Post by Keith Tuffley AM

🌊 🐋 Closing Personal Reflections from our Tonga 2025 Ocean Science Expedition 🐋 🌊 Our Tonga 2025 Expedition with Ocean Science Expeditions has been nothing short of transformative. Working alongside Dr. Sylvia Earle and our extraordinary crew of 16 has been deeply inspiring — a powerful reminder of why ocean conservation matters so profoundly. The majestic beauty, personalities, and intelligence of these humpback whales have left a lasting mark on me. The calm and peace they bring as they swim gracefully by — playing, resting, exploring — is something we humans could learn so much from. The chance to swim alongside a mother and calf, and witness a “heat run” of four males pursuing a female, was beyond words. Sharing the water with these gentle giants in freedom and mutual respect has been one of the most moving experiences of my life. This relaxed 2-week voyage in the warm waters of Tonga stood in stark contrast to last year’s tough 4-month expedition across the Northwest Passage in the Arctic aboard "Abel Tasman". Yet both journeys are part of my same mission: to better understand and protect the ocean’s most critical ecosystems as we approach climate tipping points, to conduct science projects, to film, to communicate, and to leave positive local impacts. The Arctic tested my endurance and optimism amid dramatic ice loss, while Tonga revealed something equally powerful — the resilience, beauty, and abundance that emerge when marine protection works. Carrying The Explorers Club Flag #73 on this expedition was a big milestone for me and the team, and testament to the important science projects we conducted here. I am profoundly grateful to our team, partners, supporters and friends for making this expedition possible, and especially to those who so generously donated their time and expertise. Next expedition? Plans are already underway… 📹 Enjoy these images of Tonga’s humpback whales, captured brilliantly by our teammate and photographer Jono Allen. Crew: Dr. Sylvia Earle, Keith Tuffley, Arzucan Nur Askin (FRGS) Zuzu Askin, Dr Kat Bruce, Claire Sharrock, Luca Pittalis, Roger Munns, Toby Strong, Zubin Mehta, Jono Allen, Xiye Bastida, Lord Speaker Fatafehi Fakafānua, Arabela Junqueira Possebon, Charlotte Harper, Amin Taumoefolau, Eva Sychold Other team members: Colin butfield, Victoria Attwood Scott, Jessica Smith, Johan Rockström, Rebecca Daniel, Richard Armstrong, Tom Bates, Dr Tessa Hempson, Michel André, Soraya Hidalgo, Ben Jefferies , Lee Howell, Roman Guggisberg Lead Sponsors: Mercuria, Silvania Science and Impact Partners: Mission Blue, NatureMetrics, The Villars Institute Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Anthroposea Communications and content production: Open Planet Studios, Open Planet, MSQ/Sustain Field support: Blue Vagabonds #ClimateTippingPoints #OceanScienceEpeditions #oceanscience #marinescience ----

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