Underwater Earth

22/02/2026

Underwater Earth and Ocean Lovers Festival are collectively thrilled to announce that this March 2026, to align with the Ocean Lovers Festival month of blue, we will be hosting our second month-long Sydney Coast Hope Spot Marine Bioblitz and we warmly invite you to be involved.

Event details:

What: Sydney Coast Hope Spot Marine Bioblitz 2026
When: 1–31 March 2026
Where: Sydney Coast Hope Spot region (the coastal area from Newcastle in the north, down to Wollongong in the south, including estuaries and Sydney Harbour)

The Marine Bioblitz aims to engage the community in documenting the rich biodiversity of Sydney's coastal and marine environments.

Why get involved?

Contribute to conservation: Your participation will provide valuable data that can inform and enhance marine science and conservation efforts in our region.

Community engagement: This is an excellent opportunity to engage your colleagues and the broader community in meaningful environmental action.
Be part of a growing movement: By joining us, you become part of an annual initiative that aims to foster a deeper connection between Sydney Coast's residents and our precious marine ecosystems.

How individuals can participate:

Download the iNaturalist app from either the App Store or Play Store, and set up your own account.

In the iNaturalist app, follow Sydney Coast Hope Spot Marine Bioblitz 2026 to receive Project Updates.

Before March 1, review the instructions on the website to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

From March 1, head to Sydney's beautiful coastline to capture photos of the diverse marine life you encounter - be that in the air, along the water line, in rockpools, snorkeling or diving.

After exploring, please upload your photos to the iNaturalist. They will automatically be added to our Project page due to its GPS tag.

Build a growing community: At any time before and during, encourage your friends, colleagues, members and supporters to gather their family and friends

Host your own event: Organise your own special event in support of the Sydney Coast Hope Spot Marine Bioblitz. If you choose to create your own iNaturalist project page please ensure all your observations remain open-sourced, allowing iNaturalist to integrate your observations into our overall results.

For more details about the Marine Bioblitz, please visit https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/sydney-coast-marine-bioblitz. Our 2025 Marine Bioblitz outcomes report can be found there too.

We look forward to your support and participation in this exciting month-long event.

Warm regards,

Lorna Parry, Champion, Sydney Coast Hope Spot

Anita Kolni, Champion, Sydney Coast Hope Spot

Carolyn Grant, Champion, Sydney Coast Hope Spot

Image: Vanessa Torres Macho

14/06/2025

This past week, global leaders, scientists, and activists gathered in Nice for the United Nations Ocean Conference—the largest ocean summit in history. The message was clear and urgent: time is running out to reverse the collapse of our ocean.

From bold commitments to combat plastic pollution to ambitious goals like protecting 30% of the world’s seas by 2030, it was a planetary emergency call to action. Here are some of the groundbreaking outcomes from UNOC:

- World’s Largest Marine Protected Area: French Polynesia made history by announcing the creation of the world’s largest network of marine protected areas, covering its entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of nearly 5 million km². This includes 1.1 million km² of highly or fully protected ocean.
- UK’s Ban on Bottom Trawling: Inspired by the eye-opening film OCEAN with David Attenborough, the UK announced a ban on bottom trawling in 41 Marine Protected Areas.
- High Seas Treaty Progress: France anticipates the High Seas Treaty will meet the 60-country ratification threshold by September 23, 2025, paving the way for stronger international ocean governance.
- Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium: A coalition of 37 global leaders declared their commitment to halting deep-sea mining.
- Coral Reef Protection: Eleven nations pledged to safeguard climate-resilient reefs as part of a united global ocean effort.

The Underwater Earth team had a productive and inspiring week on the ground in Nice. We celebrated successes like Mission Blue Hope Spots and World Oceans Day with Oceanic Global, TBA21-Academy and other friends; shared innovative experiences in Virtual Reality with The Nature Conservancy, joined the OceanX team on their iconic vessel; and connected with many delegations from Australia ( Ocean Decade Australia) and New Caledonia. We were particularly inspired by the Kanak people’s deep, spiritual vision of the ocean.

UNOC3 also underscored the transformative power of creative digital tools. At Underwater Earth, we believe facts alone rarely ignite change. Immersive and emotional storytelling, through mediums like Virtual Reality, can deeply connect people to ocean issues, even those who have never seen the ocean firsthand.

This week was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together. Let’s continue to turn the tide for our ocean!

09/06/2025

Immense congratulations, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, from team Underwater Earth, on receiving today such a prestigious award!
The Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
Australia's highest civilian honour.
For eminent service to , particularly research, conservation and management of ecosystems, and tertiary education.
And perfect timing, aligning with World Oceans Week and UNOC3!

Having worked closely with Prof. Em. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg at The University of Queensland for over 15 years, our team wholeheartedly agree: not only have you positively impacted the future of vital marine ecosystems through sustained leadership and by embracing innovation, you’ve also been ‘an absolute legend’ to work with. Humble, brave, ever-questioning, collaborative, honourable.

We are very proud of the projects and achievements we’ve delivered together, with you at the helm as Chief Scientist. It’s an impressive list, Ove!
We had a lot of fun along the way, too.

Some of the highlights…

Testing our SVI and camera systems on Heron Island together with your science team.

You on stage, launching our first Google Street View collection at The Economist World Ocean Summit in Singapore, marvelling the audience with a live underwater Google Hangout from the - so thankful the new tech worked on the day!

The XL Catlin Seaview Survey, a multi-year global baseline survey of the world’s coral reefs. So many shared adventures. The science outputs alone include an estimated 90+ scientific papers https://lnkd.in/gx783xtE

AI analysis of over one million baseline coral reef images to form the open-source Global Reef Record, back when AI was in its infancy.

A major coral reef exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London.

Delivering a key COP21/Paris side event, with you on the panel alongside guests Sir David Attenborough, Sir Richard Branson, Sylvia Earle and Marco Lambertini driving the message, we need to be aiming for below 1.5 degrees of warming if we stand any chance of saving coral reefs.

Announcing the Third Global Coral Bleaching Event alongside National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Each playing our part in Chasing Coral, the Emmy-award-winning Netflix Original Documentary about the work we’ve done together, thanks to Director Jeff Orlowski and the team at Exposure Labs. Celebrating as a team at Sundance was a blast, and surreal, so many coral reef legends surrounded by snow!

Back at the Economist World Ocean Summit, this time in Bali, launching our joint initiative, , a science-based approach designed to strengthen and expand coral reef investment and conservation efforts in priority coral reef locations across the globe. https://lnkd.in/dVjESkGz

Of course, none of the above was done in isolation; a massive support team based on partnership and collaboration were also involved, but your part can never be underestimated, huge congrats, Ove, and a big thank you.

08/06/2025

Happy World Oceans Day to all and WONDER !
We're celebrating World Oceans Day today from Nice (France) where Underwater Earth is participating in the United Nations Ocean conference.
Today is an important celebration as we call on decision makers to protect what sustains all life and to honor the ocean's wonder when determining its fate, "because the ocean is our world's greatest wonder" as Sylvia Earle delivers in yet another powerful message in this inspiring video. Please share.
United Nations UN Environment Programme (UNDOALOS) Oceanic Global Mission Blue Sylvia A. Earle

04/06/2025

A busy and week, World Reef Awareness last Sunday (June 1), today World Environment Day (June 5), and Sunday (June 8) is World Oceans Day (although we like to call it World Ocean Day, one ocean).

As the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) rapidly approaches in Nice, we chose to highlight this busy week with this impressive program, launching today, the world’s first interactive map of migration routes, revealing the growing dangers whales face in the ocean, the world over.
A project built on to create a stronger - more than 50 participating research groups across the globe.
https://bluecorridors.org/

And for those wanting to experience the of in Virtual Reality, grab a headset and watch our VR Film Guardians of the Kingdom - an interwoven story of two mothers — one human, one whale — and the connections that bind them. It is the story of reconciliation between a giant who was once hunted and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga*
https://lnkd.in/gT3wHemT
With the Voice of Sylvia A. Earle of Mission Blue
Directed by Sophie Ansel and Christophe Bailhache.
A Production by Underwater Earth, Seaview 360, Vulcan Productions, Global Mana Foundation, ITRAMAS Corporation & Projects for Good.

(*It appears there currently is no data available on the Blue Corridors site for Tonga.)

08/05/2025

Happiest of (99th) birthdays to one incredible champion, Sir David Attenborough.
Today's about celebrating how much you have achieved in your many years of natural world and , and acknowledging what a fabulous human you are, making yourself accessible to your fans.
At Underwater Earth, we've been reminiscing on our time spent together in Paris, at COP21 in 2015. Such a privilege to have you join other ocean legends (including Sylvia A. Earle, Richard Branson, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and Marco Lambertini) for the side-event and panel we organised and collaboratively hosted, discussing the need to limit the threshold to 1.5 degrees if we have any hope of surviving.
Today is also the day your new documentary launches publicly. (See the trailer here - https://lnkd.in/gGFhtQdE). Drawing on a lifetime of knowledge to reveal how Earth’s vast, interconnected waterways can be restored by saving the . We have very high expectations for the film's success. The film's optimism is critical.

Revealing the ocean to the world using innovative technology and creative communication

08/03/2025

Our co-founder, Lorna Parry has been busy curating an incredible lineup of Ocean Lovers Talks this year, and we’d love those local to to come be inspired.

📅 Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 March
📍 High Tide Room, Bondi Pavilion

🌊 Totally free, super relaxed vibes – rock up in your swimmers, no worries!
🌊 Inspiring talks by ocean-loving experts & change-makers
🌊 Easy to register via the website & Humanitix → Ocean Lovers Talks https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/ocean-lovers-talks

With 8 solo speakers, 18 panel events, and 4 book signings, there’s something for everyone. I’m speaking on Sunday too (Art for ocean conservation: shaping perceptions, inspiring action) as are Underwater Earth members Colette and Adam (Octopus - the ocean’s deepest thinkers)!

How can you help:

1) Attend - as many of the talks as you like!

2) Help fill the room with ocean-loving energy—please share this post with fellow ocean-loving souls! 🌊💙

Our Ocean Lovers Talks is a feature event of the Ocean Lovers Festival, focused on solutions from the ocean and ways we can better protect our ocean, with FREE inspirational talks by leaders and luminaries, scientists, innovators and adventurers.

07/03/2025

🌊 Create Waves of Change across Sydney! 🌊

Hey Ocean Lovers! 🌊 Our Co-founder Lorna Parry is speaking at the 2025 Ocean Lovers FestivalTalks Series on Sunday 23 March at the Pavilion, Bondi Beach in the panel discussion: "Art for ocean conservation: shaping perceptions, inspiring action"

Come join her, host Robin Mellon and her fellow panellists, Dr Leonardo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society and artist Jenny Turpin.

Art has the power to captivate, educate, and inspire action—and in ocean conservation, creativity is a vital force for change. This dynamic panel brings together science, conservation, and storytelling to explore how art in its many forms can shift perceptions, spark curiosity, and drive marine protection efforts

And do not forget, the Ocean Lovers Festival is on for the whole of March.
📍 Find an event near you or check out the full program on their website.

01/03/2025

As Mission Blue Hope Spot Champions for the Sydney Coast region, in partnership with the Ocean Lovers Festival, Underwater Earth is undertaking, throughout the month of March, a Marine Bioblitz and we need ocean lovers to assist us! If you live, work and play along the coast, from Newcastle to the north down to Wollongong to the south we would love to photograph marine species and upload them to iNaturalist. Any marine species shot is of value to science, be that from your next coastal walk or rook pooling, snorkelling, free diving or scuba adventure.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19zNYijWnU/

Thank you to all the fabulous supporters who assist us with the Sydney Coast activations and this Marine Bioblitz. Apologies if I am remiss, and do not list any of you here...

Thomas Mesaglio
Harry Rosenthal
Brett Lobwein Brett Lobwein UW Images
Vanessa Torres Macho Vanessa Torres Macho Photography
Harriet Spark Harriet Spark
Woody Spark Woody Spark
John Turnbull
Leo Clifford
Matty Smith Matt Smith
Nicolas Remy & Lena Remy
Talia Greis Talia Greis

18/02/2025

Living Seawalls Tour

WHEN: 4pm - 5pm Sunday, March 16
WHERE: Fairy Bower Beach (Marine Parade & Bower Lane, Manly)

https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/living-seawalls-tour

Join us for an exclusive tour of the Living Seawalls installation at Fairy Bower, Manly, and discover how cutting-edge marine habitat panels are restoring biodiversity in urban waterways.

Led by Professor Melanie Bishop, Living Seawalls Co-Lead and former NSW Scientist of the Year, this tour takes you up close—during low tide—to see how these innovative structures support snails, crabs, oysters, mussels, and seaweeds, revitalising marine ecosystems affected by human development.

Did you know? Living Seawalls were 2021 Earthshot Prize finalists, a prestigious environmental award founded by the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

🚶 Getting There: A 15-minute walk from Manly Wharf
📅 Who Can Join? Recommended for ages 12+
🌊 What to Bring? Stepping into shallow water is optional, but wearing shorts or roll-up pants is advised
🌦 Weather: In case of heavy wind or rain, the tour may be rescheduled
💙 All proceeds support the Sydney Institute of Marine Science – Living Seawalls program

Don't miss this chance to see ocean innovation in action!

Join us for an exclusive tour of the Living Seawalls installation at Fairy Bower, Manly, and discover how cutting-edge marine habitat panels are restoring biodiversity in urban waterways. ​

15/02/2025

From Newcastle south to Wollongong - if are you planning to be near, on or under the water with a camera spotting marine life at any time during March, then why not join the Sydney Coast Hope Spot Marine Bioblitz. The team would love your observations recorded on iNaturalist!

To find out more, visit - https://www.sydneycoasthopespot.org/marine-bioblitz

This is a collaboration between Underwater Earth and the Ocean Lovers Festival, with support from many passionate organisations, communities and individuals.

Image: Underwater Earth/XL Catlin Seaview Survey/ Christophe Bailhache

03/12/2024

Come join us in exploring
DOORWAY TO HEAVEN

Shot by Christophe Bailhache of Underwater Earth back in January 2013 at the dive site Batu Rufus in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

With 600 species of coral and more than 1,300 species of coral reef fish, Raja Ampat, considered the epicentre of the Coral Triangle, has the highest level of marine biodiversity in the world. Take a virtual dive to experience this underwater richness at the beautiful sloping coral garden of Batu Rufus, leading to a swim-through arch.

“Hovering there, taking in the breathtaking beauty, I remember thinking could this be a doorway to some kind of heaven?”