Nicky Nautilus

I’ve traveled all over the oceans and I’ve become close friends with King Neptune over the years. When he summoned me and told me about the disappearance of the Diamond of the Seas, I knew he was in big trouble. I’ve spent my life collecting unusual things and learning everything I can, but this adventure taught me some lessons that I don’t think I could have learned without joining the Ocean Protectors.

You were the one who brought the Ocean Protectors together. Why do you think King Neptune chose you for this important job?

I’m very reliable and I have studied a lot about oceans around the world. I wasn’t afraid to go as far north to the very cold Bering Sea to get Kilo Killer Whale. And I have this magical shell that is very roomy when I need to take on passengers.

Were you surprised at the creatures that Neptune asked you to recruit for the team?

When King Neptune told me his plan, I wondered why he wanted these particular creatures. Some of them seemed like an odd choice. Still, I have always had faith in the wisdom of the King and his love for everything that lives in the ocean. I trusted his choices.

Weren’t you afraid of the many predators like the shark and octopus that prey on nautilus like you?

That is part of living in the ocean. There is always danger. But I knew that King Neptune needed me, and if we didn’t succeed, we would all be in more serious danger.

What is the power of I-Zoom that King Neptune gave you?

With I-Zoom, all of my friends, including the 17-foot-long Kilo, could enter my shell and we could race with lightning speed to our next destination. It was very helpful when we really needed the speed, but it was an exhausting ride!

A nautilus usually spends its days in the depths of the ocean and only comes to shallower water in the evening, when the temperature is cooler. Was it difficult to change this pattern as part of the Ocean Protectors?

A bit, yes. I usually enjoy the cooler temperatures that I find at depths of about 900 to 2,000 feet, far below where most of my friends live. We all shared in a mission and that meant that everyone had to change their normal lives a little.

The nautilus has been called a “living fossil”. What does that mean?

Well, it’s not the most complimentary name I’ve been called, but it is true. My ancestors lived on this planet long before any creatures walked the earth. Our bodies and shells are very much the same now as they were then. We have not “evolved”, probably because we didn’t need to!

What was the most important lesson you learned from the Ocean Protectors’ first adventure?

When you have a job to do or a goal to meet, you need to stay focused on doing what you need to do. It is very easy to take a break or make excuses, but that doesn’t get the job done. Sometimes the thing you need to do isn’t the easiest or the most fun, but the fun comes in making results.