Chapter 3: Beneath the Surface

The Marine Institute was a wonderland—wet labs, tide tanks, sonar stations, and boats designed for exploration. For the first time, Ethan was surrounded by kids who shared his passion.

He met Ava, a confident girl from Seattle who loved whales, and Marcus, a quiet boy who could identify coral by scent. Together, they learned to dissect squids, analyze salinity, and even dove in tanks filled with nurse sharks.

But not everything was easy. Ethan struggled with advanced terms and nearly failed his first test. Discouraged, he wandered to the beach. There, his mentor, Dr. Keller, found him.

“Ever seen an octopus learn?” Keller asked. “They fail. Then try again. That’s science, Ethan. Try again.”

Ethan smiled. He would.