Courtesy of the Sydney Morning HeraldBy Jo Chandler
“Are you still diving?” Given that the legendary lady of the water, Dr Sylvia Earle – ”Her Deepness”, as she was long ago anointed by her peers – is now 76, you have to ask. ”Of course. I’m still breathing.”

Photo: Rebecca Hallas

And by yesterday afternoon the oceanographer and explorer, who has clocked up well over 7000 hours swimming with the fishes was back in the realm of the blue, just off Portsea, exploring Pope’s Eye, a favourite Victorian dive spot. Having spent the past week advocating to packed public meetings, politicians and journalists the case for protecting the seas, the woman recognised as a ”Living Legend” by the US Library of Congress, and was Time magazine’s first ”Hero for the Planet”, seized the opportunity to slip under the waves and silently commune with friends in ”the other Australia”.…