Chapter 1: Tides of Wonder

Ethan Blake always believed the ocean spoke to him. Living in Monterey Bay, California, with waves crashing just a short walk from his backyard, his world was filled with seafoam dreams. At twelve, he was already obsessed with marine life. While other boys played video games, Ethan waded into tide pools and identified barnacles, crabs, and anemones.

His father, Thomas Blake, a retired fisherman with a leg injury, didn’t share Ethan’s enthusiasm. “The sea is work, not play,” he’d say. His mother, Claire, juggled shifts at a diner to keep things steady. Still, Ethan remained devoted. His tiny bedroom was a museum of shells, field notes, and marine posters.

On a routine harbor visit, Ethan spotted a flyer pinned on the marine institute’s corkboard: “Summer Sea Scholars – A 6-Week Immersive Program for Young Marine Explorers.”

Ethan tore the flyer from the board. “This is it,” he whispered.