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Martin Stepanek>> Hi, my name is Martin Stepanek. I'm here in Dahab, Red Sea attempting the
free diving world record in constant ballast without fins. In preparation for this event,
my theme has been the past few weeks training here in Red Sea, which is considered to one
of the most amazing dive sites in the world.
The sea's partial isolation from open ocean, high salinity, and great depths allow for
tremendous variety of unique plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet.
With some 200 species of stony corals making up its reef, divers come from around the world
to view the reefs and the wildlife it supports. We have dolphins, manta rays, beaked whales,
reef fish, 5 species of sea turtles and 44 species of sharks, including hammerheads and
whitetip reef sharks.
But like many other places in this world, the wonders of this paradise are threatened
by human activity. Rampant coastal development, pollution, and nonselective fishing practices
remove the stretches of mangroves, smother the coral reef, and alter the marine food
web. Fishermen target sharks for their fins and meat, and unintentionally bring up sea
turtles caught in their nets. These threats are not unique to the region. In fact, they're
all too common along the coastlines all around the world.
My team, including New Zealand's free diving champion Niki Roderick, are partnering with
the ocean conservation group Oceana to create greater awareness about the problems facing
our oceans and get people involved in efforts to bring them back. To reverse the tide, Oceana's
team of marine scientists, economists, lawyers, and advocates focus on specific and concrete
policy changes.
With the help from people like you, Oceana has already achieved tremendous victories.
Niki and I are excited to be ambassadors to our oceans as we continue to make waves in
our beloved sport of free diving. This summer, reverse the tide with us. Visit www.oceana.org.