Perpetual Planet Heroes of the Oceans

For nearly a century, Rolex has been an active supporter of pioneering explorers – individuals who have pushed back the boundaries of human endeavour by venturing to the most extreme places on Earth to shed light on the natural world.

t started with Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf, who viewed the world as a living laboratory. From the 1930s, he began to use it as a testing ground for his watches, sending them to the most extreme locations, supporting explorers who ventured into the unknown. But the world has changed; as the 21st century unfolds, the company has moved from championing exploration for the sake of discovery to protecting the planet and reinforced its commitment by launching the Perpetual Planet initiative in 2019 which supports individuals and organisations using science to understand the world’s environmental challenges and devise solutions that will restore balance to our ecosystems. The initiative currently embraces Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue – which Rolex has partnered since 2014 – to preserve the oceans through a network of marine-protected ‘Hope Spots’; an enhanced partnership with the National Geographic Society to study the impacts of climate change; and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise, which for 45 years have been supporting exceptional individuals with innovative projects improving knowledge of our world.

In 2021, BBC Studios’ Science Unit produced a documentary for Rolex titled Perpetual Planet: Heroes of the Oceans. It brought together legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle with a cast of pioneering marine scientists, to tell the story of work being undertaken across the planet to protect the oceans’ fragile ecosystems. Earle narrates the documentary which features the work of six marine scientists, five of whom are Rolex Award Laureates; Angélique Pouponneau, who is a Mission Blue champion for the Seychelles; and Ghislain Bardout, co-founder and Director of the Under The Pole expeditions.

Over the course of the hour-long documentary, the viewer is immersed in a spectacular underwater world, discovering the challenges

our oceans face today and the solutions that can be taken to make a real change. Almost a third of ocean life has been destroyed due to climate change and human activity.

For Sylvia Earle there is hope: “Each of us can make a difference in inspiring others. With passion, curiosity and hope, anyone can change everything. We can create a Perpetual Planet for generations to come.”

It’s a brilliant initiative and an incredible documentary and you’re all invited to watch it! Head over to https://www.rolex.org/ environment/video/heroes-of-the-oceans