Australia’s first snorkel-out at Shelly Beach had ocean lovers calling for climate action
If there’s a group of people who have a first-hand view of the impact climate change is having on the environment, it’s divers like Natalia Milojevic.
“I’ve surveyed some of the most biodiverse reefs on the planet which has been incredible to witness. And then I’ve seen a bleaching event that has essentially wiped out the whole reef, so that’s been hard to process,” says Natalia, who works professionally as a climate change risk consultant.
Natalia, who grew up snorkelling at Shelly Beach, is a volunteer at Divers for Climate, a community-led non-profit organisation that brings together scuba divers, free divers, snorkellers and swimmers – frontline witnesses to climate change – to share their experiences and to call on government for stronger climate policies to protect marine ecosystems.
In March the group held Australia’s first snorkel-out at Shelly Beach, bringing together around 100 snorkellers.
They gathered in the water with signs saying ‘Climate action for our ocean,’ and ‘It’s hot in here – climate action now,’ to draw attention to the community’s concerns over climate inaction, while five divers, including Natalia, took their posters under the water.
“Shelly (Beach) was chosen because it’s a real life success story of what protection can look like,” Natalia says, explaining the area is alive with sea life. “(Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve) is a protected marine reserve. It’s a place that locals really value and love deeply.
“It’s a great site to show what’s possible when we protect marine environments.”
Natalia Milojevic
On the day, marine scientists spoke to the group about the decline in marine life locally, including a number of weedy sea dragons which were found dead and washed up on local beaches earlier this year.
A recent survey of 1,000 divers in the group recently found that over half who experience climate impacts say it strongly affects their mental health, with Divers for Climate founder and chief executive officer Yoland Waters saying for divers, the underwater changes can be ‘hard to watch.’
The group encourages ocean users to document the changes they see on their Instagram page; to fill out a University of Queensland survey about their perceptions and experiences of climate change; and to sign a Divers for Climate statement, which calls for government commitment to climate action.
“Divers for Climate is all about action,” Natalia says. “I think a lot of (snorkel out) attendees felt really empowered and inspired.”
Visit diversforclimate.com
