Tribute to the Ocean

Today is World Oceans Day. A special day! Let’s celebrate it! Let’s use this day to pay homage to the ocean habitat.

In this post I don’t want to talk about problems that are related to our Water element. There are many of them but today let’s talk about the strengths, the possibilities, the wonders, the respect, the gratitude, the fascination of this blue life space. I believe very strongly that Man protects what he loves, so today I choose a different approach to this topic.

There is a beautiful and true statement that I would like to mention here. “We are all waves of the ocean!” Such clear words, what profound words. The wave cannot be separated from the ocean, it cannot exist without the ocean. This analogy shows that we are all one, that we are part of a greater whole. We are deeply interconnected, both in a spiritual sense and in the web of life on our planet. We are all pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly. We depend on each other we are intertwined with each other. As individuals and as a whole, as humanity and in connection with nature. This vital interlock of our planet is completely interconnected. No human mind would be able to produce such an elaborate and complex system.

We too, in Lobosonda, are a unit that represents our blue office. Our different fields of work intertwine and create an unforgettable experience for our guests. Everyone is responsible for the success everyone gives their contribution. We are ocean lovers, each in our own special way. We are the waves that move our guests through our work, our attitude, our love for marine mammals and oceans. Discover what each one of us loves and finds fascinating about the Ocean. Get to know us the ocean way.

Claudia Gomes/Co-founder & CFO: “Ocean in different colors, shades and temperaments. Refreshing our body & soul, you are so important, yet so disrespected. Awareness is growing and Lobosonda will always be part of and pass the word & action.”

Rafael Gomes/Maintenance & Co-Founder: “There is a different world that starts at shore that we are not aware of. And our challenge is to open the curtain.”

Joana Gomes/CEO: “The Ocean soothes my soul, not only our survival depends on it, but the entire human species also depends on it for comfort, calm, and joy. It is an undeniable source of imagination, mystery, hope, eternity and truth. When you think about it, it is almost an insult to call this planet “earth” when it is clearly “ocean.” As we breathe, we must be reminded with every breath how absolutely important the ocean is to our survival. By keeping this awake in our minds, we can all make a difference, just by being aware and making good decisions.

Marlene Cabral/ Office Administrator: “I find the ocean a world apart, very fascinating, but with a lot to discover. It is home to the most magical cetaceans and its marine life must be protected at any cost! Our children have the right, in the future, to enjoy and appreciate all that the ocean has to offer! Let’s do everything in our power to protect one of the foundations of our life!”

Marion Loch/ Reservation Manager: “The Ocean is my magical place of longing. Sitting and watching the ocean and waves makes me immerse myself in a flow of boundless freedom, life and energy. It heals my soul, frees my spirit, and empowers me. The oceans are our life support system on earth and deeply connected to each of us. Let’s do all we can to protect and preserve them.

Susi Mertens/Receptionist: “I hope the next generation takes care of the ocean and its creatures, because without them the world will be a different place. We experience this every day when we go out to sea in the beautiful blue that is in front of our door. Thank you for that dear ocean.”

Lena Gomes/Receptionist: “The endless flow of the ocean is magical to my soul, as my grandmother once said, I could watch it forever. Growing up on an island my connection with the ocean begins with respect, awareness and understanding that we need to be present to go with the flow and enjoy ourselves. Never “turn around” on it! It is a beautiful and powerful force of nature that keeps us alive, let’s treat it with respect.”

Carlos Drumond/Spotter and Captain: “The most amazing and important lessons and experiences I have learned in life, come from the Ocean. The sea is my great master, my therapist a part of me. World welcomes you as part of it, as a family member, and for this I have no words, but a heart filed with respect and care.”

Daniel Jardim/Cetacean and Cetacean Watching Guide: “Since I can recall, the ocean has been always very present in my life and my place of internal growth. It has been my biggest provider in various ways and undoubtedly has molded me to the person I am today. I feel blessed and thankful for spending time around the ocean and sharing my experiences to the person next to me. Thank you.”

Paula Thake/ Biologist and Whale Watching Guide: “The ocean has always been my teacher, my source of courage and my happy place. Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a part of the ocean and learn more about the incredible variety of life it contains. The more I learn, the more humbled I am by its dimensions and complexity. I hope that we find it in ourselves to give the ocean the respect it deserves and understand that we can not infinitely take without giving anything back.”

Fatima Kutzschbach/Whale Watching Guide: “Nature, in its structure, complexity and beauty, touches me deeply. The ocean as a habitat poses many challenges to its inhabitants. I am fascinated by the various solutions that nature has developed to provide marine inhabitants with the best opportunities for development and a successful life. I deeply admire this multifaceted, creative and solution-oriented approach to life, this wonderful fantasy of nature.”

The ocean is a spectacular habitat. 70.8% of our planet is covered by oceans, which include the world oceans (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, Southern Ocean) and subsidiary seas (such as the Australian, the Mediterranean, the Gulf of Mexico, etc.)

All in all, this results in an expansion of 362 million square kilometers with 1.35 billion cubic kilometers of salt water. What diverse forms the ocean takes on. From pack and drift ice to tropical temperatures, with different salinity, own tidal systems and ocean currents. Coastlines and the high seas offer a wide variety of habitats. Islands and archipelagos curiously stick their heads out of the salty element. The seabed stretches to the highest heights and deepest depths. Deep-sea plains, deep-sea basins, sills, deep-sea channels, mid-ocean ridges, the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Mariana Trench (11,000 meters deep), the marine landscape could hardly be more varied. The different depths (shelf areas, continental slopes, abyssal and hadal) provide space for a diverse marine flora and fauna. Curious sea creatures cavort, for example, in colorful coral reefs; gently swaying sea grass meadows; precipitously sloping coastlines or they prefer to be near hot bubbling underwater springs (like the Black smokers) that create such an unreal scenery that it is hard to believe that life is possible there. Some peer out from underwater caves or burrow into the sandy bottom for protection. Our oceans are eternal and at the same time constantly changing. An endless flow of transition. Sometimes quiet and like a mirror sunk in meditation, sometimes wild and unpredictable with its monster waves and tsunamis. All life originated from this primordial water. Whether in the sea, in rivers, on land or in our skies, everything has its origin in the OCEAN. It doesn’t matter whether we live near the ocean or far away, whether we see the ocean every day or never, our life depends on it.

According to a family tree analysis by the international project “Census of Marine Life”, there are said to be 2.2 million living beings in the largest habitat on earth. We probably cannot even guess how many sea creatures actually exist in this little-explored blue element. We have only seen a small fraction of this fascinating puzzle of living possibilities. There is still so much unknown, undiscovered. In its expanses, in its depths, there are creatures that have adapted fantastically to the challenges of this habitat. Beings, full of color, in whimsical shapes, with creative survival techniques form a sophisticated, intelligent, interdependent system of balance. This biodiversity makes the ocean not only the food source for the animals that feed on in the ocean, but also our resource for sustenance.

Due to its different thermal energies, its varying salinity and its depth difference, due to wind, currents and evaporation, the ocean becomes a climate maker that is necessary for survival. The maritime current system is not only a global conveyor belt for marine flora and fauna, but also contributes to the stability of our climate. The thermohaline circulation unites four world oceans into a global cycle that is so interwoven that any disturbance can have a wide, profound effect.

The ocean is rightly called the blue lungs of our planet. In a balanced ecosystem, phytoplankton is not only the basis for the marine food chain, but also plays an extremely important role as an oxygen donor. The word plankton comes from the Greek word “planktos” which means “drifter”. This describes very well the mass of micro algae floating on the sea surface, which binds carbon dioxide and releases oxygen into the atmosphere. At least 50% of the available oxygen is produced by the small marine algae through its photosynthesis. There are theories that even assume a 70-80% oceanic oxygen production. At this point I would like to invite you to a little breathing exercise, an exercise in gratitude. Sit relaxed, take a deep breath in and breathe out slowly. Breathe in again, deeply and out again, this time saying “thank you” inwardly with the thought of our oceans. Repeat this a few times. Every other time, thank our blue life element in your thoughts. Because we owe at least every other breath to the existence of the ocean.

 For some, the ocean is an element of sporting activity, of measuring one’s strength, of accepting the challenge of aligning with the ocean’s power. For others, the sea is a place of rest and introspection. Who doesn’t like to let their gaze linger at the point where the sea and the horizon, go hand in hand. Who doesn’t like to listen to the sound of the waves, let their thoughts go their own way and suddenly find themselves. In our daily hustle and bustle, we humans are often too far removed from the pulse of life. That throws us off balance. Staying in nature, whether active or rather quiet and meditative, is a source of strength and healing, a place to recharge your batteries and a place to connect with oneness.

We would like to give you a few film tips to take with you on your way. Enjoy the images, emotions, information. We all exist because the ocean, that wonderful, mysterious, habitat exists.

I am the ocean – Harrison Ford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM6txLtoaoc

2min.

Planet Ocean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH1s9GCqPKo

1:28:59min

Our Planet | Coastal Seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9PeYPHdpNo

49:47

Our Planet – High seas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FqwhW0B3tY

48:21

Ocean Life and Nature Documentary – Amazing Underwater Marine Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em9mlK45rP0

59min

Life of the Ocean 8K ULTRA HD – 500 species of sea creatures with relaxing music and ocean sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzmcaC3SNnE

1:05h

Sperm Whales – Titans of the Deep | Free Documentary Nature

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhcFCONHZvA

59Min

We invite anyone who is in Madeira on World Oceans Day today to stop by at Lobosonda. We will be showing inspirational ocean-themed films throughout the day.

Ocean is life, is abundance, is power. Everything is perfect. If man does not intervene in this structure, the ocean and our planet will remain in balance. In conclusion, I would like to invite you to investigate all this. I would like to ask you to see the diversity, the manifoldness, the infinity, the splendor of color, the curiosities in front of your inner eye. Smell the sea breeze for a moment and think about what you love about the sea, what fascinates you? What can you do to protect our oceans?

By Fatima Kutzschbach