Awaken New Depths
World Oceans Day 2024
June 8th has been marked as UN World Oceans Day since 2008 and will also continue this year. An annual global celebration for the Earth’s ocean and the urgent call to take action to protect our ocean and climate.
10 exciting Facts about the Ocean you most likely don’t know
More than 80% of the ocean is undiscovered and has not been seen or studied yet. This is due to the difficulty that comes with exploring the ocean. Challenges such as zero visibility and unbearable freezing temperatures make it difficult to explore the ocean.
The deepest part of the ocean is the Mariana Trench which is known to be around 11km deep. The Mariana Trench is located between Guam and The Philippines and is still being studied today.
The worlds biggest waves are not found in Portugal or Maui, they are found beneath the surface. These waves are called “Internal Waves” which are much larger than surface waves. These largest internal waves are found in the South China Sea and can reach over 300 meters . Sadly, these waves are not visible on the surface nor are they surfable.
Coral does not need sunscreen, it produces its own. Too much sunlight can damage the algae which lives inside corals which are found in shallower waters. Corals produce pigment which acts like sunscreen. In return, the algae provide the coral with food.
The Pacific Ocean is 5.5 times wider than the moon.
Sharks and Jellyfishes are both older than trees and the North Star.
The deep sea consists of more artifacts and remains of history than all the world’s museums.
When the ocean water is blue, it's because it absorbs wavelengths of light from the sun, reflecting blue light.
The ocean helps power the internet. The Cables that power the internet can be found underwater.
There’s a spot in the Pacific Ocean that is called “Point Nemo'' which is the most remote place on Earth. The galaxy is closer to us than Point Nemo.
10 Shocking Facts about the Ocean
We dump three times more rubbish into our ocean than the weight of fish caught every year.
Cigarette butts are one of the most common litter items found during beach clean-ups.
Around 100.000 animals die every year from entanglement in rubbish, most of the time, plastic. This also includes straws and plastic wrap.
Even in the deepest point on earth, The Mariana Trench, plastic can be found.
70% of our plastic waste sinks into the ocean ecosystems, 15% floats and 15% ends up on our beaches.
An estimated 8 billion kilograms of plastic enters our oceans every year.
The seafood humans consume often has microplastics in it.
Marine plastic pollution is found in 100% of turtles, 59% of whales and 36% of seals.
Marine animals often mistake plastic waste for prey. This is common in turtles who mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. When the turtles consume the plastic bag, it slowly harms them.
In the past 10 years, humans have made more plastic than in the last century.
It's the Oceans turn
Our ocean does not only consist of mindblowing beauty and a million fascinating species but it also is our life source. The ocean brings all the organisms on earth to life. Harming the ocean is only hurting yourself.
World Oceans Day is here to remind us about what our ocean brings us. As we are brought together on June 8th, we protect the ocean. The ocean is crucial to all life, the ocean ecosystems provide us with oxygen and charismatic views.
World Ocean Day brings together many encouraging and motivational speakers every year to voice the importance of our ocean and how we are here to protect it. Journalists, CEO’s, UN workers, activists and founders will all be present to speak on World Ocean Day to discuss the threats and conservation plans which all impact our ocean. On June 8th, the event will also be held virtually through a livestream which will encourage us to finally put the ocean and its life first.
We take care
It is no secret that also Bali and Sri Lanka suffer a lot from ocean pollution. Millions and millions of tourists come to the islands every year but the waste management is not able to keep up. Especially during the wet season the ocean gets even dirtier since the continuous rain flushes the rubbish into the sea.
As Kima we take care and we also see it as our responsibility to do as much as we can to help to get the ocean cleaner again. We not only reduced the use of non-reusable plastic on our Kima Surf Camps to almost zero, but we also partnered up with the NGO Trash Hero. We offer our surf camp guests in Canggu the opportunity to participate in their weekly Beach Cleanup events and support the chapter with in-kind donations for equipment like gloves, pickers, and reusable bags.
As surfers, we are intimately connected to the ocean and its well-being. The ocean provides us with the waves we chase, the energy we harness, and the sense of freedom we feel while riding the swells. It is our playground, our sanctuary, and our source of inspiration. On World Oceans Day, we are reminded of the critical role the ocean plays in our lives and the urgent need to protect it. Surfers have a unique perspective on the health of the ocean, as we witness firsthand the impacts of pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. We see the plastic debris floating in the lineup and the degradation of coral reefs that once teemed with life.
By embracing World Oceans Day, surfers can become ambassadors for change. We can educate ourselves and others about the importance of reducing our carbon footprint, minimizing plastic waste, and supporting sustainable practices.
Also you, as a (Bali) tourist, can do several things to help fight pollution. We tell you more about this in our blog post: How to help Bali’s environment.
One Ocean, One Climate, One Future – Together!
