Alana Alvarez

From a bus encounter to diving ever after 

As individuals, we have the opportunity - and the responsibility - to act as the voice of all marine species that don’t have the power to express themselves.

taken from Alana's Instagram: @alanagabriella

This year, W4O has partnered with the Divers Alert Network to advocate for preserving the health of the oceans. We will be joining their European Sustainable Tour this summer alongside Alana Alvarez, one of the ambassadors of DAN Europe. She took the time to answer our questions about herself and her journey to get to where she is now. Meet Alana – passionate, committed and inspiring.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I go by Alana Alvarez and I am a passionate diver and conservationist at heart. I firmly believe that to preserve the well-being of our planet and ensure a promising future for generations to come, each of us must work to do our part. With an academic background in pharmacy and growing studies in Sustainable Development, my contribution to this world is aimed at promoting the health of both human beings and our environment.

when and how did you fall in love with the oceans?

I was born and raised in Venezuela, just a few minutes drive from the coast. I always had a very close relationship with the sea, especially the Caribbean. My best childhood memories are tied to afternoons under the sun, with my hair full of sand and my feet submerged in the water. I don't think there was a moment when I "fell in love" with the ocean. I was born in love with it.

what do you love most about the ocean and why?

What I love most about the ocean is that it harbors wonderful and mysterious creatures in every drop of its existence. I am enchanted with its ability to surprise me in every dive. Its vastness makes me feel tiny and that helps me put things into perspective. It reminds me that no problem is unbeatable and that we are all part of something much bigger.

My favourite part of diving: meetings

courtesy of @alanagabriella (Instagram)

what is the journey you took to where you are now?

​Actually, it was love - and a special moment on a bus! - that brought me to where I am today.

Let me briefly tell you the story about the trip that changed my life: 

A little over 2 years ago, I was working for the pharmaceutical industry and I had never dived in my life. For a holiday, I had to catch a flight. On my way to Barcelona’s airport I jumped on a bus for a 4 hour trip. Shortly after the journey began a very handsome man approached me and asked to sit by my side. He had just finished his Open Water IDC in Murcia, Spain. All he did during the entire ride was talk me into the awesomeness of scuba diving. 

That’s it, I was hooked! On diving … and him. 

Shortly after, I learned to dive and quit my old job. Today I dedicate my time to advocating for ocean conservation and developing sustainable practices for the diving safety specialist Foundation, DAN Europe.

did you have any challenges to overcome (as a woman, or considering any other aspect of your identity) to get to where you are now?

Having to emigrate from the country that was my home for 26 years represented a great challenge for me. I said 'having', because I did not leave 'wanting' but fleeing from the political, economic and social turmoil that affects Venezuela to date. My family and friends either stayed there or emigrated to other distant countries. Not only did I have to start from scratch in a new place with a different culture, but also I had to do it alone - with the help of some angels that life fortunately brought my way.

what do you see as the biggest challenge when turning things around for the ocean?

I think the biggest challenge is to get the necessary legislative support to stop the activities that are destroying marine ecosystems and instead promote their protection.

We, as a society, also face the great challenge that indifference represents. I don't mean lack of education, but sheer apathy. In current times, if you have a mobile phone and internet connection, you have access to information. These tools are enough to learn. However, if you don't educate yourself on a subject, it's probably because you don't want to.

Finally, there is a huge inconsistency between what we say we want to do and what we actually do. Everyone talks about the serious damage that overfishing and plastics are causing to our planet. But only a few are really willing to change their food / consumption options when shopping.

courtesy of @alanagabriella (Instagram)

how do you think the diving community can engage in helping to secure and restore healthy oceans?

As individuals, we have the opportunity - and the responsibility - to act as the voice of all marine species that don’t have the power to express themselves. All images that we see today on social networks and the media, showing the damage that us humans are causing to marine ecosystems, have been mostly captured by divers. We have special access to a pristine world that needs our protection. We have seen with our own eyes coral reefs bleaching, the decline of many populations of marine creatures and the much-talked invasion of plastics and pollutants into our oceans. 

So a good way to get involved is by being an active witness to what is happening. Raise your voice, share relevant information, educate those around you and support organizations that are acting for the well-being of the ocean.

Furthermore, the whole diving industry has much to contribute and also to correct on the subject. From the manufacturing of diving equipment with sustainable materials, to the use of non-polluting boats, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

what excites you most about the role you can play?

It excites me to reconnect humans with nature, in order to leave future generations a healthy planet to be enjoyed.

Everyone talks about the serious damage that overfishing and plastics are causing to our planet. But only a few are really willing to change their food / consumption options when shopping.

anything you want to add about your work or that of DAN in terms of protecting the ocean in the year ahead?

Ocean protection has long been overdue, and there's no time to lose. Therefore, this summer we have planned a new and exciting adventure, to raise awareness on ocean protection and bring sustainable solutions into our lifestyle: The DAN Europe Sustainable Tour 2021!

My partner Manu Bustelo – yes, the guy from the bus! – and I will travel nearly 11,500 km across Europe in an electric vehicle, raising the flag for ocean conservation within the framework of the UN Ocean Decade. 
The agenda includes meetings with a number of great partners and supporters, policy makers, NGOs, sustainable businesses, among others, in order to address three major ocean threats: rising CO2 levels, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss.
Click here to know more!

any particular message you want to convey to the reader? message of inspiration, thought or hope

As Albert Einstein once said: "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything".

Please don't be indifferent. Act now.

courtesy of @alanagabriella (Instagram)