Sylvia Earle
The ocean’s guardian
Sylvia Earle is a pioneering American oceanographer who has devoted her life to deep ocean exploration and protection of the oceans.
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Sylvia Earle
Championing the blue planet
Sylvia Earle, often referred to as “Her Deepness”, has spent more than 7,500 hours underwater, led more than 100 expeditions and discovered thousands of new marine species.
It was over the course of her numerous expeditions that Sylvia Earle became aware of the vulnerability of the oceans. She has spent decades raising awareness about the threats facing them, such as overfishing and pollution.
An ocean of hope
Sylvia Earle’s fascination with the ocean began in her childhood, setting the stage for her career in marine biology. Her groundbreaking work began with extensive research on marine algae.
In 1970, Earle led the first all-female team of aquanauts in Tektite II, spending two weeks living in an underwater habitat 50 feet below the surface near the Virgin Islands. She was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a role she held from 1990 to 1992. And, she holds the world record for the deepest untethered dive from when, in 1979, she walked, untethered, 381 metres (1,250 feet) beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
Earle’s passion for ocean conservation is epitomized by her founding of Mission Blue in 2009, an initiative that has been supported by Rolex since 2014. This initiative aims to establish a network of marine protected areas worldwide known as “Hope Spots”, with the goal of safeguarding vital marine ecosystems.
Earle has authored more than 200 publications and continues to inspire global audiences through lectures and documentaries. Her numerous accolades include being named TIME magazine's first Hero for the Planet in 1998 and receiving the United Nations Champion of the Earth award in 2014. As a National Geographic Explorer at Large, Earle remains a formidable advocate for ocean conservation, and an inspiration to generations of people.
She became a Rolex Testimonee in 1982 and still dives to this day wearing her Rolex watch.