Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Duong.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always say that the seas saved me, and I mean it!
In 2015, I was an unhappy corporate lawyer in Los Angeles who didn’t know who she was or what she wanted to do with her life. On a whim, I signed up for a scuba diving trip to the Galapagos. I found myself completely taken by the wildness of those islands. Dolphins jumped into bioluminescent waves and billions of stars shined down on me. Feeling more alive than I had in a decade, I cried a soul-shifting cry at the bow of the boat.
I emerged from those waters changed – determined to honor the bold and free person I’d become on that trip. I went back to LA, quit my job, and sold my house. Reckless? Yes. Crazy? Maybe. But I was determined nothing would ever be the same. Luckily, it hasn’t been!
I followed my heart and the waves to Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon Rainforest, Patagonia, Central America, the Florida Keys, and the high Arctic. I found my voice, my confidence, and my purpose.
The ocean saved me from a life I hated, and everything I’ve done since tries to return the favor. So, I campaign for sustainable fisheries and a cleaner climate, restore endangered corals, tag sharks, and sea turtles via scuba, and report on the most pressing human and environmental news of our time. It’s been a ton of work but even more fun to shift my life toward what makes me feel authentic and purposeful.
Here in the Florida Keys, I now spend my day’s scuba diving and telling stories that move people. I also join scientific expeditions around the world to discover, understand, and protect what this planet has to offer. As an explorer and storyteller, I strive to make the unknown known and the wild part of our everyday lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Theodore Roosevelt said, “Nothing worth getting comes easy,” and I’ve found that to be very true. The challenges that came with “quitting my entire life” and my entire self – at least who I was at that point in my life – were huge. But how I adapted and learned from them has made me who I am and created a life that I truly love. For that, I am grateful.
For sure, there were emotional fears, like what do I tell people, what will people think, who am I outside of being a lawyer? And even irrational doubts such as will I ever find something I actually wanted to do? Does a job you love actually exist? These thoughts suck when they come up, and it’s easy to fall prey to things like imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and fear of rejection when starting anything new.
There were also logical concerns that included how to support myself, where to live, and where to even start. I moved in with family, took on apartment mates, did odd jobs, and simplified my lifestyle to make this period of exploration for myself more affordable.
What I did learn from moving away from the “easy” set path was how much fun the side road is. It’s been confusing, challenging, freeing, and soul-affirming. Most importantly, when I look at my life now, I know that it is 100%, totally, authentically mine.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am an explorer and ocean influencer. I tell stories that move people. My business, Ocean Rebels, champions environmental change through media, advocacy, and expeditions. We believe in thinking differently, taking a stance, and acting boldly – even and especially when it’s difficult.
Our work is interdisciplinary, drawing from science, art, communications, and law. We show up to realize grand visions and foster meaningful connections between people, wildlife, and wild places. Above all, we’re here to make art and to help you execute your legacy.
Our offerings include all aspects of content creation and project management, including:
– Expedition and project management services, including storyboarding, planning, media training and press relations, team building
– On-screen/social media live reporting with a specialty for wild places
– Field/expedition media support and science communication
– Travel writing and brand support with a focus on environmentalism and sustainability
– Digital/print journalism with a focus on scuba diving and oceans
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
We need to reframe our relationship with “failure.” Our culture is so obsessed with “success” that we villanize its opposite. However, failure can be our friend because it means we’re pushing past our comfort zone. It means we’re putting ourselves out there. It means we’re striving for a higher potential.
The only time failure truly hurts us is when we fail to try. Only when I started “failing on purpose” and “failing forward” I found true success – a life I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tiffanyduong.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffmakeswaves/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanyduong
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TiffMakesWaves
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=dr_mce0J8Q-BLLOA23KuAQ
- Other: https://www.scubadiving.com/how-scuba-diving-liveaboard-changed-rest-my-life
Image Credits
Field School
Vinh Pham Photography
Ulises Flores
Sara Nilsson
