Sea Within - Our Enduring Connection to Water
Sea Within is brings the unseen world of Port Phillip Bay into view. Centring on the marine
biodiversity of the Great Southern Reef, it utilises photography, sound, and video to explore
our evolutionary and emotional connection to water—through the lens of the dive reflex we
share with marine life.
This work responds to an urgent need: to restore emotional and ecological connection with marine environments.
Port Phillip Bay is one of the most accessible marine ecosystems in the country,
yet its biodiversity remains largely unseen.
Sea Within brings this world into view through immersive underwater storytelling.
Bigbelly Seahorse Naarm | Port Phillip Bay
Slow motion video portait of Kate Disher-Quill (She/Her) a visual artist and a proud advocate for the representation and inclusion of people with disability particularly within the arts and media. During the extended lockdowns in Naarm | Melbourne Kate relished peaceful moments in the ocean. Pictured at her local swimming spot in Williamstown.
Human connection is central to the storytelling. Through sound recordings and visual
pacing, the project mimics how water influences our physiology—quieting the nervous
system, softening breath, and deepening presence. Voices of community members who find
healing in the sea will be woven into the soundscape, offering personal reflections. Slow-
motion video portraits of these contributors—captured in or near the water—will honour the
lived experiences of those who turn to the ocean for healing.
This project is also deeply personal. As someone living with chronic illness, I’ve had to
navigate long periods of physical disconnection from nature—particularly the ocean, which
has shaped my identity as both person and artist.
Self Portrait
A key concept in the work is the dive reflex—an evolutionary response we share with marine
life. When submerged, our bodies slow heart rate and conserve oxygen—a survival trait
shared across species. This reflex is a biological bridge to our aquatic ancestry, reminding us
of our capacity for adaptation, resilience, and our intrinsic connection to water and the life it
sustains.
Film created for TEDxSydney 2019
The ocean is our backyard—and its creatures are not hidden in the depths or darkness. Whales, seals, and countless others live lives that mirror our own: they breathe, sing, love, dance, and grieve—just like we do. Through storytelling, we aim to illuminate these lives and the deep connection we share with the ocean.
Credits
Director: Michaela Skovranova Production: Mishku Co-Editor: Andy Hatton Music: Troels Thomasen
Sea Within asks: What happens when
we lose access to the environments that ground us? And how do we continue to belong to them?
Ocean Swimmers Gadigal | Sydney
The Great Southern Reef
Stretching over 8,000 km along Australia’s southern coastline, the Great Southern Reef is a rich system of kelp-dominated temperate reefs.
Home to species found nowhere else on Earth, it’s a biodiversity hotspot that also supports vital industries like fishing and tourism. Beyond its beauty, the reef protects coastlines, helps store carbon, and plays a crucial role in the lives of millions of Australians.