Why I Support Mission Blue: Paying It Forward to the Ocean

I have been a passionate diver and underwater photographer for the past 49 years and have seen the effects of climate change and the abuse of our oceans.

Most recently, we have been dealing with the loss of kelp along the CA coast, where it was once difficult to dive through a thick canopy of bull kelp. Also, the fish and marine mammals I saw frequently on the North Coast of CA, where I learned to dive and teach as a dive instructor, have diminished or disappeared. We have seen the devastation of such losses not only in my backyard but equally around the world.

I feel a need to protect our oceans in any way that I can because it has made my life richer and has been a peaceful sanctuary to explore its beautiful reefs, marine mammals, and abundance of sea creatures.

Finding Mission Blue

I met Sylvia on several diving and expedition trips. I have also attended many of her talks in various parts of the Bay Area and most recently at our Northern CA chapter of the Explorers Club.

In 2015, I was on my first Elysium Artist for the Arctic Expedition and a scuba diver with Dr. Sylvia Earle and others in the Arctic on her 80th birthday. She is the most amazing advocate of our oceans that I have ever met or known, and I was immediately drawn to learn more about Mission Blue and her many conservation projects, including developing Hope Spots to protect our oceans.

There are so many that it is hard to pick one, but when I dived with Dr. Sylvia Earle in the Jardines de la Reina, Cuba, to document this Hope Spot, I learned how protection of this area was so meaningful. The beautiful, pristine corals and marine life were rich, as Cuba did not allow diving for so many years; thus, it remained unspoiled. Mission Blue seized a prime opportunity to make this a Hope Spot and conserve this special place.

© Virginia Bria

Paying it forward to the ocean

It means that I have tried to pay it forward to the ocean that has given me everything. I have explored the ocean worldwide and shared the beauty of nature, which has given me peace and health throughout my life. In return, the ocean never asks anything of me.

I cannot imagine the loss of so many sentient creatures I have photographed over the years and I feel an obligation to protect what I love for the next generation.

Hope for the next generation

Most important is to educate our young and share stories of the ocean and its importance and how we can best protect it.

On my most recent trip to the Arctic aboard the Sylvia Earle, with Sylvia as chief scientist and leader for the BIG ACE Expedition 2025, I was extremely hopeful when a group of youth ambassadors aged 9-24 shared what they learned from Sylvia and scientists aboard the Expedition and how they will continue to protect our oceans and make others aware of the devastation and danger to our oceans and mammals with climate change.

They were rock stars and reinforced my hope for the future of our planet.

Sylvia and Mission Blue bring a message of hope to so many, and I want to be one of the voices joining her mission into the future. She inspires the next generation of ocean advocates and conservation leaders by her example and passion.

This story has been edited from Virginia Bria’s responses for length and clarity.