5 Ways to Connect with the Ocean during Isolation
Jennifer Thomson
It’s hard to connect with the ocean during coronavirus lockdown. If you’re missing the sound of ocean waves, seeing your favourite marine animals, or just simply looking to learn more about the watery world, we’ve put together our top podcast, course, talk, videos and blog just for you. Scroll down for some ocean-related content, sit back, relax and unwind, and let us know your favourites!
1) PODCAST: OceanPoddy
https://www.nuwave.store/oceanpoddy
A new venture by the Founder of Women in Ocean Science, Mads St Claire Baker; this podcast is the perfect length to listen to whilst getting your daily lockdown exercise! Featuring amazing marine biologists and underwater photographers from all over the world, this provides a light-hearted view of the current state of the ocean, what is being done to spread awareness, and ways in which we can make a difference. Oh, and it is also super informative too, if not making us slightly jealous due to all the amazing places and creatures the guests have seen…tune in to find out more.
2) ONLINE COURSE: GUE Online Photogrammetry
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OnlinePhotogrammetryClass/
For those of you with cancelled scuba training courses, John Kendall and Klees Leverenz from Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) have teamed up to produce a (topside) online course for teaching the basics of photogrammetry. The 4 x 1-hour sessions are all YouTube webinars (perfect for going back and listening to in your own time) and go through all the steps, configurations, and software really slowly! For someone who has never attempted photogrammetry before, I found this course super easy, and made a surprisingly successful model of a giant toy octopus. It is also very user-friendly; you can complete the course with a fancy camera, or a simple smartphone. The course ran in March, but was so well received, they are putting on another course in May! To sign up, head to the Facebook group to register for email alerts, the links to each webinar, and to see all the other participants’ creations!
3) TALKS: Manta Trust Webinar Series
https://www.mantatrust.org/webinars
A collection of fantastic speakers from one of the most well-known conservation organisations (and probably the dream internship for most of us) out there – the Manta Trust. Tune in for a series of talks throughout May to hear about all their projects - from locations such as the Azores, Maldives, and the Caribbean. Featuring researchers, conservationists, managers from the team itself, and underwater filmmakers; this is a series of talks you don’t want to miss out on.
4) VIDEOS: Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams
If you want no more than to curl up on the sofa and indulge in some animal videos, this is the one is for you. It may be closed to the public, but inside Monterey Bay Aquarium, the animals are still waiting to delight you. With 10 live cameras set up, featuring moon jellies, sea otters, penguins, sharks and more; you are only one click away from your favourite ocean organisms. Or, fancy talking a virtual trip into an underwater ecosystem? Watch the leopard sharks swim through the kelp forest exhibit, the tuna in the open ocean exhibit, or even the fish dance around coral reefs (and maybe you can spot Dory too?).
5) BLOG: The Sirene Project
https://www.thesireneproject.com/story-time
There has never been a better time to connect with the ocean, by connecting with those who aim to save it. The Sirene Project is a network of female ocean conservationists from all walks of life, sharing their journeys (typical or atypical) into the myriad of fields in marine biology. Every day a new wonder-women is introduced on the blog and on their Instagram page @thesireneproject, each one more fascinating than the next! Head online to their website of via their Instagram to read their stories. It may be just what you need to get inspired, discover your dream job, or make like-minded ocean connections! You can find my story here, and watch out for an upcoming feature on our Director, Rebecca Daniel.