All life began in the ocean.

Yesterday May 8th, 2025—his 99th birthday— Oceans with Sir David Attenborough was released, a landmark film that turns our attention away from land, where most climate discussions tend to focus, and dives deep into the seas—our planet’s true life-support system.

I’m incredibly honoured to have contributed, in a small way, to this powerful project. Through film and photography, I was able to support a message I believe is more important now than ever. A huge thank you to the team for reaching out and allowing me to be a part of it.

David Attenborough has long been a personal hero. His work—from Life on Earth to The Blue Planet—has shaped how we see and value the natural world. More than 40 species, and even a constellation, are named after him. He’s explored the remotest corners of the globe, documented what few ever witness, and brought the wild into the living rooms of millions.

When he visited Cape Town, I had the privilege of hearing him speak at UCT—an unforgettable moment. And when I discovered that he still replies to handwritten letters, I couldn’t resist sending one myself. To my great surprise, he replied. That letter remains one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever received.

What makes Attenborough truly inspiring to me is his unwavering hope. Despite witnessing the decline of nature across nearly a century—despite knowing the scale of destruction—we’ve caused, he remains a passionate advocate for positive change. He hasn’t surrendered to despair. His optimism is not naive; it’s deeply informed. It comes from a place of knowing, of seeing, of believing in our capacity to do better. That mindset—grounded in truth but fuelled by hope—is contagious. His call for coexistence resonates because it’s backed by a lifetime of understanding. It urges us to follow his example: to stay engaged, to stay hopeful, and to keep working toward a healthier planet.

Ocean lays bare the challenges: rising temperatures, acidifying waters, collapsing coral reefs, and plastic pollution. But it also shines a light on real solutions. In the Caribbean, coral nurseries are replanting up to 40,000 corals a year. Around the world, movements to reduce single-use plastics and clean our coastlines are growing. As Attenborough reminds us, “The ocean can bounce back to life. And if left alone, it may not just recover, but thrive beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.”

This film is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake—and what we still have the chance to protect. Please watch it. I hope it inspires you the way it has inspired me.