professionally and personally. Nova’s prolific creativity, tenacious work ethic, and buoyant spirit light up our little world on Nautilus every single day. The things Nova and I talk about – from pursuing full-time freelance careers to being a good shipmate to advocating for the queer community – fill my heart and stimulate my mind.

When I asked if they would be willing to do a Q&A interview for my blog, Nova’s response epitomized their radiant energy — an immediate, emphatic “yes!”