Ever since I can remember I have been drawn to the sea.  One of my earliest childhood memories is jumping from a boat in Greece into the deep blue Mediterranean below and since that day I have tried to get in the water as much as I can! 

My love of diving, swimming and surfing has taken me to oceans all around the globe, from the frigid waters of the North Atlantic to the tropics of the Indian Ocean and during my travels I have also been fortunate enough to explore what goes on underneath the waves diving amongst amazing coral reefs in the South Pacific and the Caribbean Sea.  It is fair to say the ocean has given me moments of great pleasure.  And yet, I have also witnessed some incredibly saddening events from the hordes of plastic pollution washed up on UK beaches after storms to bleached and damaged coral reefs from climate change and destructive fishing practices.  These issues are only getting worse and it's clear from our current trajectory that rapid and sustained action is needed if we are going to safeguard the ocean for future generations.  

My desire to protect this unique part of our planet stems not only from this personal connection but also from an understanding of the vital role it's health plays in the future of us all.  The challenge of swimming across a small passage of it with great friends is a privilege that I hope will prove enjoyable (mostly!) and it seemed fitting to mark this with an effort to raise some money for the very thing in which I will be immersed.  The BLUE marine foundation are a charity dedicated to protecting the ocean by addressing overfishing through a combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches and if you are able to support them through a small donation that would be really appreciated.

Right, best get back to the swimming!  Thanks,  Alex