Who We Are

Nesha Ichida and Simone Tomazela, a partnership forged out of passion for the

 Ocean, Art and Science

Nesha Ishida is a marine conservation scientist who uses art as a form of therapy during long stretches away from the field or when the weight of her work becomes overwhelming, finding in it a quiet way to reconnect with herself and her purpose. Since the start of her career, she has felt empowered to weave art into her science and conservation work as a powerful tool for communication. She has continuously developed ideas for merchandise that could give back to conservation efforts, but as an amateur artist, she primarily commissions other artists to create pieces that support her mission. The possibility that these creative efforts could evolve into a true social entrepreneurship venture never really crossed her mind—her demanding fieldwork left little room for such pursuits—until she met Simone.

Simone Tomazela is a visual artist who strongly believes that art is a powerful way to connect people to the beauty and importance of the oceans. Over nearly a decade as cruise director and dive guide on diving liveaboards, she witnessed the degradation of coral reefs through the years, as well as the remarkable recovery of certain areas thanks to reef restoration and conservation efforts.

In 2022, she began printing her hand-painted artwork on diving apparels, and Sea Connection Art was born—created to inspire people to protect the oceans and support conservation programs.

In 2024, Simone and Nesha joined forces to launch their first merchandise collection, raising funds for the Reshark StAR Program—and they quickly realized this was only the beginning.

In 2026, Nesha officially joined Sea Connection Art, bringing her expertise, passion, and boundless creativity to help grow a vibrant, purpose-driven community of ocean advocates.

Become part of the Sea Connection Art community—follow our journey for the latest updates straight from the field, join our campaigns, and take action to support the conservation programs we proudly champion. Together, we can be part of the solution and go beyond.