NASSAU, BAHAMAS- In celebration of World Oceans Day 2025, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) hosted a vibrant public snorkel event at Sea Beach Promenade on West Bay Street, inviting the community to experience the ocean firsthand while learning about the importance of marine conservation. This year’s event embraced the United Nations theme, “Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us,” and gave participants a powerful reminder of the beauty and value of our underwater world.
Throughout the day, fifty snorkelers took part in guided sessions that included equipment tutorials, safety briefings, and fish identification activities. For many, it was their first time exploring the marine environment in this way.
Jasmond Collie, BREEF Outreach and Education Officer, shared her enthusiasm, “This is one of my favorite spots to teach about coral reefs because it’s not only biodiverse, but also beginner-friendly for all the first-time snorkelers we have out here today.”
Participants as young as eight years old were eager to get their feet wet. Among them were siblings Mary and Peter Edomwonyi, who brought along their younger brother for a family-friendly adventure. “This is my first time snorkeling in several years, so it was really refreshing and enjoyable,” said Mary, age 20.
Peter, age 12, added, “I really liked this. I have better knowledge about the fish in the water and sea life, and I want to come back and learn more.”
Ariel Hudson, 27, who described herself as relatively new to snorkeling, appreciated the guidance provided by BREEF staff. “This was very educational, because they gave us information on how to snorkel, and the safety and communication which I have never learned before. Hudson continued, “They gave us information about the fish and what we’d see; it was very educational and I’d definitely do it again.”
Deangelo Gatior, age 9, shared his excitement, “Usually we stay on the beach, close to the shore where we can stand, but today I got to go a little deeper into the water and see a lot more than usual. It was fun.”
This year’s celebration also coincides with the renewal of the National Ocean Protection Week proclamation by Prime Minister Hon. Philip Davis, which reinforced the government’s commitment to safeguarding The Bahamas’ marine ecosystems from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss. The proclamation that concluded on World Oceans Day highlights the vital role that healthy oceans play in supporting the country’s economy, culture, and national identity.
Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director of BREEF, acknowledged the significance of the proclamation, stating, “We thank Prime Minister Davis for his leadership in prioritizing the protection of our marine ecosystems. The Bahamas has a long history of ocean conservation, and there is still a lot more to be done. It’s essential that, in our efforts to move forward as a nation, we don’t neglect to protect the critical marine resources that sustain our archipelago.”
BREEF continues to lead national efforts in marine education and coral restoration. At the BREEF Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden ,the organisation grows, maintains, and outplants corals onto nearby reefs through BREEF’s Coral Nursery initiatives. These restored reefs, enhanced by coral growing on adjacent underwater sculptures, have become a thriving habitat. This spring alone, 225 new corals were outplanted, boosting biodiversity and increasing reef resilience in the face of warming ocean temperatures.
