SOULS - the memoir (official launch of Stories of Our Underwater Legends)

SOULS - the memoir of Sylvia Earle, Michael AW, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Richard Pyle, Brian Greene

SOULS – Stories of Our Underwater Legends

Official launch at Blue Water Edufest

7 November (bluewateredufest.com/blue-eco)

Come join us for the official launch of SOULS at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, Singapore

SOULS is the memoir of six extraordinary individuals whose lives have been deeply intertwined with our ocean. These overachievers have set countless records, who have achieved many firsts and pioneered groundbreaking achievements that have never been done before.

Introduced by Dr. Carden Wallace A.M., renowned for her team’s discovery of the mass spawning of reef-building corals on the Australian Great Barrier Reef, SOULS is a rare gem that encapsulates the talents, dreams, and mental journeys of a unique group of ocean explorers. Scientists? Geniuses? Maybe both. These are individuals who, knowingly or unknowingly, have guided so many others into the joys and challenges of a life dedicated to the ocean. In this new book, you will immerse yourself in their interconnected stories—stories shaped by admiration, serendipitous encounters, and their shared love for marine ecosystems.

In essence, this is the behind-the-scenes tale of how National Geographic “went underwater.” It also offers an intimate look at the global collaborative efforts in underwater research and the passion that unites those who explore "what lives down there." So, who are these legends, and what makes them so remarkable?

• Sylvia Earle, the first person to dive untethered to a record-breaking depth of 381 meters—still unmatched today. She has been honoured as Time Magazine’s first "Hero for the Planet," a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, and the first female Chief Scientist of NOAA. Sylvia's accolades also include UNEP’s Champion of the Earth, Glamour Magazine’s 2014 Women of the Year, the 1996 Explorers Club Medal, the Royal Geographical Society’s 2011 Patron's Medal, and National Geographic’s 2013 Hubbard Medal.
• Michael AW, the first to lead two 24-hour dive expeditions—on the Great Barrier Reef and Ari Atoll in the Maldives—with the second expedition in 1999 marking the first time underwater images were streamed in real-time to the web. Born and bred in Singapore, he is the first Asian recipient of the prestigious NOGI Award for Arts from the American Academy of Underwater Arts and Science. Michael is the principal author of 39 ocean-related books and the winner of over 68 international photographic awards.
• David Doubilet, often hailed as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of underwater photographers, is the only photographer to have over 70 features published in National Geographic. He pioneered and perfected the split-field image technique, capturing both above and below-water elements in a single shot. David is a recipient of The Explorers Club’s Lowell Thomas Awards and the Lennart Nilsson Award for scientific photography.
• Jennifer Hayes is an aquatic biologist and photojournalist for National Geographic, focusing on both freshwater and ocean environments, from tropical to polar regions. She is a recipient of the SUNY ESF President’s Medal for natural history, a trustee of the Shark Research Institute, a National Fellow of the Explorer’s Club, an Honorary editor of Ocean Geographic Magazine and a Principal Photographer for Elysium Artists for Antarctic, Arctic Expeditions and Coral Triangle Expeditions. Jennifer’s work has been featured across major platforms like NPR, CNN, ABC’s Good Morning America, National Geographic TV, and Disney Channel.
• Richard L. Pyle and Brian Greene are trailblazers in the exploration of deep-sea coral reef habitats, often referred to as the Twilight Zone (30–200 meters deep). Together, they’ve led over 80 research expeditions across the tropical Indo-Pacific, discovering new species of fishes and other marine organisms. Their work has been featured in over 50 film projects for IMAX, National Geographic, BBC, and the Discovery Channel, while Brian has played a key role in adapting digital cinema cameras to capture deep coral reefs in unprecedented detail.

What makes SOULS truly special is that these legends, despite their incredibly busy lives in conservation, fieldwork, and public speaking, were able to come together for the first time to tell their stories. This memoir was born during a live-aboard expedition from Bali to Komodo aboard the state-of-the-art dive vessel, GAIA LOVE. Over just 10 days, these six ocean pioneers shared their most formative experiences—from their first ocean memories and career-defining moments to the highs and lows of their professional journeys. They also offered advice for future generations of scientists, conservationists, artists, and ocean explorers.

Edited by Alex Rose, Science editor at Ocean Geographic, SOULS reads like a collection of autobiographical essays, told in the legends' own words and illustrated with stunning imagery. Printed on fine art paper, the six pictorial chapters are as visually captivating as the stories themselves. There is also a chapter that includes the behind-the-scenes pictures of the production of SOULS.

This book is a chronicle of the lives of six extraordinary individuals who have dedicated themselves to protecting our ocean ecosystems. Their stories—ranging from the restoration of reefs and the discovery of new species to the heartbreaking losses of biodiversity and the fight to end shark slaughter—are powerful calls to action. They share with us their experiences and challenges with the primary mission to inspire future generations, inspire the next Sylvia Earle, the next David Doubilet…

Order your copy of the first limited edition of SOULS at OGSociety.org or better still, go meet Sylvia Earle and the other legends at the official launch - Make your reservation now.

*The production of the first edition of SOULS is supported by City Developments Ltd, MV GAIA LOVE, and Miss Audrey Tay. All proceeds go to Ocean Geographic NextGen projects.

Host or Publisher Ocean Geographic