A young snorkeler splashes into a colourful cacophony of curious reef fish off the Rangiroa Atoll . Cristina Mittermeier aims to show how human well-being is closely intertwined with ocean health . © Cristina Mittermeier
Right : On one of Cristina Mittermeier ’ s first National Geographic assignments , she photographed these three young Hawaiian women standing on the brink of the same ocean their families have surfed for generations . Surfing can be dated back to the 12th century , and was not only a sport in Hawaii , but an important part of the local religion . © Cristina Mittermeier
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