Elsie Gabriel changes the narrative in a male dominated world, one dive at a time.
In order to encourage more women to dive into the depths of the ocean and educate the youth to play a stronger role in environmental ocean conservation – both under and out of the ocean , Elsie Gabriel changes the narrative in a male dominated world, one dive at a time.
There’s proof that gender equality is paving way for more women ocean conservationists around the globe.
It was a proud moment when certified Ocean Diver Elsie Gabriel, Founder of Young Environmentalists Programme Trust, UN Ocean Conference Speaker, LOreal Climate Champion and National Coordinator of Oceans Climate Reality Project India was inducted into the Women’s Divers Hall of Fame recently last week in Los Angeles USA.
WDHF is a global organization which recognises women divers who have made outstanding contributions to the exploration, ocean literacy, ocean understanding, safety and conservation of our underwater world.
Says Gabriel who is also the Ambassador for India Ocean Quest certified in coral propagation, ‘ I’m honoured to be inducted as member of the WDHF and look forward to enforcing Ocean Literacy among schools and colleges in India and wherever I dive.
As Director of PHSA USA I also help train Divers to train disabled divers and community which is appropriate not only for recreational diving but also in times of climate crisis and disaster management to prepare for climate disasters. During Tsunamis and coastal disasters it is usually the women, children and disabled who are mostly effected and in dire need of assistance.’
Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) was founded in 1999 to recognize and honor the contributions of women pioneers, leaders and innovators in the many fields of diving and to promote careers and opportunities for women in the diving community worldwide.
Explains Gabriel who has dived in Malapascuya Philippines, Galapagos, Maldives, Jamaica, Australia, Bahamas, Mexico, Grand Cayman as well as Kerala,Andaman’s and Lakshadweep, on how important it is that divers become agents of change and contribute towards the fight against climate change via ocean literacy for its conservation and mitigation, ‘ Without Blue there is no Green and our government needs to make Ocean education and climate curriculum compulsory in schools and colleges in order to fight climate change and give more young people the opportunity to join oceanography and marine research at an early stage to develop careers in ocean science and technology.’
Gabriel feels that ocean field work and being surrounded by marine life has increased her expertise for water conservation, ecotourism, sustainability, environmentalism, and other ocean eco-friendly practices. Fighting Ocean pollution, working with fishermen, indigenous communities and ensuring that more women join ocean conservation is her forte as she continues to work with citizen scientists, students in Mumbai and globally.
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