Land of the Shallow Seas

For many Bahamians, the ocean is home. From these waters comes sustenance, opportunity, and identity. But this relationship is also complex and paradoxical. With a population of over 90 percent African descent, The Bahamas endures a colonial past of trauma and enslavement that can’t be overlooked if their future is to remain hopeful, especially amidst the rising threats of climate change, resource extraction, and ecological decline. The ocean then links these worlds—the past and present, suffering and restoration, exploitation and preservation—and offers a path forward. Only by working together equitably will these opportunities of the ocean be fully realized and protected. Only by uniting as bodies of water—as advocates, educators, and environmentalists—will past legacies be amended and amazing new potentials be achieved.

As a waitress at a local tourist resort on Cat Island, Antonese Anthon tells guests every day how to access a nearby beach that is one of the most beautiful in all The Bahamas. Yet, she has never been herself. This is not an uncommon scenario for many Bahamians — that a history of colonialism, servitude, and the transatlantic slave trade has created barriers to their most accessible resource, the ocean. However, through a process of remembering her inherent connection with the ocean, Antonese gains a vision of an alternative future — one that includes the opportunity to follow a brighter path forward, one that connects her to the global community through a shared love for the ocean. With the support of Young Marine Explorers, a Bahamian-led nonprofit working to ensure that all members of the community have the tools needed to protect the ocean, Antonese embarks on a transformational journey into her past and into the water. Donning mask, fins, and snorkel, she takes her first ever deep-sea dive and crosses a threshold toward hope.

The Bahamas is internationally recognized for its stunning seascapes and wealth of fauna and flora. However, this paradise is polluted by plastic — the marine litter concentrations for The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean are nearly three times the global average. Kristal Ambrose is a Bahamian marine and environmental scientist, also known as “Kristal Ocean.” After sailing across the Pacific Ocean to study an oceanic “garbage patch,” she returned home to inspire the government and local communities to move toward a plastic-free Bahamas, creating a nonprofit called Bahamas Plastic Movement. Through her unique, joyful approach to education and activism, Kristal connects Bahamian youth to the ocean and empowers them to use their voice to protect the natural environment. Together, they are the Plastic Warriors.

Over 80 percent of our ocean remains unexplored and unmapped, leaving us with an incredible opportunity to explore and study ecosystems that remain a mystery. When scientists at the Cape Eleuthera Institute partnered with the Alucia, a state-of-the-art research vessel, they had no idea how impressed and inspired they would be by what they found. Plunging 2,624 feet into the Exuma Sound in two manned submersibles, the team observed pancake batfish, swimming sea cucumbers, white-spotted catsharks, a dazzling array of jellyfish, and more. The hope is that by shining a light on the ecological value of The Bahamas’ deep ocean habitats, these discoveries will further the creation of new marine protected areas that include the deep sea as well as shallow water marine environments.

From after-school discovery clubs and summer camps to his very first coral reef snorkeling trip, Dashane Knowles can’t remember a time in his life when he wasn’t involved with the Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS) community. Having caught the environmentalism bug at a young age, and after seeing his home island in The Bahamas decimated by Hurricane Dorian, Dashane has dedicated his career to making Abaco more climate resilient through science, innovation, and education. This is Dashane’s memorable walk through a post-Dorian Abaco.