A Brief But Spectacular take on protecting what we love

Key Concepts

• Ocean Conservation
• Freediving
• Human-Ocean Connection
• "I Am Water Ocean Conservation Foundation"
• Empowerment through Nature
• Instilling "Wildness"

The Intrinsic Human-Ocean Connection and the Call to Protect

Hanli Prinsloo, a renowned freediver and ocean conservationist, articulates a fundamental connection between humanity and the ocean. She highlights that "our bodies are 70% water," mirroring the fact that "70% of the surface of our planet is ocean." Furthermore, she notes that human bodily fluids share the "same salinity as the ocean." This biological intertwining forms the bedrock of her core belief: "We are water and I truly believe that we protect what we love. And that when something we love is threatened, we act." This perspective serves as the central argument for her life's work in ocean conservation.

Childhood Roots and the Discovery of Freediving

Prinsloo's deep connection to nature began during her childhood on a horse farm outside Pretoria, South Africa. Her early memories include riding horses bareback, climbing tall trees, catching frogs, and listening to owls, guided by two simple rules: "Come home before the sunset and don't die." From a young age, she harbored a desire "to be a mermaid," exploring dams and rivers and experiencing the "stillness of being below the surface." This innate longing found its ultimate expression later in life with the discovery of freediving. She defines "free diving" as going "down on one breath and swim underwater holding your breath," recognizing it as the activity she had always yearned to do.

The Transformative Experience of Freediving

Prinsloo vividly describes a profound freediving experience in a small village on the southeastern cape, where she encountered massive schools of "jack fish." These schools, comprising "thousands of them," appeared as a "wall" that, upon diving, "opens up and swallows you." This immersion leads to a sensory deprivation where one "can't see the surface of the water, you can't see around you, you can't see the bottom," being completely surrounded by a "swirling, living cloud of fish." She describes this as feeling like she had "dived into the center of our world, our planet," and had "become something other than myself," underscoring the transformative power of such deep connection with marine life.

The "I Am Water Ocean Conservation Foundation"

Recognizing that "the ocean has not been a place for everyone in South Africa," Hanli Prinsloo founded the "I Am Water Ocean Conservation Foundation" in 2010. The foundation's mission is to "share the ocean with more than the few who get to go into the water." A significant impact of their work is providing ocean experiences to young children, many of whom are the first in their families to have such an encounter. This initiative is described as profoundly "empowering," demonstrating a real-world application of her philosophy by fostering connection and stewardship among underserved communities.

Instilling "Wildness" in Future Generations

Prinsloo's personal dream extends to instilling a sense of "wildness" in her own children, mirroring the connection she experienced in her youth. This "wildness" can manifest in appreciating the smallest details, like an "inchworm in the garden," or the grandeur of nature, such as the "absolute majesty of the kelp forest soaring from the bottom to the surface." Her ultimate desire is for them to "always remember they are wild," emphasizing the importance of maintaining an innate connection to the natural world for future generations.

Conclusion

Hanli Prinsloo's "Brief but Spectacular" perspective powerfully articulates that our inherent biological connection to the ocean compels us to protect it. Through her personal journey as a freediver and her impactful work with the I Am Water Ocean Conservation Foundation, she demonstrates that fostering direct, empowering experiences with the ocean is crucial for inspiring its stewardship. Her message culminates in a call to preserve and cultivate a sense of "wildness" in ourselves and future generations, ensuring a lasting commitment to the health of our planet's most vital ecosystem.