Peek Under The Surface: Helping Indonesian Kids Fall in Love with the Ocean
What Is Peek Under The Surface? (Spoiler: It’s Not Just About Goggles)
Peek Under The Surface is the name of my NGO, but it’s also a mantra, a mindset, and a gentle nudge to look deeper, beyond what’s immediately visible. In a world obsessed with aesthetics and filtered highlights, this is my way of zooming in on what actually matters.
At its heart, Peek Under The Surface is a grassroots marine education initiative. Our mission is simple: to help children in Indonesia’s coastal communities discover the magic of the underwater world they live beside but rarely get to explore.
We do this by giving out swim goggles, distributing Indonesian-language marine-themed children’s books, and (soon!) launching swimming and ocean awareness classes. Because if you’ve never looked beneath the surface, how can you care about what’s there?
The Moment That Sparked It All: A Village Visit I’ll Never Forget
It was 2018, and I was on one of my usual trips guiding guests through remote corners of Indonesia, snorkeling vibrant reefs by day and visiting local villages by evening. During one particular stop, we visited a village built on stilts right above the water.
It should’ve been beautiful.
But the first thing I noticed was the plastic. So much of it. Single-use wrappers, bottles, old packaging, all floating beneath their homes. It was heartbreaking to see this surreal mix of paradise and pollution. A reef should be full of color and life, not chip bags and shampoo sachets.
And it wasn’t just the trash.
This was also a region where dynamite fishing is still very much alive. People use homemade explosives to catch fish faster, often at the cost of destroying entire coral ecosystems in one blast. Why? Because it’s quick. It puts food on the table today. Many of the families in these coastal communities live below the poverty line, and when you’re worried about whether your kids will eat tonight, long-term environmental consequences aren’t exactly top of mind.
It’s easy to judge, but the reality is a lot more complicated.
They don’t always know what coral reefs do for them. No one has ever explained it. And without that knowledge, without a sense of value, why would they protect it?
That day shook something in me.
I realized that you can’t ask someone to protect something if they don’t even know it exists. If kids grow up never seeing a living coral reef or understanding that it helps support their family’s food source, how can we expect them to fight for it?
So I thought: What if I just gave them goggles?
It sounds too simple, but sometimes the best ideas are. Let kids see the reef. Let them read a story about a turtle, and then watch one glide past their own jetty. That’s where empathy starts. That’s how change happens: slowly, quietly, with curiosity.
From that one visit, Peek Under The Surface was born.
Why Start With Kids?
I focus on children because, frankly, adults are stubborn. (No shade. I’m one too.)
But with older generations, there’s often this “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. Trying to convince them to stop dynamite fishing or to stop throwing trash in the sea? That takes years and trust me, I’ve seen well-meaning organizations crash and burn because they barged in and told communities what they were doing wrong.
That approach never works. No one likes to be lectured, especially not by a stranger.
You have to infiltrate gently (and lovingly). Sit with them, learn from them, understand why they do what they do, and then show them a better option that still respects their reality.
But kids? Kids are still sponges. Wide-eyed, excited, endlessly curious. If we start young, if we hand them a mask, a storybook, and a glimpse of the sea life they’ve never seen, we plant seeds that can grow into real, lasting change.
This is why Peek Under The Surface focuses on education that’s relatable, local, and visual. It’s not just about marine biology facts. It’s about connection.
Why Start an NGO in Indonesia? And Why This, Specifically?
I’ve spent nearly a decade at sea, first as a Cruise Director for SeaTrek Sailing Adventures, now as a Yacht Sales Broker at Asia Global Yachting. I’ve snorkeled the reefs of Raja Ampat, fawned over nudibranchs in Alor, and seen whale sharks in Saleh Bay. I know the magic that exists beneath these waters.
But what broke my heart was realizing that the kids who live right next to this marine biodiversity often never experience it.
They don’t swim. They don’t snorkel. Some are afraid of the sea.
They live on top of a marine wonderland, but don’t even know it’s there.
So I thought, what if we gave them the tools to look beneath the surface?
That’s how it started. With a suitcase full of swim goggles, a few children’s books about the ocean, and a big, slightly salt-stained dream.
The Idea: Swim Goggles and Storybooks as Tools for Change
Here’s how a typical Peek Under The Surface activation works:
I bring kid-sized snorkel masks (not the giant adult ones that never fit little faces).
I stop at villages along our sailing routes.
I gather kids for a short, fun storytelling session. We read books like Wayan and the Turtle King and Ocean Champions, two beautifully illustrated Indonesian-language children’s books distributed by SeaTrek.
Then, we go down to the water’s edge. I help them put on their masks, and they get their first look at the underwater world, sometimes just steps away from their home.
That first moment is always the same:
Big gasp. Lots of giggles. Tiny voices screaming “IKAAAAANNN!!” (Fish!!)
It’s magic. And it’s free.
I leave the masks with the village or school so the kids can keep looking long after I’m gone. And with that simple act, we’ve planted a seed.
Why Focus on Kids? Because Adults Are Stubborn (No Offense)
Older generations often carry the “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset. And fair enough, it’s hard to argue with something that’s been putting food on the table for decades.
But kids? They’re still wide-eyed and sponge-brained. They haven’t made up their minds yet. They’re not stuck in habits. They’re open.
Which is why I focus on children.
If we can show them the beauty of the reef before someone teaches them to fear or exploit it, they’ll grow up with respect, understanding, and connection. They’ll become stewards, not just users.
Why Marine Education in Indonesia Matters
Let’s zoom out for a second.
Indonesia is home to over 17,000 islands and sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world. This country should be leading the global conversation on marine conservation.
But here’s the catch: many people in coastal communities have never been taught what coral does. Or how plastic breaks down. Or why catching juvenile fish ruins future stocks.
Without access to proper education, bad habits aren't bad, they're just normal.
That’s where marine literacy comes in. It’s not just about knowing the names of fish. It’s about understanding how the ocean affects your everyday life: your food, your safety, your income, your future.
Education gives kids (and their families) new perspective and even new opportunities. Maybe one day, one of those kids becomes a marine biologist, or a snorkeling guide, or a conservation advocate.
Or maybe they just decide not to throw their trash in the sea. That’s a win too.
How I Make It Happen (Ahem, It’s Mostly Me Right Now)
Right now, Peek Under The Surface is a tiny operation. As in: me, my backpack, and some generous friends.
But we’ve made it work with a few key ingredients:
Swim goggles and snorkels (child-sized)
Locally relevant storybooks in Bahasa Indonesia
Strong community relationships (never top-down)
A genuine love for the sea
And, let’s be honest, a lot of duct tape, reef-safe sunscreen, and hustle
The beauty of this project is that it’s scalable. I’ve already started implementing it in villages throughout SeaTrek’s sailing routes from the Banda Islands to Komodo to Sumbawa and the kids are loving it.
Why a Gentle, Ground-Up Approach Works Better
Here’s what I’ve seen too many times: well-meaning organizations swoop into a village, give a talk, hand out some posters, and then leave. And nothing changes.
Why? Because you can’t lecture people into caring.
Especially when they see you as an outsider.
If you want real change, you have to build trust first. Sit with them. Listen. Learn their challenges. Understand their motivations. Then slowly introduce alternatives that make sense within their world.
No one likes being told they’re wrong. But everyone appreciates someone who tries to understand them first.
That’s the sneaky power of Peek Under The Surface. We’re not preaching. We’re just showing them the beauty that already surrounds them and letting them fall in love with it.
What’s Next: Swimming Lessons, Bigger Outreach, and (Hopefully) More Hands
One of my biggest goals is to start teaching swimming especially for kids who’ve grown up fearful of the ocean.
We’re not talking Olympic laps here. Just the basics: how to float, how to kick, how to not panic. Confidence is everything when you're trying to connect with the sea.
To do that, I need help.
Here’s what I’m looking for:
Volunteer swim instructors
Donations of swim gear (masks, snorkels, rash guards, fins, etc.)
Local partnerships with schools and NGOs
People willing to sponsor book + goggle packages
Moral support (a girl can dream)
How You Can Support Peek Under The Surface
Whether you’re ocean-obsessed or just ocean-curious, you can help. Here’s how:
1. Donate Equipment
Gently used or new masks, snorkels, rash guards, and water shoes are gold to us.
2. Fund a Book Drop
For less than the price of a fancy lunch, you can sponsor marine-themed children’s books for a whole classroom.
3. Volunteer
Have time, skills, or even just good vibes to share? I’d love to hear from you.
4. Share the Story
Social media, word of mouth, skywriting, whatever floats your boat. Help us spread the message.
5. Partner With Us
If you’re an organization, dive center, resort, or school interested in collaboration, let’s chat.
Email: nita@happilyroaming.com
What If We Let a Child See the Reef Before It’s Gone?
If I’ve learned anything from working at sea, it’s that falling in love with the ocean changes you.
And I want every child living along Indonesia’s coasts to have the chance to feel that, to laugh through a snorkel, to watch a parrotfish munch coral, to know the sea not as a threat but as a source of joy, identity, and responsibility.
Because once you’ve peeked under the surface...
You’ll never look at the ocean the same way again.
Thank you for reading and now back to happily roaming!