Melissa (Mel) loves to be in, on, under or simply near the ocean. She will even take being surrounded by pictures of it if the real thing is temporarily unavailable. She has either travelled or worked in travel, all her adult life. Apart from growing up in South Australia, Mel has surfed in Mexico, Costa Rica, Maldives, Indonesia (Java, Sumbawa, Rote, Nusa Lembongan), Thailand, Samoa, Christmas Island and Cocos Island. She says she wishes she was braver in the water, so she could tackle some of the larger, harder waves available. But we reckon anyone who has surfed the wilds of South Australia and lived to tell the tale, is brave enough for us!