On June 7, 2025, dozens of people participated in a militant swim in Nice to defend the ocean, at the call of the Surfrider Foundation Europe. Forming an “SOS” and an “O” in the water, the participants called on the UN and decision-makers to take action to preserve the seas.
Today, Saturday, June 7, 2025, under the Mediterranean sky, near Blue Beach, the Great Universal Swim took place, organized by the “Surfriders Foundation Europe” in collaboration with UNOC3. A symbolic event that brought together a hundred people and volunteers in a large activist swim. Objective: to bring the voice of the ocean to the UN, parliamentarians, and decision-makers. Two major public figures from Nice, such as the foundation’s ambassador Greg Lecoeur, known for his underwater photography, and freediver Guillaume Néry, were present to support the event.
The foundation was created in 1990 by a group of surf enthusiasts. They were “the first witnesses of the pollution they saw on their spot. And so, for 30 years, we have evolved, we welcome all practitioners of water activities, all ocean and sea lovers,” says Nathalie Van Den Broek, president of Surfrider Foundation Europe. “Our goal is to protect, showcase the sea and the ocean, and free them from all this pollution.”
A collective dive for the oceans
On the beach, the participants eagerly swam in the water. “We need to show our unity and how much we want to preserve the ocean. It requires mobilization, and seeing many people together in this great swim demonstrates our unity. We expect something strong and real decisions for the future from UNOC policies,” expresses a volunteer who participated in the event.
The volunteers formed the word “SOS” with their bodies, a visible and urgent call to decision-makers. In the water, they collectively made a large “O” for “Ocean”, symbolizing unity and the importance of preserving this vital environment. A powerful gesture, both simple and strong, to make the voice of the sea heard.
An unwavering struggle for a better future
Thierry Ohh, local leader of the volunteers for the “Surfriders Foundation Europe” group in the Alpes-Maritimes, rejoices: “We’ve been working on the event for months. We are so proud to see so many people mobilized. It gives us great motivation to go further.” He reflects on the backstage: “It spanned over 2-3 months. We had to validate participants, institutions, firefighters… it’s crucial. Even the drone show location changed a week in advance! But we’re thrilled with the result.”
“The sea and the ocean play a crucial role in climate regulation and our food. They are a reservoir of biodiversity. Half of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, […] So, if we want the best life possible, we have to protect the sea and the oceans,” recalls Nathalie Van Den Broek. Today more than ever, the sea needs us. And these voices gathered on the beach, in the water, in institutions, are there to remind us: protecting the ocean means preserving our future.
