As summer draws to a close, so do Save the Med’s summer/aquatic activities. We look back on the last few months with satisfaction and gratitude: In collaboration with local partner organisations and professionals spanning multiple disciplines, from citizen science to astronomy, we hosted a wide range of activities that bring people closer to nature. 

We feel satisfaction because we were able to deliver quality workshops and carry out our activities and have an impact. Grateful, because of the amazing support we receive from our partnerships as well as our funders to make all of this happen. 

This year, Save the Med was even able to go above and beyond, exceeding its own ambitions, by hosting the pilot edition of the Community Vessel project. This project represents the essence of our work, joining all the dots – from science, education, and community involvement, all collaborating aboard this ship, with a shared mission in mind: to regenerate the Balearic Sea. 

Why connection matters

It is well established that connecting with nature offers a wide range of benefits for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Time spent outdoors—whether walking through a forest, sitting by the sea, or simply enjoying fresh air—can reduce stress, support relaxation, and help regulate mood. Research suggests that greenery and natural landscapes can calm the nervous system and promote feelings of wellbeing. Interactions with animals are also increasingly recognised for their therapeutic value: animal-assisted therapies involving dogs, horses, and even dolphins have been used in contexts ranging from providing comfort to older adults to supporting people with conditions such as autism.

However, at Save the Med we recognise that the value of connecting with nature goes beyond human-centric interests: the point is not just respecting and loving nature, and looking after our wellbeing. It is knowing we are one with nature. It is about bridging the separation that has been created in modern society between ‘man and nature’, a distinction that has proved very damaging to ecosystems across the globe, and has only served to reinforce the notion that all resources on earth are ours to extract and for the taking.

Activities that make a difference

The idea behind our activities stems from a simple truth: we cannot protect what we do not love, and we cannot love what we do not know. That is why we create experiences that foster a deeper connection with nature—so we can feel at one with the sea and the natural environment. 

A key principle is accessibility: all activities are free, bringing the Balearic waters to the people. At the same time, we usually keep groups small—no more than 20 people—so that each experience remains personal, meaningful, and respectful of the marine environment. 

From underwater photography to biodiversity workshops, our activities are designed as immersive encounters that allow participants to engage directly with the Balearic Sea and its surroundings. Whether it is cultivating presence and awareness in Posidonia or other seagrass meadows, or learning about the intricate relationship between our solar system and the seas, participants learn that connection is not only a warm fuzzy feeling, but also essential for ecosystems and living beings to thrive.

But connection only has meaning if it is followed with action. This is true, for example with the citizen science activities, where participants observe as well as document the presence of invasive species or the bleaching of seagrass, thereby supporting scientists and contributing to a better understanding of the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. 

The Community Vessel pilot project, which stretched over six weeks in summer from May to late June, not only provided access to and connection with the sea, but also carried environmental care and action at the core of its mission. It undertook daily scientific and education expeditions, from water sampling to the removal of ghost FADs as well as hosting the coming together of civil society and a variety of stakeholders, with the aim of, through fostering connection, sparking new ideas and initiatives to strengthen marine regeneration efforts. Onboard as well as offboard, our activities have the same aim in mind: learning the value of connection, amongst ourselves as well as with nature. 

Conclusion

Connection calls us to responsibility — reminding us that caring for the sea is also caring for ourselves and our communities. While our survival depends on the health of the seas, the sea — and all life within it — also has the right to thrive for its own sake. By immersing ourselves in direct experience, observation and conversation with nature, awareness becomes intention and intention becomes action. Across our activities, participants don’t just learn about the threats facing the sea— they document them, help remove hazards and trash, and join scientists and community members in practical stewardship. Those small, repeated acts of care add up: to better data, stronger local initiatives, and a growing public that knows and values the sea.

Step by step, we are growing love and respect for the Balearic Sea — and building the momentum needed for true regeneration.

Save the Med Foundation | regeneración marina