[imagesource: Netflix]

No disrespect to Craig Foster, because his body of work is greater than one documentary, but he’ll probably always be known as the guy from My Octopus Teacher.

I struggle to believe that anybody hasn’t watched this beautiful documentary yet, and I’ll assume you’ve seen the wonderful spoof, My Kreepy Teacher, too.

In a recent interview with TIME, Foster opened up about how the filmmaker became the student, and how his transformative underwater experience is far from over:

…he turned to the sea at his front door, and vowed to himself to free-dive every single day for ten years. Braving frigid waters and epic storms, Foster has rigidly kept that commitment. The experience has been transformative, he says. “The cold calms you. It fills your brain with these feel-good chemicals. And then you’re in this golden forest, this liquid environment that hasn’t any gravity. And that becomes your underwater home, especially if you’re visiting it every day.”

Every day, for 10 years (say it in his voice), is a serious commitment.

Foster was already several years into that 10-year commitment when he encountered the animal that became the real star of the show, taking millions along for the ride.

He’s not quite reached the end goal, but he is edging ever closer to a major milestone:

Just a few months shy of completing his ten-year vow, Foster says he can’t imagine ever giving up his daily dives. He’s not even tempted to dive anywhere else.

Image: Netflix

“The amazing thing is that when you get to know this kelp forest like I have, it’s the most exciting place to dive on earth because you’re just about to solve ten amazing mysteries. You know that crab. You know that octopus, and you just can’t wait to know them better. So I’d actually rather be here than in some exotic place.”

Beautiful, and also very Capetonian.

Bugger making new friends. Stick to the ones we know.

In 2012, in order to protect the stretch of water he loves so dearly, Foster co-founded the Sea Change Project:

“The idea was to get this great African Sea Forest, the home of the octopus teacher, recognized as a global icon, like the Serengeti or the Great Barrier Reef.”

He is hoping that the success of My Octopus Teacher, which was backed by his NGO, will effectively brand the sea forest in the popular consciousness. “You have to name a place in order for people to care about and protect it,” he says.

It’s certainly a good place to start.

Check out the Sea Change Project to keep an eye on the good work that they do.

You can read Foster’s full interview here.

[source:time]