Saving Our Seas From a Mile High

On September 27, our DiverMojo Foundation President (Merlin Walberg) and I (the Director of Education) had the privilege of attending the Fins Attached “Saving Our Seas from a Mile High” gala in Denver, Colorado.  We were the invited guests of Marie Bennett, an accomplished Chicago-based flutist, explorer and ocean advocate. 

This was more than just an event.  It was a rallying point for everyone who believes in protecting our marine ecosystems.  We listened to inspiring speakers like Mike Coots and Dr. Sylvia Earle.  We witnessed Marie perform the world premiere of Echoes from the Deep.  We met other ocean conservationists and saw Elisa Lee, a Youth Ambassador for Fins Attached, win the Sharkwater Ocean Conservation Award, Teen Category, for her work with Oceans Tomorrow.

FINS ATTACHED MARINE RESEARCH & CONSERVATION.  Our host.  Founded in 2010, by

Dr. Alex Antoniou, who has been involved in shark research and conservation for over 25 years.  He believes that research is key to conservation.  Fins Attached, is a US nonprofit focused on protecting the ocean through science, education, and advocacy.  Their research focuses primarily on sharks, rays, sea turtles, and marine ecosystems throughout the Eastern Pacific, where illegal fishing, climate change, and habitat loss threaten marine life.  The organization aims to influence policy and support conservation efforts that maintain the health and balance of our ocean and these apex predictors for future generations.  

Dr. Antoniou’s conservation advice: “Pick just one thing you can focus on and do that – routinely, consistently, every time.  Otherwise, we get overwhelmed and as a result, do nothing.”

MISSION BLUE.  Founded in 2009 by Dr. Sylvia Earle, legendary oceanographer and one of our keynote speakers.  Mission Blue was created after her TED Prize wish to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas called Hope Spots. The organization brings together a global coalition of over 200 ocean conservation groups to raise awareness and support for these protected areas.  Dr. Earle believes awareness is crucial: “If you know, you might not care. If you don’t know, you can’t care.”  With the concerted effort and passion of people and organizations around the world, Hope Spots can become a reality and form a global network of marine protected areas large enough to restore the ocean, the blue heart of our planet.”

Dr. Earle’s conservation advice:  “Look in the mirror.  Consider your talents and think about how you might use them to make a difference.  Some have artistic skills, others are good with numbers or have a way with words.  Everyone has power to make a difference as an individual, or by joining the company of others who share a common goal.  The key is in knowing that what you do matters – this includes doing nothing!”

Additional organizations I know attended the gala (there certainly may be others) include: Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation,  One Ocean Worldwide Coalition, SHRKco, Ocean Blue Tree, Focused on Nature, and the DiverMojo Foundation.

Keynote Speakers

MIKE COOTS  Born and raised on the shores of Hawaii, Mike developed a deep connection with the ocean from an early age. Drawn to the waves and captivated by the thrill of surfing, he quickly honed his skills both above and below the waterline. The ocean became his playground and its rhythms would shape the course of his life.  At 18, Mike experienced a life altering event.  While surfing off the coast of Kauai, he was attacked by a tiger shark resulting in the lose of his right leg. 

This shark attack was a pivotal moment for Mike Coots.  Instead of harboring resentment toward sharks though, he found a way to empathize with these majestic creatures and advocate for their protection.  Recognizing that humans pose a greater threat to sharks than the reverse, Mike became an ardent supporter of shark conservation efforts. He uses his story to raise awareness about the importance of understanding and respecting sharks as well as their critical role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.

Beyond surfing and activism, Mike is an accomplished photographer and artist.  His stunning photography captures the raw beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants, often reflecting the vulnerable relationship between humans and nature.  His artwork compels viewers to appreciate and safeguard wonders of the sea. 

While Mike’s story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of turning tragedy into triumph, the most moving part of his speech for me was  his description of the absolute joy he felt when he returned to the ocean just one month after his recovery.  The first time he felt the ocean on his body again, the first time he was back in the water, the first time he returned home. Tears rolled down my face as I listened to him describe that moment.  I was also personally touched by Mike saying, “other photographers use a wide-angle lens to take pictures of sharks.  I use the same lens I would if I were shooting a model on the beach.  I want the photographs to be up close, intimate, and real.”  Imagine having lost a limb to one of these creatures yet wanting to tell their story to such a degree that you are in the water, getting this close, not shooting with a wide-angle lens bringing their story to the world!  So inspiring. 

Mike’s conservation note: “We’ve got marine debris, oceans warming, all these stressors on our planet, and I hope that we can find the technology and the right intelligent people to make a drastic shift in the next few years as this period will be crucial.  I am optimistic about our future.  We have a lot of passionate people trying to do everything they can to make a difference.” 

DR. SYLVIA EARLE  A pioneering oceanographer with many “firsts” and “only”s in her biography, is a marine biologist, explorer, author and environmental advocate celebrated for her groundbreaking contributions to ocean exploration and conservation. Her accomplishments are so extensive that it's challenging to highlight just a few.

In 1965, she accepted the role of Resident Director at Cape Haze Marine Laboratories in

Sarasota, Florida. By 1967, she had become a research fellow at Harvard University's Farlow Herbarium and a Research Scholar at the Radcliffe Institute. During the 1970s, she led the first all-female team of aquanauts as part of the Tektite II experiment, a project aimed at exploring the marine realm and testing the viability of deepwater habitats as well as the health effects of prolonged underwater living. She began collaborating with the National Geographic Society to produce books and films about life in Earth's oceans and became a curator and research biologist at the California Academy of Sciences.

On September 19, 1979, Sylvia earned the world record for deepest untethered sea walk by a human, a record that still stands today.  Wearing a specialized JIM atmospheric diving suit that maintains an interior pressure of 1 standard atmosphere regardless of depth, she was carried to 1,250 feet (381 meters) by a submersible off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, before detaching to explore the seafloor for two and a half hours. But that wasn't deep enough for her. Sylvia co-founded Deep Ocean Engineering and Deep Ocean Technology with British engineer Graham Hawkes, her third husband. Together, they designed the submersible Deep Rover, capable of reaching depths of 914 meters (3,000 feet) beneath the ocean's surface.

Dr. Earle served on the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere from 1980 to 1984. Between 1990 and 1992, she was the Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), becoming the first woman to hold that position. In 1998, she became the National Geographic Society's first female Explorer in Residence.

From the outset, her research on marine algae (in which she holds a doctorate), her books and documentaries, scientific papers, worldwide expeditions, and the creation of the non-profit Mission Blue have all been aimed at raising public awareness of the critical threats that overfishing and pollution pose to our oceans.

Sylvia’s conservation note: “We are the luckiest humans to ever have arrived on the planet because of what we know, what we can know, and what we will continue to discover that no one ever could before.  That’s the good news.  We have learned more in my lifetime than all preceding history added together.  There’s still so much to learn.  We have been looking up, and we must.  We are discovering things within the Earth itself!  It is critical that we investigate the depths of our Ocean though.  The deeper we go, the less we know.  The ocean is where 97% of the Earth’s water is.  It is the water, combined with the rocks, that makes the very existence of life possible.  Without the Ocean, there would be no rainforest, there would be no trees.  There would be no “us”.  It is the Ocean that is

the cornerstone, the actual anchor for our existence.” 

MARIE BENNETT spoke to us too, through her music.  We had the soulful experience of

hearing Marie present her world premier of Echoes from the Deep.  This piece is a landmark collaboration uniting oceanography, conservation, and the arts. Written by composer Stephen Lias (who also attended the gala), with text by Marie and narration by Dr. Sylvia Earle, the work pairs contrabass flute with recorded humpback whale song and highlights the power of cross disciplinary collaboration.  The piece is difficult to describe with words – it has to be felt.  Incredibly poignant! 

Marie’s conservation note: “We’ve heard a lot tonight about our ocean needing protection.  People don’t care about things if they’re not aware of them.  This is a big part that music can play, by bringing awareness.  We must tell people how critical it is to care about our ocean – through whatever means we can.”

Each of these contributors alone would have been remarkable.

All three in one evening?  Truly moving and inspirational.  I left feeling hopeful and       re-energized, determined to do my part and never give up. Each of us has the power to make a difference—whether in big or small ways—within our families, communities, countries, and ultimately the world.

Some of us write, others take photographs, compose music and poetry, or paint. Some are public speakers, while others handle the details behind the scenes. Some lead dive trips, and others educate their grandchild’s kindergarten class. We can read, engage in conversations with friends, or host an educational dinner party. What is YOUR zone of genius? How can you contribute? We’d love to discuss it with you. There is something each of us can do to make a difference. It’s crucial that we do!

Our ocean needs us.

Our world needs us.

We need you!