Do these have the same meaning?

Question

1. I desire to do this
2. Doing this is very interesting to me
3. Doing this interests me a lot

Answer 1

I would say those sentences have subtly different meanings. For example, I think it's interesting that people swim with sharks, but I don't have any desire to do it myself. Saying that the idea of swimming with sharks interests me a lot falls somewhere between "this is very interesting to me" and "I desire to do this." The latter indicates more intent to actually do it.