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Oceanic Global x Edges of Earth

Oceanic Global is thrilled to collaborate with Edges of Earth partner to amplify impact storytelling to help deepen humanity’s connection to the Ocean.

Partnership Overview

A Collaboration for Ocean Conservation & Conscious Exploration

Oceanic Global and Edges of Earth have joined forces to create a compelling educational content series that deepens humanity’s connection to the Ocean. This collaboration blends Oceanic Global’s mission-driven approach with Edges of Earth’s expertise in impact storytelling to raise awareness about Ocean conservation, sustainable travel, and the cultural significance of marine ecosystems.

 

Exploring the Depths

Through immersive storytelling, this collaboration shines a light on the ancient wisdom of coastal communities, the urgency of ecological preservation, and the profound cultural connections that tie humanity to the sea. By blending science, tradition, and adventure, we aim to inspire a global audience to see the ocean not just as a resource, but as a living, breathing entity that sustains life on Earth.

Join us as we embark on a journey across the Blue Planet—diving deep into untold stories, uncovering solutions for a sustainable future, and sparking action to protect our ocean for generations to come.

Symbiotic Travel:
Exploring Human x Nature Partnerships in Remote Cultures

 
 
 

Over the past year and a half, the Edges of Earth expedition has traveled across the globe, driven by a singular, powerful question: what is life like on the fringes, the outliers, the most remote and interesting places on Earth? This question emerged after countless hours spent on dive expeditions over six years, exploring some of the planet’s most untouched corners. In these far-flung places, remarkable stories of resilience and ingenuity were uncovered—tales of people who have found ways to live in harmony with nature, preserving the ecosystems that sustain them. More often than not, these stories seem to be overshadowed by the noise of modern life. Yet the wisdom unearthed through them offers valuable insight into what it means to coexist with the natural world in its rawest form.


Exploring the Edges of Earth. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

From coral reefs humming with life to ancient kelp forests, and from glacier-fed ice caves to vast underground river systems, these destinations from the global expedition showcase Earth’s most authentic and greatest hits. Yet, they also expose a sobering reality: many of these ecosystems are under threat from human activity. The more remote the location, the more apparent the fragility of the bond between humanity and nature becomes.

These journeys to the “edges” grant an unparalleled privilege—to witness the beauty of these places that still remain and the symbiotic relationships that exist between people and their environment. These ecosystems each have communities acting on their behalf as custodians, viewing nature not as a backdrop to life but as a partner in survival. In these places, guardians take only what they need, nurture the resources they rely on, and work tirelessly to maintain a balance that modernity often forgets.

But reaching the edges of Earth isn’t merely about traveling to the planet’s outermost corners or ticking destinations off a list. It’s a mindset. It’s about exploring consciously, driven by curiosity and purpose. It means embracing the unfamiliar, listening to local wisdom, and learning from the ways guardians interact with their surroundings. Whether in the heart of a thriving epicenter or on an isolated island, this mindset encourages a reevaluation of how we live, travel, and give back to the places that give us so much.


Diving some of the farthest corners of Earth—Matanuska Glacier, Alaska. Photo Credit: Adam Moore

Among those explored, a few stand out as examples of what’s possible when humanity and nature harmonize. These places, and their keepers, offer a glimpse into a future where balance is not just an ideal but a way of life.

TETAPARE, SOLOMON ISLANDS

Tetepare Island, situated in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, is one of the last wild spaces. Spanning over 120 square kilometers of dense rainforests, mangroves, and rugged coastline, it’s the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific. And with that, it holds a mysterious past. Approximately 150 – 200 years ago, its original inhabitants—warriors with their own language and culture—abandoned the island in a mass exodus. While the exact reasons remain speculative, theories range from disease and famine to ancestral beliefs tied to “sea devil magic.” Today, Tetepare is protected by the Tetepare Descendants’ Association (TDA), a group of descendants now residing on nearby islands, such as Rendova, who are dedicated to preserving their ancestral land and its surrounding seas.


Meeting the TDA on Tetepare. Photo Credit: Adam Moore

The TDA was formed in response to aggressive exploitation by international logging companies targeting the Solomon Islands for its rich tropical timber, with Tetepare firmly on the list. With deforestation decimating the region, a small group of passionate descendants came together to secure legal ownership of Tetepare, shielding it from logging, commercial fishing, and other resource extraction. Conservation work by the TDA includes monitoring no-take marine zones and studying the island’s remarkable wildlife, including a stable coconut crab population—a stark contrast to its decline worldwide. 

Recognizing that sustainable protection of Tetepare must also benefit its people, the organization launched a scholarship program two decades ago to support members with school fees. Each year, TDA provides at least 60—and when funding allows, up to 100—high school and university scholarships, ensuring that even those in remote areas who cannot directly benefit from ecotourism or conservation work have access to education. By investing in future generations, TDA strengthens the connection between people and place, reinforcing the value of preserving Tetepare for years to come.

Learning how the TDA respects their home. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

Tetepare is a prime example of how human ingenuity, willpower, determination and urgency were able to secure the fate of one island. Because of these guardians, the island currently serves as a vital hub for scientific research and environmental study, offering critical insights into the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the region. This work generates necessary income for the TDA and fosters collaboration with international researchers, advancing global understanding of biodiversity and conservation—not only in the Solomons, but worldwide. By blending local stewardship with global partnerships, the TDA has created a model of coexistence that balances ecological preservation with sustainable development. Tetepare survived the fight against external pressures then, and continues to do so now, keeping its place as the last true wild in the country.

KOH SURIN ISLANDS, THAILAND

In Thailand’s Surin National Park, the Moken community—an Indigenous group with centuries-long ties to the sea—offers another example of resilience. Over 4,000 years, the Moken lived as sea nomads traveling around the borders of Thailand and Myanmar. However, after being relocated by government authorities following the 2004 tsunami, they now face challenges of sedentary life. This drastic transition from their roots has exposed them to economic hardship, cultural erosion, and the pressures of modernity. Despite these obstacles, the Moken continue to push on with their deep respect for nature, sustaining themselves through traditional practices like freediving, spearfishing for sustenance, as well as crafting and music—all while navigating the complexities of integration into Thai society.


The Moken people are sea nomads. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

Key to the preservation of their culture is the work of Andaman Discoveries, led by Bodhi Garrett and Tui Chomphusri. This social enterprise bridges the gap between the Moken’s traditions and the modern world through sustainable tourism and community development programs. Visitors that come into the National Park can engage with the Moken, as long as they are open and willing to understand their way of life. Learning to weave with recycled materials, exploring medicinal plants, and participating in traditional spearfishing demonstrations is what keeps the Moken traditions alive. Meanwhile, the accompanying nonprofit, the North Andaman Network Foundation, empowers the Moken to protect their environment, pursue education, and manage sustainable initiatives like mangrove planting and marine plastics recycling—which is only possible through tourism and donor dollars.


A Moken elder recapping what life was like living on the sea. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

Living among the Moken is humbling and one of the most confronting ways of understanding how people once truly lived in balance with the sea. The Moken elders’ bond with their natural world and ongoing determination to preserve their cultural heritage is powerful, leaving a lasting mark on those who experience it. And this was one of the first times on expedition that the positive benefits of conscious tourism were clear—the kind that directly supports the Indigenous community’s efforts to sustain their ancient ways of life.

MANNAR, SRI LANKA

The coastal community of Mannar in northwest Sri Lanka uses fishing as both a livelihood and a way of life. Historically, the fisherfolk here practiced sustainable methods, taking only what was necessary and fostering a connection with the sea—understanding its rhythms, movements and seasonal shifts. However, modern challenges, including overfishing, environmental degradation, and illegal bottom trawling, have threatened these practices. Bottom trawling, particularly by Indian vessels, not only depletes fish stocks but also damages critical marine ecosystems, exacerbating tensions between the communities and putting the livelihoods of Mannar’s traditional fisherfolk at huge risk.


Traditional Mannar fishing boat coming back from sea at 5am. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

Amidst these challenges, organizations like the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF) and its MARESSOL initiative are stepping in to address critical issues such as abandoned fishing gear and marine pollution. By collaborating with local communities, policymakers, and environmental groups, MARESSOL aims to promote sustainable fishing practices and improve the management of these critical marine ecosystems that are used for survival by Mannar’s communities. Traditional fisherfolk, like 75-year-old P.S. Kurus Thaaluvadu, told us about preserving time-honored practices like net repair and rhythmic teamwork on the shores every morning at 4:00am that reflect their connection to the Ocean and the fish themselves.


Meeting 75-year-old P.S. Kurus Thaaluvadu, learning about life on the water. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

The contrast between traditional and commercial fishing practices in Mannar was challenging to witness. While the traditional fisherfolk welcome outsiders with open arms to learn about their practices, the commercial fishing operations tend to be closed off and secretive, as if they knew just how destructive their practices truly were. While the traditional fisherfolk work collaboratively to maintain their heritage, commercial operations focus solely on profit, often contributing to overfishing and habitat destruction. Efforts like those of LEF are crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for the Gulf of Mannar’s biodiversity and the communities that rely on it, offering hope that cultural traditions and marine ecosystems can coexist among modern change.

GOING TO THE EDGES

Circumnavigating the world reveals just how deeply humanity and nature are intertwined. Across the planet, frontline communities navigate the thin balance between preserving their ecosystems and ensuring their own survival. While their methods vary by culture and place, one universal thread unites them: respect.


Uncovering symbiosis between humans and nature on the very edges—Isle of Skye, Scotland. Photo Credit: Marla Tomorug

Local stewards of land and sea understand that without their natural resources, there is no life. This profound respect fosters unwavering commitments to preservation, often with very limited resources. Stories rooted in traditional knowledge and community-based solutions inspire hope, demonstrating that coexistence is possible—even amid widespread environmental challenges. These examples remind humanity that a sustainable future is within reach if the values that have guided generations are reconnected with modern practices.

The “edges” are defined not only by natural beauty but by the determination of their ancestral stewards. The descendants of Tetepare, the nomadic Moken, and the fisherfolk of Mannar epitomize resilience. Even in the face of modern challenges like climate change, overfishing, and cultural erosion, they show that symbiosis with nature is not just possible—it is essential. Their efforts urge a rethinking of humanity’s relationship with the natural world—not as something to conquer or consume, but as a partner in survival, deserving of care and advocacy. These communities offer a vision of a more connected and balanced world.

WATCH THE STORY REEL

Time Capsules of Climate Change:
Traveling to Future Eco-Regions

 

Coming Soon – Check out the latest story reel

Mythical Oceans:
Reawakening Lost Oceanic Legends

Coming Soon – Check out the latest story reel

Secrets of the Sea:
Unlocking the Ocean’s Ancient Apothecary

 


 

Coming Soon – Check out the latest story reel

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