How Rolex And Marine Biologist Sylvia Earle Are Protecting Our Oceans
Not all heroes wear capes—Rolex Testimonee Dr Sylvia Earle prefers a wetsuit, a mask and flippers when saving our planet’s oceans.
By Brandon Chia - published
Climate change is as apparent as ever, affecting hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. And it’s not just the land we inhabit that is in trouble; the oceans are also in distress. Saving our planet’s blue heart, which makes up approximately 75 percent of the Earth’s surface, is a tall order. However, Rolex Testimonee Dr Sylvia Earle takes it on with everything she’s got, even at the age of 90.
Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle diving in Cabo Pulmo in Mexico in 2017.
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With over 34 honorary degrees to the marine biologist’s name, more than 250 publications, having lectured in over 80 countries, and presiding over prestigious positions throughout her career, such as that of a Rolex Testimonee, an honour which she has held for over four decades, there is so much more to this heroine of the ocean.
Earle is lauded as one of the world’s most renowned oceanographers, having led over 100 expeditions that explored the depths and launched a pioneering initiative called Mission Blue that is dedicated to marine conservation.
The rugged coastline of Indonesia’s Nusa Lembongan Island in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area, which is the location of the Mission Blue’s Nusa Penida Hope Spot in 2020.
Charting the course of Earle’s six-decade-long career and an enduring passion for the ocean began in New Jersey, where she spent her childhood observing fish and tadpoles in the pond of her backyard.
Her groundbreaking work began with extensive research on marine algae after receiving her PhD from Duke University in 1970, when she led a team of aquanauts on a two-week underwater mission.
Earle and her team lived and worked 50 feet below the surface in the US Virgin Islands, aboard Tektite II, where they observed ocean life and the effects of living underwater on the human body.
Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle inside a Deep Worker submersible off the coast of Vancouver, Canada, as it emerges from the water.
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Upon their return to dry land, the team and their work were honoured at the White House, propelling Earle to use the spotlight to highlight the need to protect marine ecosystems around the globe.
Since then, Earle has discovered numerous species and continued to advocate for ocean exploration and care, receiving over 100 honours and awards, including the National Geographic Hubbard Medal and medals from the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society. Prizes alone do not define her illustrious career.
She was the first female chief scientist of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She set the world record in 1979 for the deepest solo untethered dive, walking 381 metres beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean, which has yet to be broken.
Earle (right) and marine scientist Salome Buglass (left) at the Charles Darwin Foundation, descending in the DeepSea submersible in search of deep sea kelp that may be new to science.
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Not to mention, the inception of Mission Blue in 2009, which aims to create a global network of Hope Spots—ecologically important areas of the ocean that are vital to its overall health on a global scale, through empowering locals to take charge and make a change.
“Whether we are explorers or concerned citizens, we must save the planet for future generations,” says Earle.
Since Mission Blue’s launch and with the support of Rolex since 2014, the number of Hope Spots has risen. From an initial 50, there are now more than 160 Hope Spots, including biodiverse regions such as the Azores Archipelago and the Galapagos Islands. Mission Blue’s champions—individuals and organisations who lead efforts in their local spots receive support from the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative.
This initiative embodies Rolex’s dedication to supporting explorers and helping them to achieve countless historical feats over the last century. The brand has since shifted its focus from championing exploration for the sake of discovery to protecting our planet.
Galápagos sharks in the coast of Malpelo Island, Colombia.
As a visionary in her field, Earle hasn’t just used her skills and knowledge to protect the precious marine ecosystem; she has also used her voice to inspire communities around the world to do their part and amplify the need to safeguard the Earth.
“All of us, individually and collectively, need to respect nature and take care of it,” says Earle. “We need to treat the ocean and the rest of our living planet like our lives depend on them—because they do.”