WhyCoexist 2025 Top 15

This year’s competition has been truly inspiring. We received entries from across the world, each one offering a unique and passionate perspective on marine conservation. From students and researchers to divers and storytellers, every finalist has brought something special to the table.

Given the incredible quality of submissions, we expanded our Top 10 to a Top 15 and even broadened our judging panel from three to five experts to ensure every entry received the attention it deserved.

Every video was watched, reviewed, and judged on its own merits by a diverse panel of scientists and underwater filmmakers from around the world. This competition was always about the message—regardless of filmmaking experience.

Our Top 15 were chosen for their creativity, passion, and genuine desire to protect our oceans. Some used powerful storytelling, others highlighted hands-on conservation work, and many shared deeply personal connections to the sea and why coexistence is so important.

Choosing just 15 from so many remarkable entries was no easy task, and we want to thank everyone who entered. Your voices matter. We’ve been humbled and inspired by how many of you care about the future of our blue planet.

In no particular order, our finalists for the 2025 WhyCoexist competition are…

Aidan Dean

Aidan Dean

Managed to get this video out just in time! I actually created 2 versions - one with text and one without. I think the one without is more impactful from a video perspective but the one with text would work well on social media.I enjoyed making this one and I think it says a lot about the importance of not only coexisting with the ocean, but forming a strong bond with it.

Antonino Saccone

Antonino Saccone

Alexandra Kristofovicova

Alexandra Kristofovicova

I hope to build a career in marine conservation, and this project is a unique and valuable opportunity to move from theoretical knowledge to fins-on experience, while connecting with leading marine scientists—especially since I have yet to go diving in the ocean. As mentioned in our video, I am currently writing my thesis on Marine Protected Areas, through the lens of convivial conservation. *Convivial* (literally meaning *living with*) conservation explores how we can realistically respond to current political and environmental challenges by promoting radical equity, structural transformation, and environmental justice.If selected, we would love to continue working with Coexist and help amplify its message. Both William and I volunteer at OY4C, which has shown us the positive impact social media can have on climate and conservation action. We would love nothing more than to spread awareness and share your project with OY4C's community consisting of 75,000 followers across Instagram and Tiktok.

Creating this video has been a challenging, educational, and rewarding experience, made even more special by collaborating with my boyfriend William, who did an incredible job bringing it all together. As university students—balancing an architecture degree and a final year in ecology—we were determined to find the time to share our perspective on the ocean’s importance, even for those who live far from it. What isn’t shown in the video is William’s deep connection to the ocean; growing up in the New Forest in the UK, he spent much of his time swimming and surfing, and so he has a strong respect and appreciation for the sea.

I hope you enjoy our perspective on why we must *Coexist* with our oceans. In some ways, living in London, our connection to the ocean is now from afar, we both recognise and appreciate the incredible resource that now allow us to connect with and share passion for the ocean virtually, bringing so many people closer to it than ever before. We believe that however far away you are from the ocean, you can still coexist, love and protect it, even from a distance.

Mariana Davila

Mariana Davila

Words cannot fully express how grateful I am for the opportunity to simply participate in this competition. Crafting a response to such a meaningful and important question within the space of a three-minute video was a truly beautiful challenge (and if you catch the bloopers, you’ll see just how nervous and excited I was... hope they bring you a smile!). Thank you for creating these opportunities for all of us.I feel like there is nothing I can say that you don’t already know, except that this is the dream of my LIFE. Just the thought of learning from leading scientists fills me with immense excitement, knowing that this experience could quite literally change my life.

I also want to use this space to thank Mario, my photography teacher and a wonderful storyteller, who so generously lent me his studio and shared his knowledge to help me make this video the best it could be. He chose to stay behind the scenes, but just like my family and friends, who patiently shared their feedback with me, even when I made them re-read all 20 versions of my script, they absolutely deserve this recognition and my deepest gratitude... If I make it far, it’s definitely because I walked this path surrounded by incredible people who have supported and shaped me along the way.

Overflowing with excitement and hope,

Latishamarie Francis

Latishamarie Francis

My video is a message to the next generation, reminding them that while we face many challenges, the solution lies in coexisting with our environment. As a young First Nations Indigenous woman, I share the perspective that our people have lived in harmony with the land since time began. However, as the environment changes, we risk losing this way of life. But if we embrace and uphold these traditional ways of caring for Country, we can do more than just coexist we can create a truly sustainable future. I am so passionate about the environment and my dream is to do research on global Indigenous land care practices so we can preserve the environment better because these communities have lived in harmony with there environment forever. I've loved animals and the environment since before I can remember and I want to say thank you for your consideration.

Alexandra Maria Azevedo

Alexandra Maria Azevedo

Winning the Co-Exist competition would be a transformative milestone, empowering me to create compelling video content and educational resources that showcase the critical role of protected areas and the animals that call the Seychelles home. Through immersive storytelling visuals, I would highlight the profound benefits of preserving wild spaces, demonstrating how conservation safeguards ecosystems and species for future generations.The Seychelles stands as a global model for marine and terrestrial protection, offering invaluable insights into the delicate balance between human coexistence and nature. By immersing myself in its rich biodiversity, I would deepen my understanding of these conservation efforts and use my camera as a powerful tool for advocacy, bringing these stories to the world and inspiring action to protect our planet’s most vital ecosystems.

As an established marine conservationist, winning this competition would mark the next phase of my journey, which is transitioning into a full-time educator, using visual storytelling to connect people to the beauty and importance of our natural world. Visiting the Seychelles has long been a dream of mine, and this opportunity would not only fulfill that dream but allow me to share its beauty with the world, sparking a deeper appreciation for conservation and the need to leave parts of our planet wild.

Philip Carlos

Philip Carlos

My video submission is a short film under 2 minutes, shining
light some of the questions that come to mind when considering
an ideal future in which we coexist in balance with our oceans.
The hope is not to re-emphasise existing conservation media,
but to deliver a message that conveys aspiration, educates and
encourages the viewer to reflect, in a call for action.

A compilation of video footage is used to visually represent the
beauty and wonder of the ocean, consisting of some of my own
footage (Drone/Underwater/Digital Camera) and some from
reputable sources such as the Schmidt Ocean Institute and
freelance videographers. Video Editing (VFX, Transitions,
Composites, Colour Grading) and Sound design (Original
score, SFX) is used to transition between imagery in a cohesive
manner.

Variations in musical aesthetic throughout the piece
are used to convey emotion and the sincerity of some of the topics addressed.

Dorota Popa

Dorota Popa

For years, we’ve taken so much from the ocean, and now we’re seeing the consequences more than ever. We need to coexist to give back and help restore our beautiful oceans.The journey I described in my video, opened my eyes to both the beauty and the fragility of marine life. When I first became a diver, I was amazed by the beauty of the underwater world. But on my dream dive trip, I saw something heartbreaking—a turtle tangled in fishing line and a reef that had lost all its color. This hit me in a way no statistic ever could.

But that experience also led me to hope and more interest in ocean conservation, especially coral reef restoration. I’ve seen how scientists, divers, and local communities are working to restore what’s been lost.

This year, my goal is to take coral restoration courses and do my part to help our oceans.

To me, coexisting with the ocean means respecting it, protecting it, and giving back instead of just taking.

I also believe that education is crucial. If I hadn’t learned so much from documentaries and my dives, would I feel the same deep connection to the ocean? I truly believe that the more we learn, the more we care. That’s why I started my channel, @bubblydiver—to share knowledge about marine life and inspire others to protect it.

Daisy Naisbitt

Daisy Naisbitt

Info:
I have found it hard to put the words together to describe how I feel about our oceans- not in a "I'm-bad-at-expressing-myself" way (although that is true too) but because it's difficult to say how or why I feel so grateful, and so connected to the sea.My dad moved my family to the seaside in the uk when I was young, and it has always been a place of solace for me, whether I was heartbroken, elated, sulking or simply procrastinating studying!! I tried scuba diving for the first time when I was 19, and fell in love with it immediately. Being able to experience the underwater world like that was truly an amazing gift.

Of course as you know, getting to see the ocean like that unfortunately often comes at quite a high price- making it something that hardly anybody has the chance to do- even being confident swimmer is a privilege. I think that maybe that also means that people don't always get to see the consequences of our human actions, and the toll that takes on our waterways and marine life.

This is why I feel like organisations like yours is so wonderful. I am so grateful for the opportunity this competition offers, and making the video has reminded me why I love the ocean, and why I want to strive to coexist as much as possible with it!!

I made the video completely with videos filmed on my phone over the last few years.

Robin Van Eecke

Robin Van Eecke

Hi! We are very grateful for the work you do and the opportunity of working with your project. We have taken our time to create a video we are proud of because we really love what you stand for and would love nothing more to experience what you offer. We are extremely passionate about sharing our underwater world with others, especially those who have never had the opportunity to see it firsthand. we believe it is hard for people to care for things they have no exposure, connection or understanding towards. when rainforest are cut down its hard to ignore but no one sees the sees the destruction of underwater ecosystems by commercial trawlers, the slow increase in ocean temperature and acidification or the countless number of animals killed as bycatch. It is our life's passion to be a voice for the ocean and we believe the first step is exposure and understanding. Our video highlights the beauty of our underwater world and the urgent need to coexist with it.

Kristen Leveque

Kristen Leveque

I created this video with many of my own clips, filling in the rest with stock video when I didn't have something to fit the theme. I am a registered nurse who recently learned to dive and have completely changed my lifestyle to revolve around the ocean. I am prioritizing activities in marine conservation and this video is an example of my passion and how I think we can make a difference!

Emilie Julin Johansen

Emilie Julin Johansen

I want to emphasize the importance of the ocean in how it has fueled my creativity – a very important aspect of my life. The ocean has been a constant source of inspiration for me. As a child, I spent countless hours exploring the shoreline near our family summerhouse, collecting shells, watching the waves, snorkling and looking at the crabs crawling around on the sea floor and wondering what else lay beneath the surface out there. These early experiences sparked my curiosity and love for the ocean, which later found its way into my art as I started illustrating marine life.

When I learned to dive, my perspective on the ocean changed completely. No longer was it just something I admired from the shore and above – it became a world I could step into. Seeing marine life up close, observing how everything coexists, and witnessing the beauty of even the smallest creatures deepened my appreciation and creative inspiration.

Now, as an adult and aspiring marine biologist, the ocean continues to shape the way I see the world. It influences my work, my passions, and the way I express myself. And I know I’m not alone – artists, scientists, and storytellers worldwide draw inspiration from the ocean, often using their creativity and hard work to support conservation efforts – something I aspire to do as well.

Isabel Harry

Isabel Harry

Sara Howard

Sara Howard

In the face of global development, we must consider our environment to ensure that as we keep extracting, we continue to restore. Our interconnected planet is often forgotten in the pursuit of economic growth. I believe bringing these issues to the communities that are the least connected to our reefs is where there is huge potential to make an impact. Crafting Coral is an initiative that can help create a space to tell stories and educate wider communities about why we need to coexist with our oceans.

Agnes Julianne

Agnes Julianne

Seeing tons of people still be uninformed about many things that breathe life into our planet is simply disappointing. Our Ocean remains to be one of the powerhouses of this world and many continue to trash and step all over it as if it was nothing more than a grain of sand. Coexisting with our ocean will definitely leave a mark and I will forever be there for it.

With some many videos deserved of making the top 15, we wanted to acknowledge those who narrowly missed out.

There are many more we could add to this list and we’ve been genuinely touched at how many of you took the time to share what our oceans mean to you.

Patrick Lawler

Patrick Lawler

As mentioned in the video, Im a Kiwi from New Zealand who currently lives in London. I grew up round the sea, fishing, exploring and diving. I have lived in Africa, South east Asia and Australia where I have dived and I hold my advanced PADI diver licence. I did one year of Marine biology at university but switched career paths (which I always have regretted!). I have volunteered at the united nations (working on the 'life below water' initiative by raising awareness through the UN NSW young professionals association) and various charities, currently I volunteer for the marine conservation society in the UK (you can see a clip of me talking about the deposit return scheme to reduce plastic waste at the end of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYnR_0iXEjQ).

I really worry for the future of our seas and overfishing is my biggest issue, having boycotted the industry personally for over a decade now. I really want to do more, just figuring out how is the big part! This is the first time I have put together an edited video, all the shots I took myself in NZ, dviing around the world or in London, I hope you enjoy it and my message resonates with you.

Laylena Zipkin

Laylena Zipkin

I am an advocate for adopting a less human-centric view of the world. In these critical, determinant times, we must account for the unique and complex perspectives of all life forms, especially those that are so vastly different from ourselves. For me, diving, as well as marine biology, are ways in which I remove myself from the constraints of human centrism in order to truly coexist with the world around me. Thank you for taking the time to review my submission and hear my message!!

Madelin Reyes

Madelin Reyes

I am a seaweed scientist, artist, and multimedia communicator for our marine sanctuaries. The ocean is more than just a place - its my laboratory, art studio, and place to connect with myself and nature. I’m passionate about the Blue Mind theory and the therapeutic benefits of the ocean. My purpose is to connect everyone to the ocean in some way - through creativity, surfing, photography, fun, and wonder. This is how we coexist.

Ana Martinez Vicente

Ana Martinez Vicente

It’s hard to put into words the pride I feel seeing how some Mexican fishermen have evolved and achieved harmony between what they have and what they do, helping to coexist with our oceans. They understood that if they continued fishing at that rate, there would come a day when they would have nothing to bring home.With wisdom, they reinvented themselves, seeking help from others and dedicating themselves to teaching what they had always loved: the sea. As someone who has witnessed this process of transformation, I can say that if they can do it, we all should!

The only way to save our oceans is to teach both children and adults the right path to take, showing them how we can live in balance with the sea, preserving what gives us life.

Jude Binmahfooz

Jude Binmahfooz

In under two minutes, I shared a personal story that shaped my lifelong dedication to marine conservation. But there’s so much more to say.Coexisting with our oceans isn’t just about protecting marine animals—it’s about protecting ourselves. The ocean produces over 50% of the oxygen we breathe, regulates our climate, and sustains over 3 billion people who rely on it for food. Yet, we are destroying it. Plastic pollution is suffocating marine life, overfishing is collapsing ecosystems, and coral reefs are disappearing at an alarming rate.

My video is more than just a message—it’s a call to action—a reminder that the ocean doesn’t need us, but we need the ocean. The future of marine life, and our own, depends on the choices we make today.

I’m not just another marine biology student—I have lived this passion since I was six years old. I’m an advanced scuba diver who has experienced the beauty of the ocean firsthand. I don’t just study marine life—I immerse myself in it. My dream is to open a rescue, rehabilitate, and release hospital for marine animals, and winning this competition would give me firsthand experience with marine scientists in the field.

If chosen, I will use this opportunity to share everything I learn—through social media, advocacy, and outreach. I don’t want this experience to impact just me; I want it to inspire thousands of others to take action. Many videos will talk about the problem; mine tells a story that makes people feel it. If we want people to care about the ocean, we need to make them connect with it emotionally. That’s what my video does. This is more than a competition for me—it’s a chance to amplify a lifelong mission. I hope my passion, experience, and vision stand out and inspire action

Aria Ma

Aria Ma

After pursing medicine for more than 6 years, I've decided to pivot and pursue conservation medicine. I found myself continuously coming back to working in conservation after every paper I submitted and poster I presented at biomedical conferences. Conservation medicine is the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health, and is becoming a larger part of the conversation we are having on global warming. We are at an impasse, we must analyze the ramifications of human health from how we are treating the animals and ecosystems we share the planet with. I love working on the ground, and have also found my special skill sets I can use to contribute to the global community passionate about protecting our waters. I believe that by connecting the health of all beings who share the planet, we can further protection and resilience work to prevent further damage to our oceans.

As a first generation student, pivoting from medicine was a difficult thing to explain to my family. But I've built my own path through entrepreneurship to support conservation work, and have even continued research in looking at how we can utilize natural solutions for human health. I've shared my story on how no matter what skill set or degree program we possess, we can repurpose them to work in conservation. As GenZ enters the workforce and we see an increase in intergenerational teams, it's more important than ever to bring more diverse perspectives and backgrounds into ocean conservation. I vehemently believe that through storytelling and leading through action, we can influence more individuals to improve their habits, pivot to work in climate, and learn to coexist with our oceans.

Lieke Post

Lieke Post

In my video I speak about the motivation behind my drive to protect our oceans. I've seen many issues firsthand. And if I could create a longer submission video, I'd probably be saying something like this:

The importance of our oceans is generally underestimated. I think for people to understand the significance, complexity and beauty of our oceans, they have to 'see' very literally what's going on. If every photo or video I share inspire only 1 person to do just a little more, I'd be happy. And it doesn't have to be that difficult: join a local clean-up, buy more sustainable products, be more aware of the food you buy or join a citizen-science project. I know all the issues can seem overwhelming, but there's a lot of power in the little things.

Val Gentle

Val Gentle

After years of humanitarian work in war zones, Covid marked a turning point in my life. I became painfully aware of the world's indifference to suffering and the geopolitical games that dictate humanitarian efforts. For my mental and emotional well-being, I decided to step away from that world.Diving had always been present in my life, but it became essential—a way to reconnect and find peace. I moved to Bali, became an instructor, and later discovered underwater photography. Yet, it was through video that I found my true passion: capturing the natural interactions of marine life.

Since then, I have dedicated myself to underwater videography, refining my skills and techniques while respecting marine ecosystems. However, the recent surge in tourism has had a devastating impact on Bali’s underwater world. I have witnessed firsthand the destruction caused by mass tourism and the relentless pursuit of the perfect shot, often at the expense of marine life' well being.

This journey has reinforced my commitment to storytelling through video—not just to capture beauty, but to raise awareness about the fragile balance of our oceans.
Discovering "WhyCoexist 2025" was a revelation—it aligned perfectly with my passion and vision. My goal is to use underwater videography to support marine research, capturing both the fascinating interactions of marine life and the vital work of scientists. I want to create powerful, engaging videos that not only document progress but also inspire action.

At the same time, I am deeply aware of the gender gap in diving in Indonesia. There are very few local female dive professionals, and I dream of changing that. By providing young women with the opportunity to learn to dive and earn their certifications, I hope to empower them to contribute to marine conservation and protect their own natural heritage. I believe that conservation and development start with awareness, education, and empowering local communities. Through videography, I hope to contribute in my own way—by sharing the beauty of the ocean and drawing attention to the biodiversity challenges it faces. My goal is to inspire, inform, and support those working to protect our marine environment. So does my video.

Marta Belmar da Costa

Marta Belmar da Costa

Animals have always been my passion, since I can remember. When I was 9 years old, I even sent a letter to National Geographic saying that one day, I would work with them.
Today, my goal is to finally pursue this lifelong passion and dive into the wonders of marine life. I want to share this passion with others because I truly believe that if everyone could see the ocean the way I do, the world would be a much better place! By inspiring others, I hope to encourage people to help conserve our ecosystems and protect the incredible biodiversity of our planet.
This vision—a world where we coexist harmoniously with nature—is the world I dream of. I want to make a difference, and I believe that through knowledge, technology, and passion, we can build a movement that inspires others to join the fight to protect marine life.
As I mention at the end of my video, we must coexist with our oceans, not exploit them. When we protect marine life, we are ultimately protecting ourselves. Together, we can ensure that the ocean thrives—not just for today but for generations to come!

Fabiana Clemente

Fabiana Clemente

There are billions of reasons to coexist with the oceans, and I could go on for thousands of words (or send you hundreds of videos). These are just a few reasons close to my heart and deeply connected to my purpose. The bottom line? I am BEYOND passionate about the ocean. Nothing in the world matters more to me.