TED Talk Tuesday #40 – I Am Water

Watching TED Talks is a popular pastime at CN&CO. We visit TED.com regularly to clear our heads, have a laugh or get inspired. TED Talks open our minds, spark new ways of thinking and can lead to some very interesting conversations. Each week we pick a favourite and publish it on a Tuesday, because we like how “TED Talk Tuesday” sounds. This week’s talk was selected by CN&CO’s environmental super-champion, Blake Dyason. Here’s why he chose it:

My TED Talk Tuesday is a little bit late in the day, which is because I had the amazing opportunity to listen to one of my favourite TED Talk speakers live on Tuesday at the Two Ocean Aquarium in Cape Town. We ended up chatting well into the night, which was amazing!

Hanli Prinsloo is a free diver who has done incredible things, from breaking diving records and holding her breath for more than six minutes, to swimming with some of the largest and most feared ocean creatures.

But what I love most about Hanli Prinsloo’s journey is that her passion for the water is about so much more than the records and beautiful photographs.

Hanli has taken her passion and talents and dedicated them to giving others the opportunity to connect with water. One of the things she does is to lead international tours to swim with whales and sharks. She then uses the money she makes from these tours to give those who can’t afford or don’t have access to the oceans to connect and learn.

Water is part of us, and the ocean is vital to our existence. Through education, engagement, understanding and connection, Hanli is making people aware of this incredible resource that we need to protect.

Blake brings a lot of energy, passion and heart into everything he does. He is extremely passionate about our country, it’s people and the environment. He is based in Cape Town and is happiest when he is running around exploring the beauty of the mountains.