Ocean Sentinels

Ocean Sentinels is a three-year leadership and ocean advocacy programme for young people who have completed our Parley Ocean School and Turn the Tide programmes. It supports participants to deepen their knowledge of the ocean, strengthen their confidence, and grow into leaders within their communities.

The curriculum combines advanced ocean literacy, leadership training, public-speaking development, and practical experiences such as snorkelling, sailing, and climate-change workshops. Through partnerships with organisations such as Ocean Pledge and Parley for the Oceans, participants gain exposure to national and international networks focused on ocean conservation and sustainability.

Over the course of the programme, students take part in the Marine Ambassadors Public Speaking Programme and the Ocean Uprise Course, developing the ability to speak clearly about environmental issues and to advocate for the protection of marine ecosystems. They also participate in field activities that build practical understanding of ocean systems and community action.

In 2024, Sentinel Ocean Alliance graduated its first three-year cohort of Ocean Sentinels. Each participant demonstrated not only personal growth but a shift in how they see their role in the world — from student to steward. Feedback from this group continues to guide the evolution of the programme, ensuring it remains relevant and responsive to the realities faced by young people in coastal communities.

Ocean Sentinels represents the next step in a long-term journey of connection. It builds on early experiences of ocean education and therapy to cultivate leadership, responsibility, and a lasting commitment to the health of the ocean and the communities that depend on it.