Secret of the Magic Pearl by Elisa Sabatinelli and illustrated by Jacopo Bruno

Hector lives with his family at the Marina in an Italian coastal town where they organise tourist expeditions to explore the many wonders of the sea. 

Hector’s dream is to become a deep-sea diver, just like his father. Then, one day, an unscrupulous entrepreneur opens a much newer center next door, forcing them to close their business. This man has a single purpose, to find the legendary Pearl in order to sell it and make money. Hector decides to find a way to thwart the plan and save what matters most to him: the sea, his family, and his dream.

The illustrations are fantastically and the story is wonderful and feels like an illustrated younger version of The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius- which I also love!