Sylvia Earle

Aliases: “Her Deepness”
Role: Oceanographer, marine biologist, explorer, conservationist, author
Affiliation: Mission Blue (founder and president), NOAA (former chief scientist), National Geographic Explorer in Residence, Deep Ocean Exploration & Research (DOER Marine, founder), Shark Research Institute (Honorary President), Rolex ambassador, SCUBAPRO Deep Elite ambassador
First appearance: 2006 (mentioned in Wyland interview); dedicated coverage from 2009 onward

Biography

Dr. Sylvia A. Earle (born 1935) is one of the world’s most renowned oceanographers and ocean conservation advocates. Known by the nickname “Her Deepness” — bestowed by the New Yorker and the New York Times — she has logged more than 7,000 hours underwater over a career spanning decades. ([1]) She was the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a distinction recognized by TIME magazine in its 2017 book FIRSTS: Women Who are Changing the World. ([2])

Earle has been called a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress and was chosen as TIME magazine’s first “hero for the planet.” ([3]) She is a National Geographic Explorer in Residence and the founder of Deep Ocean Exploration & Research (DOER Marine). ([4]) She also served on SCUBAPRO’s board during the 1970s and later joined the company’s Deep Elite ambassador program. ([5])

Earle serves as Honorary President of the Shark Research Institute, where she has championed shark conservation as critical to ocean ecosystem health. In 2010 she stated: “If we take away the top of the ocean food chain — the sharks — the whole system will break down.” ([6])

Mission Blue and Hope Spots

Earle founded Mission Blue, an organization that leads a global coalition to inspire public awareness, access, and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas, designated as “Hope Spots.” Under her leadership, Mission Blue uses documentaries, social media, traditional media, and tools like Google Earth to elevate Hope Spots to the world stage. The Mission Blue alliance includes more than 180 ocean conservation groups and like-minded organizations. ([7])

In a 2010 TIME magazine special, Earle renewed her appeal for more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), highlighting that while 12% of the earth’s land is protected, less than 1% of the oceans received similar protection. She described the oceans as having been treated as “a supermarket and a sewer” and warned that changes in ocean chemistry due to climate change and acidification would have disastrous consequences. ([8])

The Ascension Island marine reserve — 234,291 sq. km (90,460 sq. miles) in the Atlantic — was described as a “hope spot” by Earle. ([9])

In June 2017, Mission Blue formalized a partnership with PADI (led by CEO Drew Richardson), uniting the organizations to empower the global diver community as ocean conservation advocates. ([10])

Google Earth Ocean

Earle was the driving force behind the Ocean layer in Google Earth 5.0, launched on February 4, 2009, at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. The new component enabled users to dive virtually beneath the water surface, explore 3D underwater terrain, and browse ocean-related content contributed by leaders in ocean science and advocacy including National Geographic, NOAA, the BBC, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Scripps, and WWF. Wetpixel contributor Bruce Yates attended the launch event and described Earle as “simply bubbling over with enthusiasm for ocean conservation” — an inspiration who “makes us feel like we all could — and should — do more to save the oceans.” Other speakers at the launch included Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Terry Garcia of National Geographic, former Vice President Al Gore, and Jimmy Buffett. ([11])

Film and Media Work

Mission Blue Documentary (2014)

Earle’s biography and call to action, Mission Blue, was released on Netflix in August 2014. The film traces her life of exploration and her dedication to awakening the world to the need to protect the oceans. Earle stated: “I wish that you would use all means at your disposal — films, expeditions, the web, new submarines — and campaign to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas — hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.” ([12])

Film Narration and Appearances

Earle narrated the film Whale Shark Island by [13], which won the non-broadcast category at the 2010 BLUE Ocean Film Festival. The film depicted whale shark aggregations off Mexico’s Isla Holbox and the tension between tourism and conservation. ([14])

She also narrated the shark conservation documentary “This is Your Ocean: Sharks”, alongside Guy Harvey, [15], and Jim Abernethy. The film won the MacGillivray-Freeman Films Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking in 2011. ([16])

HATCH Ocean Film Challenge (2017)

In December 2017, Earle launched the HATCH Ocean Film Challenge, hosted by Audience Awards, seeking short films (8 minutes or under) addressing ocean threats including overfishing, plastic pollution, ocean acidification, sea temperature rise, and lack of marine protected areas. The top-ranked films were slated to premiere at the DC Environmental Film Festival, International Wildlife Film Festival, and AudFest. Earle declared: “How we treat the oceans in the next 10 years will determine the fate of our planet for the next 10,000 years… There is no other planet. No water anywhere else. We have to save this.” ([17])

Book Forewords and Introductions

Earle wrote the introduction to Scubazoo’s Reef (2007), a 360-page coffee table book of underwater photography with thematic chapters on reef conservation. ([18])

She also wrote the introduction to Christian Vizl’s Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves (2019), a monochrome underwater photography book published by Earth Aware Editions. ([19])

Earle is mentioned alongside William Beebe and Jacques Cousteau in the history chapter of Nick Hanna and Alex Mustard’s The Art of Diving (2007) as one of the towering figures who were transformed by diving — “towering figures turn into whimpering addicts, wanton creatures craving to jump into the water.” ([20])

Awards Named in Her Honor

Sylvia Earle Award (BLUE Ocean Film Festival)

The BLUE Ocean Film Festival created the Sylvia Earle Award, presented annually for outstanding ocean advocacy. The award was first given to Dr. Earle herself in 2009 and subsequently carries her name. In 2010, Dr. Carl Safina received the award, which Earle presented at the BLUE Carpet Awards Ceremony in Monterey, California. ([21])

Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2009, Earle received the first Bonaire Lifetime Achievement Award for North America, recognizing her long-serving contributions to ocean conservation. ([22])

SCUBAPRO Deep Elite Ambassador Scholarship

In 2014, SCUBAPRO launched a scholarship contest in Earle’s honor, celebrating her impact on marine science, exploration, conservation, and ocean awareness. Earle stated: “Every diver should be an ambassador for the ocean. Every diver should tell people that fish have a personality, every diver should be out front doing what he can or she can to take care of the ocean.” ([23])

Wetpixel Coverage

Conference and Event Appearances

Beneath the Sea 2007, New Jersey — Earle was in the audience at the Beneath the Sea show’s “Diver of the Year” Awards Reception and Banquet in Secaucus, New Jersey, alongside luminaries including Bob Evans, Phil Nuytten, and Bret Gilliam. ([24])

BLUE Ocean Film Festival 2010 — At the second BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, Earle presented the Sylvia Earle Award to Dr. Carl Safina during the BLUE Carpet Awards. ([25])

BLUE Ocean Film Festival 2012 — Earle participated in announcing the 2012 festival finalists via a Google+ Hangout alongside Fabien Cousteau, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and others. ([26]) She attended the festival in Monterey, where she participated in conservation panel discussions alongside the Prince of Monaco, James Cameron, Bob Ballard, Captain Don Walsh, and Congressman Sam Farr. Wetpixel publisher Eric Cheng photographed Earle at the event. ([27])

Monterey Underwater Film Festival 2014 — Earle presented “A Life of Deep Sea Exploration” at the 2014 Monterey Underwater Film Festival, alongside Adam Ravetch, Cristian Dimitrius, and Erick Higuera. ([28])

ADEX 2017, Singapore — At the Asian Dive Exhibition in April 2017, themed around climate change, Earle was among the luminaries presenting talks on climate change and its ocean impacts. ([29])

Elle Magazine Interview (2017) — Earle was interviewed by Elle magazine as part of a series on Rolex ambassadors. At 81, she spoke about her background, her passion for the ocean, and her hope for the future: “The diversity of life and looking at any living thing is a miracle. Life is a miracle. I am a miracle. Everyone is.” ([30])

TIME FIRSTS Book (2017) — Earle was featured as the “Oceanographer” in TIME’s FIRSTS: Women Who are Changing the World, recognized for being the first woman to become NOAA chief scientist. She reflected: “The cultural bias is what it is. Men and women are different, and the society of men as leaders has predominated the society in which I came along. It’s still very much there, but it’s getting better. Women are every bit as intellectually competent as our male counterparts.” ([31])

DEMA 2017, Orlando — Earle and Drew Richardson (PADI CEO) held a press event at DEMA 2017 to encourage the dive community to be a force for ocean conservation. Earle stated: “Change comes when people care, and there are no better messengers to communicate the beauty and fragility of the ocean than divers who have a direct, emotional connection to the ocean.” ([32])

UN World Oceans Day 2020 — Earle was a featured speaker in the “State of the Ocean” segment of the virtual UN World Oceans Day event on June 8, 2020, alongside Bill McKibben, providing an overview of the state of the ocean. ([33])

Diving Talks Congress 2021, Portugal — Earle was announced as a featured speaker at the Diving Talks International Congress in Troia, Portugal, alongside Cristina Zenato, Jill Heinerth, and others. ([34])

Mentions by Peers

Wyland cited Earle as a special guest alongside Dr. Robert Ballard in his “Clean Water for the 21st Century” educational program touring schools and aquariums nationwide. ([35])

Underwater photography veteran Marty Snyderman invoked Earle’s authority when asked about the greatest threat to the oceans, saying: “A person like Sylvia Earle is much, much better equipped to answer this question… Anything I say is taking words of Sylvia Earle’s which there are not too many in the world, spinning around in my head.” ([36])

Wetpixel covered Earle’s Huffington Post blog post for World Ocean Day 2013. ([37]) A separate news item noted her lecture on “Quest for Sustainable Seas” at UC in March 2013. ([38])

Timeline

References

Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2019: Silent Kingdom A World Beneath The Waves Available For Pre Order ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2017: Dr. Sylvia Earle Interviewed By Time For The New Book Firsts Women Who Are ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2019: Silent Kingdom A World Beneath The Waves Available For Pre Order ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2014: Scubapro Launches Photo And Essay Contest ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2014: Scubapro Launches Photo And Essay Contest ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Sep 26, 2010: Palau President Receives Ocean Heritage Award ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2017: Sylvia Earle And Drew Richardson Encourage Dive Community To Be A Force For ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2010: Dr Sylvia Earle Calls For More Marine Protected Areas ↩
  9. Wetpixel article, Jan 5, 2016: Ascension Island Marine Reserve Announced ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2017: Sylvia Earle And Drew Richardson Encourage Dive Community To Be A Force For ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2009: Google Launches Ocean In Google Earth 50 ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, Aug 18, 2014: Sylvia Earles Mission Blue Available On Netflix ↩
  13. Kip Evans (article) ↩
  14. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2011: Video Whale Shark Island By Kip Evans ↩
  15. Wyland (article) ↩
  16. Wetpixel article, Dec 21, 2011: This Is Your Ocean Sharks Alternate Trailer ↩
  17. Wetpixel article, Dec 15, 2017: Sylvia Earle Announces The Hatch Ocean Film Challenge ↩
  18. Wetpixel article, Oct 18, 2007: Review Of Reef By Scubazoo ↩
  19. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2019: Silent Kingdom A World Beneath The Waves Available For Pre Order ↩
  20. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2007: Review Of The Art Of Diving By Nick Hanna And Alex Mustard ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2010: Dr Carl Safina To Receive 2010 Sylvia Earle Award ↩
  22. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire ↩
  23. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2014: Scubapro Launches Photo And Essay Contest ↩
  24. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  25. Wetpixel article, Aug 30, 2010: Blue Ocean Film Festival Winners Announced ↩
  26. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2012: Finalists Of The Blue Ocean Film Festival Announced ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, Oct 5, 2012: Photo Essay The Blue Festival 20121 ↩
  28. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2014: Monterey Underwater Film Festival August 9 2014 ↩
  29. Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2017: Report Imaging Products At Adex 2017 ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2017: Dr. Sylvia Earle Interview With Elle Magazine ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2017: Dr. Sylvia Earle Interviewed By Time For The New Book Firsts Women Who Are ↩
  32. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2017: Sylvia Earle And Drew Richardson Encourage Dive Community To Be A Force For ↩
  33. Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2020: Full Schedule Un World Oceans Day 2020 ↩
  34. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2021: Tickets Available Diving Talks Congress 2021 ↩
  35. Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2006: 21 Questions With Wyland ↩
  36. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2017: Interview With Marty Snyderman ↩
  37. News items, Jun 2013 ↩
  38. News items, Mar 2013 ↩
  39. Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2006: 21 Questions With Wyland ↩
  40. Wetpixel article, Mar 29, 2007: Beneath The Sea 2007 Dive Show Report ↩
  41. Wetpixel article, Oct 18, 2007: Review Of Reef By Scubazoo ↩
  42. Wetpixel article, Feb 4, 2009: Google Launches Ocean In Google Earth 50 ↩
  43. Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2010: Dr Eugenie Clark To Be Honored In Bonaire ↩
  44. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2010: Dr Carl Safina To Receive 2010 Sylvia Earle Award ↩
  45. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2010: Dr Carl Safina To Receive 2010 Sylvia Earle Award ↩
  46. Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2010: Dr Sylvia Earle Calls For More Marine Protected Areas ↩
  47. Wetpixel article, Sep 26, 2010: Palau President Receives Ocean Heritage Award ↩
  48. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2011: Video Whale Shark Island By Kip Evans ↩
  49. Wetpixel article, Dec 21, 2011: This Is Your Ocean Sharks Alternate Trailer ↩
  50. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2012: Finalists Of The Blue Ocean Film Festival Announced ↩
  51. Wetpixel article, Oct 5, 2012: Photo Essay The Blue Festival 20121 ↩
  52. News items, Mar 2013 ↩
  53. News items, Jun 2013 ↩
  54. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2014: Scubapro Launches Photo And Essay Contest ↩
  55. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2014: Monterey Underwater Film Festival August 9 2014 ↩
  56. Wetpixel article, Aug 18, 2014: Sylvia Earles Mission Blue Available On Netflix ↩
  57. Wetpixel article, Jan 5, 2016: Ascension Island Marine Reserve Announced ↩
  58. Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2017: Report Imaging Products At Adex 2017 ↩
  59. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2017: Dr. Sylvia Earle Interview With Elle Magazine ↩
  60. Wetpixel article, Sep 7, 2017: Dr. Sylvia Earle Interviewed By Time For The New Book Firsts Women Who Are ↩
  61. Wetpixel article, Nov 8, 2017: Sylvia Earle And Drew Richardson Encourage Dive Community To Be A Force For ↩
  62. Wetpixel article, Dec 15, 2017: Sylvia Earle Announces The Hatch Ocean Film Challenge ↩
  63. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2019: Silent Kingdom A World Beneath The Waves Available For Pre Order ↩
  64. Wetpixel article, Jun 4, 2020: Full Schedule Un World Oceans Day 2020 ↩
  65. Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2021: Tickets Available Diving Talks Congress 2021 ↩
  66. 21 Questions with Wyland (article) ↩
  67. Review of The Art of Diving by Nick Hanna and Alex Mustard (article) ↩
  68. Beneath the Sea 2007 Dive Show Report (article) ↩
  69. Review of Reef by Scubazoo (article) ↩
  70. Google launches Ocean in Google Earth 5.0 (article) ↩
  71. Dr. Eugenie Clark to be honored in Bonaire (article) ↩
  72. Dr. Carl Safina to receive 2010 Sylvia Earle Award (article) ↩
  73. Blue Ocean Film Festival winners announced (article) ↩
  74. Dr. Sylvia Earle calls for more Marine Protected Areas (article) ↩
  75. Palau President receives Ocean Heritage Award (article) ↩
  76. Video: Whale Shark Island by Kip Evans (article) ↩
  77. This is Your Ocean: Sharks alternate trailer (article) ↩
  78. Finalists of the Blue Ocean Film Festival announced (article) ↩
  79. Photo essay: The BLUE Ocean Film Festival 2012 (article) ↩
  80. Scubapro launches photo and essay contest (article) ↩
  81. Monterey Underwater Film Festival August 9, 2014 (article) ↩
  82. Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue available on Netflix (article) ↩
  83. Ascension Island marine reserve announced (article) ↩
  84. Video: Dolphins swimming in bioluminescent waters (article) ↩
  85. Interview with Marty Snyderman (article) ↩
  86. Report: Imaging Products at ADEX 2017 (article) ↩
  87. Dr. Sylvia Earle interview with Elle magazine (article) ↩
  88. Dr. Sylvia Earle interviewed by TIME for FIRSTS (article) ↩
  89. Sylvia Earle and Drew Richardson Encourage Dive Community to Be a Force for Good (article) ↩
  90. Sylvia Earle announces the HATCH Ocean Film Challenge (article) ↩
  91. Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves available for pre-order (article) ↩
  92. Full Schedule: UN World Oceans Day 2020 (article) ↩
  93. Tickets Available: Diving Talks Congress 2021 (article) ↩
  94. Vincent Kneefel: Giants of the Caribbean (article) ↩
  95. News items: March 2013 (news) ↩
  96. News items: June 2013 (news) ↩