BLUE Paradise

With the support of Rolex and Mission Blue, the Nusa Penida Hope Spot has become a sterling example of ocean conservation.

- JAMIE TAN

For nearly a century, Rolex has supported explorers who work to push the boundaries of human endeavour.

These efforts have evolved over time as the brand shifted its focus from championing exploration for the sake of discovery to projects that protect the planet by using science to better understand the Earth, and to devise solutions to its environmental challenges.

Rolex subsumed its various efforts in this sphere under the aegis of the Perpetual Planet Initiative in 2019. Among them is its longstanding collaboration with Mission Blue, founded by Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle in 2009. The group seeks to safeguard oceanic regions of significant value by establishing protected areas-called Hope Spots-and aims to expand this network to cover 30 per cent of the oceans by 2030. One such Hope Spot, the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA), has seen significant traction in its conservation efforts.

More importantly, the region has managed to strike a delicate balance between the needs of local communities, tourists, and the ecosystem, thus offering a successful formula for conservationists elsewhere to follow and adapt.

MARINE CORNUCOPIA

Located within Indonesia, the Nusa Penida MPA spans 20,057 hectares of waters surrounding the Balinese islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, which lie east of the main island of Ubud. The region welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly and is famous for its dive spots' sublime views.

One reason for this popularity is the marine life on display: The MPA is part of the Coral Triangle, an area between the Pacific and Indian Oceans that's recognised as the global centre of marine biodiversity.