Why I Created Expeditions — And Why the Sardine Run Still Takes My Breath Away

From Tourism to Purposeful Ocean Expeditions

I’ve always been driven by one core idea: helping people truly connect with the ocean. Not just in a scientific forum, and not just as spectators, but in a way that feels real, personal, and lasting. My journey began with marine protected areas, then moved into connecting people to the sea through marine debris and coastal communities. Over time, it became clear to me that what we really needed was a different kind of travel — something deeper, more immersive, and more meaningful.

That’s where expeditions came in. Africa understands safaris, but I wanted them to be real, true safaris of the sea. Not day trips, not surface-level experiences. Expeditions that connect people to a region — particularly the Western Indian Ocean, one of the most biodiverse coral reef areas on Earth — and remind us that we are all connected by a current. Through these journeys, the goal is not only to change the lives of those who join us, but to strengthen conservation efforts and bring real value to the regions we travel through.

From Spectator to Participant: The Power of Citizen Science

What transforms an expedition is participation. When guests are given a task — whether it’s observing, recording, or learning how to read what’s happening in front of them — something shifts. You move from being a spectator to a learner and a doer. Your connection becomes real.

For me, this is a reconnection of humans back to the sea. We are inherently connected, but we’ve forgotten it. Citizen science gives people the tools to move beyond simply seeing the ocean, to understanding it — and once you understand it, you care deeply about protecting it.

My First Sardine Run Expedition

The Sardine Run had been a dream long before I experienced it. I’d seen it on Blue Planet, and when I finally went, I joined people who had filmed it themselves. It was extraordinary.

Mega-pods of dolphins raced alongside the boat. Gannets, seals, sharks — everything moving with purpose. When you finally get into the water, all your senses are overwhelmed. The noise, the movement, the energy. It’s exactly like watching the final moments of a bait ball on television, except you’re inside it.

And then came the humpback whale. I’ll never forget it — it nearly knocked the mask off my face. That moment didn’t happen on day one. It came after days of anticipation, and that’s part of the magic. Every day brought something different: sunfish, African penguins, endless dolphin encounters. The experience matured, like a fine wine, and by day four, my mind was completely blown.

Conservation You Can Witness, Not Just Talk About

What makes the Sardine Run expedition so powerful is that it isn’t just awe-inspiring — it’s a lesson in good governance and science. The South African government has prioritised its protection, understanding that the value of the sardines isn’t in dead fish, but in the living ecosystem they support.

On our expeditions, science is shared openly. Having scientists like Nico Booyens with us allows guests to ask questions, understand symbiotic relationships, and see how intelligent and emotionally complex marine life really is. Over time, the data we collect together becomes a barometer for change — and our guests own that knowledge as much as the scientists do.

What I Hope Guests Carry Home

When someone leaves a Seas4Life expedition, I hope they leave changed. Reconnected. Understanding that they are not separate from the ocean — they are part of it. That hammerhead sharks aren’t scary, they have value. That the Sardine Run, this trillion-strong movement of life, has purpose. Without it, the diversity disappears.

That sense of wholeness — knowing we belong to this planet, and that it needs our care — is why I do what I do.

Find out more about Seas4Life.