Thursday, June 25th
7pm-8pm
Ocean Hoptimis 1 year anniversary! :DIVING INTO DIVERSITY
Building Belonging Beneath the Surface
with special guest
Niko Kowell, Narwhal Divers
One year in. Still making waves.
In June, Ocean Hoptimism turns one year old!
What began as an experiment in gathering — bringing people together around ocean stories, science, exploration, joy, uncertainty, and action — has grown into a community. Month after month, this space has filled with divers, scientists, artists, advocates, students, fishers, explorers, policy wonks, photographers, beer lovers, and curious newcomers looking for something increasingly rare: a way to stay engaged with the ocean without surrendering either honesty or hope.
So for our anniversary month — and our Pride Month celebration — we wanted an evening that reflects the spirit of what Ocean Hoptimism has always tried to be: welcoming, grounded, adventurous, community-driven, and deeply connected to the water.
That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Niko Kowell, founder of Narwhal Divers in San Francisco. Niko brings with him a lifetime shaped by both activism and the ocean. A proud trans and queer advocate, he began organizing as a teenager after founding his high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance in Cincinnati, later building a long career in LGBTQ community health and advocacy in San Francisco before turning his focus fully toward diving and ocean community building.
Niko’s been diving for more than 20 years—from Monterey kelp forests to advanced cold-water training, from teaching new divers to serving as Dive Safety Officer at Aquarium of the Bay, Niko has built a life deeply tied to the water and the communities formed around it. Through initiatives like QTDC (Queer Trans Dive Club), he has helped create welcoming pathways into the underwater world for people who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional ocean spaces — building a dive community rooted in curiosity, safety, respect, and belonging.
That work now exists alongside a more complicated reality as well. Narwhal Divers has openly addressed the growing challenges many trans travelers face navigating international travel, identity documents, and border crossings — offering practical guidance and support for divers moving through an increasingly uncertain landscape.
Because the future of ocean conservation depends not only on science and policy, but on who feels invited into relationship with the ocean in the first place.
“If it exists in nature, it’s not unnatural for humans. In times when life is challenging, the ocean is the one place I can go to find peace. The moment I drop underwater, everything just fades away and I find a sense of calm. We owe it to each other and the future generations to do as much as we can to save our ocean.”
—Niko Kowell
On June 25, Niko joins us for Diving Into Diversity — a conversation exploring the ways water can challenge us, transform us, connect us, and sometimes even help us rediscover ourselves.
And fittingly, this evening is also a celebration: One full year of Ocean Hoptimism. The communities that have formed around these gatherings. Pride Month and the people helping expand who feels welcome in ocean spaces. And the simple fact that even in difficult times, people still keep showing up for the sea — and for each other.
Join us at Faction Brewing for an evening of conversation, community, reflection, and ocean joy along the Bay. And some birthday cake too!
Bring friends. Bring stories. Bring the people who still believe gathering together matters. Because one year later, that belief feels more important than ever.
www.oceanhoptimism.org
