800 miles southeast of Mogadishu, Somalia sits one of the most pristine and magnificent remaining island chains in the world. Largely protected from human exploitation by their utter remoteness, these islands were first visited by humans in the 1500s. Their isolation has created an Indian Ocean-like Galapagos filled with unique endemic species of flora and fauna including the world’s only other giant tortoises and the largest nut in the world – the giant coco de mer – weighing up to 50 pounds. Still, this veritable Garden of Eden has not been able to completely withstand the ravages of man from climate change, invasive species and pollution.
In April of 2022 I had the great fortune to travel for two weeks to this collection of islands. I spent my time scuba diving on the pure coral reefs on the remote Alphonse Atoll, a rarely explored location. The underwater fantasy world was like none that I had seen before - despite having dived in many locations around the world. The water clarity, vibrancy of color, varied species of fish and coral were unmatched. And yet, even here, above the high tide mark on the atoll we find tons of plastic garbage including Nike and Adidas sandals, fishing nets, plastic bottles and debris. Ocean currents bring this garbage thousands of miles from Thailand and Indonesian populations, despoiling the perfection of this Shangri La.
This trip became a key source of inspiration for “Coral Beliefs,” a momentous piece to celebrate the beauty and fragility of our undersea world.
