As January wraps up, my alternate octopus podcasting identity over at DeepSea Magazine’s podcast will have its first full episode and will be dropping into their feed…just as soon as a few technical glitches get remedied.
In the interim, I wanted to share that episode early here, as I know quite a few divers are subscribed, and Rachel has some AE vibes to her. And for the #watchfam, for the record, she was rocking a Garmin Descent on her wrist. 🐙
Episode 1 | Rachel Novak “Performance, Made Under Pressure”
Hailing from the vibrant city of Las Vegas, Nevada, Rachel Novak (@thesailingsiren ) is not your typical pharmacist—she's also a stunt performer, freediving and mermaid instructor, professional mermaid, circus artist…and a friend of ours in the DeepSea community.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2010 and later earning her doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD), Rachel's journey extends far beyond the pharmacy walls. When she's not dispensing medications, you'll find her captivating audiences as a fire performer, mermaid artist, and freediving instructor through her company, Aquanauts Freediving LLC.
But Rachel's journey doesn't stop there, as she is a self-proclaimed “professional dabbler”. Her quest for learning and adventure has led her to explore sailing, skydiving, trail running, rock climbing, mountaineering, freediving, scuba diving, parkour, and martial arts. From the icy waters of Puget Sound in Washington to the vibrant marine life in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, Rachel has various certifications from Divemaster (Scuba) to Freediving and Mermaid Instructor.
In 2019, her passion for the underwater world blossomed into becoming an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor and Mermaid Instructor in Panglao, Philippines. Rachel is deeply connected to the diving community, regularly contributing to The Scuba Radio Show, running her freediving and travel vlog, "The Sailing Siren," and lending her expertise as a commentator for the 2021 Vertical Blue Freediving Competition in Dean's Blue Hole, Bahamas. And then representing the USA on the USA Freediving Team.
Photos by : 1. @kuenok 2. @mitchbrownphoto
Rachel made waves in 2021 by landing her first role as a stunt performer in the highly anticipated "Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever." Join us as we dive into Rachel's incredible journey, exploring the depths of her varied skills and experiences on land and beneath the waves, and her Stories, Made Under Pressure.
Made Under Pressure on Spotify
On Screen
IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13824459/?ref_=nm_mv_close
Online
Aquanauts Freediving
“We welcome freedivers - those that explore the watery world around us on one breath. We also welcome our mermaids and mermen - those that use their creative minds to express themselves and their love for the ocean and other bodies of water. If you're looking to learn essential freediving safety skills or become more graceful when playing underwater, feel free to join one of our upcoming courses!” -
https://www.aquanautsfreediving.com/