Zandile Ndhlovu
Degree: None (I didn't complete my Biochemistry degree due to finances), I studied Diversity Facilitation at the University of Witwatersrand, a short course for facilitating discussion and methods used to engage.
Current job: Diversity Consultant & Freediving Instructor
Current project: The Black Mermaid Foundation & The Ocean of Colour - both seeking to increase representation in ocean spaces,
Where are you from: Johannesburg, South Africa
Questions for Zandile
Why do you love the ocean?
Because I found a place where every life is so different.. imagined and unimagined.. and they all live in peace.. this magic translates.. into endless calm and peace and magic.
Why do you think ocean conservation is important?
We want our children and children’s children to witness the magic that the sea is, we want to take care of the earth, when we take care of her, she will take care of us.
What concerns you most about the future of your oceans?
Plastic pollution, particularly because of the double edged sword it is, as the quality of life diminishes at sea so do we.
What was your most memorable moment in/ by the ocean?
We were freediving in Sodwana Bay with Safety divers sitting at about 18m on Scuba, while freediving we could hear the whales singing endlessly as we travelled up and down the line. As the safety ran out of air and exited the water, the whales came closer, they must have been 50m away!! Breaching in every direction... the strength of their breach reduced me to tears... it was like nothing I’d ever experienced in my life.. a love so deep.. just from watching and feeling them be!! They were in very direction.. its was insane!!
What would you recommend your 16-year-old self, that is passionate about ocean conservation?
Stop with single use plastic, stop with plastic completely if you can.
What is your …
Favorite ocean creature: Dolphins... everything about them.. just everything! I play.. and perhaps this is what resonates most lol.
Favorite thing to do by the ocean: Climb the big rocks and be in awe of her vastness and strength of the sea
Favorite Sustainable Product: My glass straws, I didn’t realise how my favourite foods could actually taste better, hear me say - everything tastes better in glass lol
If we don't make the ocean accessible to all, we will continue to hear and experience ocean conservation only through one lens and one voice
I am a Freediving Instructor based in South Africa, coincidentally, also the first Black Freediving Instructor in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
I love everything ocean. This journey started with Scuba diving, where I'm currently certified to a depth of 40m, later came Freediving under which I currently instruct and am in awe of the ability for us to go inward in this love ... to better understand our self ... breath better ... and be more than just our physical self! This passion compelled me to start The Black Mermaid Foundation which focuses on diversifying the representation in the Ocean, from both a Career perspective and in Sports. I have been diving since 2016 and have always been the only black person on the boat, in Bali, in Mozambique and in South Africa. This is not normal, I want to help people face their fear of the ocean, create a safe space for them to explore her, and see that they also belong to the ocean. I believe this is important, especially for school children to help learners to dream, and to be unafraid to dream. I hope this later translates to moving towards the ocean, and maybe one day considering careers in the Marine sciences, maybe even competing in Freediving, but definitely, ending the generational trauma of deep waters.
Perhaps what frustrates me the most in ocean conservation space is the assumption that you must be in academia or have dived for 50 years in order to be a voice for the ocean. Anyone can be an ocean conservationist, choosing not to use single use plastic is ocean conservation, choosing to live a life that is less harmful to the earth is ocean conservation, teaching about the sea is ocean conservation, talking about the sea is ocean conservation, and I think we need to open up the ocean to all, where ownership, and authority, can belong to all. If we don't, we will continue to hear and experience ocean conservation only through one lens and one voice, and for how vast the sea is, we can definitely do better.
My most memorable ocean encounter has to be the day we saw a Whale shark, we were on the boat on our way to a dive in Sodwana Bay again, and somewhere on the way there was a commotion, and there she was … massive ... gentle ... and unbothered ... as we all jumped off the boat to swim with her (I would have run from the surrounding human excitement). She didn’t, she was a baby, she must have maybe been 3 metres, she stuck around and entertained us, as I got close and looked at her little eyes, her gorgeous black and white body, her mouth that could swallow the sea. I’d always dreamt about this moment, I thought I was gonna sob endlessly, but I didn’t, I’d seen her before in my minds eye, I’d dreamt of this day and when it happened, it was nothing short of magical. She remains in my heart, her gentleness and calm will forever sit with me. I named her Thandi.
In closing, what’s my aim through this journey? To diversify the ownership and authority of the ocean space so it has multiple voices and representation. To help people release the fear they have of deeper waters and encounter something new. To replace that fear with the love and magic the sea offers. Make black and brown little ones believe the sea belongs to them too, be it in academia or just being the most playful mermaid. To help people see the beauty and gentle nature of sharks. To help journey into conservation laws in places, they can benefit communities too, social reform is important.. endlessly learn.. endlessly grow.. endlessly protect the ocean …
