Marine wilderness

Beaufort Scale Force 12

Albatross

In 1982 I studied B Fine Art (First year)at Rhodes University. After this I worked for Unicorn Lines as a navigator and Safmarine Lines as an engineer in the merchant navy. Then I did national service and served in the marines and navy divers in the SA Navy. During this time I experienced life on the open sea (marine wilderness) and interactions with marine wildlife.

Photo by Lesley Rochat		Photo by Lesley Rochat

Following national service (1989-90) I worked as a wilderness guide on the Orange River in the Richtersveld along the SA-Namibia border.

After this I worked as a lifeguard on Durban Beachfront (1991-2000) While working as a lifeguard I began to see the sea a wilderness area easily accessible from the city where one can experience the same real connections with nature and beyond that one experiences on a wilderness trail miles from civilization. It seemed to me that these experiences allow one to remain conscious of a bigger reality while trying to deal with the complications of the modern world, encourage a love and respect for nature and demonstrate the importance of protecting wild areas for future generations.

I met wilderness guides from the Wilderness Leadership School and began planning sea kayak outings along the coast into wild areas. Dr Ian Player, founder of the WLS and others involved with WLS encouraged me to continue developing a marine wilderness program.

From 2008 to 2010 while working as an evironmental educator for the Save Our Seas Shark Centre and KELP in Cape Town I developed marine wilderness outings as part of the education programs.

Outings progressed from rock pool lessons at the Shark Centre to outings into Cape Point Reserve which included a hike through a remote stretch of coast, rock pool lessons, kelp life cycle lessons, a kelp forest movie, kelp vuvuzela painting and then a swim in the tidal pool.

Cape Point outings - Gifkommetjie hike		Tidal Pool - Cape Point - Boortjies Rif

Outings were attended by various groups but largely by school groups from disadvantaged communities (often people with close ties to rural areas and traditional lifestyles) Outings encouraged a love and respect for wild areas and wild animals and respect for traditional cultural values. The experience also demonstrated the importance of having marine wilderness areas for future generations and encouraged people to become involved with conservation of our wild areas and wild life.

Groups from Waves for Change (working with vulnerable youth to provide productive experiences through surfing) attended outings to the reserve and outings along the False Bay Coast linked to surfing lessons.

In 2010 together with the Kommetjie community we arranged a surf shool in memory of Pierre Du Plessis at Muizenberg which included rock pool lessons and a kelp painting exercise.

I was invited to talk at the Global Wave conference 2011 (International surf conservation) in Biarritz (France) and San Sebastian (Spain) organised by the Surfrider Foundation. My subject was connecting to nature through surfing. This was a good opportunity to meet international conservationists in the surfing world.

In 2012 I began working with the RNLI in Cornwall as a lifeguard during the UK summer months while developing plans to take my marine wilderness conservation work further with links to international groups.

During following years while working for the RNLI I began talks with students and received an enthusiasic response from students wanting to help SA conservation by doing work experiences in SA. I arranged meetings between people in SA and UK involved with student placements.

I spoke at the Global Wave Conference 2015 (Bedruthan's Steps - Cornwall) organised by Surfers Against Sewage. At this time I took advantage of public speaking opportunities to talk about marine wilderness issues and to raise support and awareness for conservationists in SA dealing with the poaching crisis (especially rhino) unfolding at the time.

Dr Fowlds (wildlife vet) involved with Chipembere Rhino Foundation (rhino anti-poaching, Eastern Cape, South Africa) recommended working with international students to raise money and support for anti-poaching. While in the UK I have been raising money and awareness for Chipembere. Donations have been used for anti-poaching work on Kariega Reserve close to the E Cape coast.


Since 2018 every year I have been spending time on Oahu, Hawaii, North Shore working as a volunteer on coastal conservation projects linked to the surfing world. Work is mainly clearing invasive vegetation and planting indigenous trees and plants, It has been very rewarding to see the progress over the years and to see the return of indigenous birds. Laysan Albatross have increased from one nesting pair in 2017 to 33 nesting pairs in 2025.


it has been very encouraging to work on very successful conservation projects on one of the best known beachfronts of the world with groups who work with an approach very similar to the marine wilderness program I developed in SA with links to the Wilderness Leadership School. Projects encourage a love and respect for nature, a respect for indigenous knowledge, traditions and beliefs and create opportunities where people can become involved be part of a solution by making a real, appreciated contribution. Great experience.


I hope to help develop productive ties between conservationists in SA and Hawaii.

I plan to continue raising money and awareness through my art and presentations to help conservation projects in SA and continue developing ties with like minded people and organisations through which to become more involved with marine wilderness conservation.