For World Oceans Day, The International Ocean Film Festival has joined efforts not only with the 30X30 campaign to protect 30 percent of Earth’s oceans by 2030 but with a collection of artists, scientists, athletes, and storytellers.

Our home is more than where we lay our head down to sleep at night. The health of Planet Earth affects us all -- from the air we breathe to the soil that grows our food. In the face of another possible mass extinction, the International Ocean Film Festival has partnered with the 30 X 30 initiative to safeguard 30 percent of our oceans by 2030.

Beneath the waves, tens of thousands of threats linger off the coast of California for some of Earth’s largest creatures. Long, vertical ropes that connect heavy crab traps to surface buoys can snag migrating whales as they lounge feed, mouths open wide in the hunt for krill and small fish.

What hasn't this amazing individual done? Shari Sant Plummer is co-founder and President of Code Blue Foundation. She is also Secretary/Trustee of the Summit Charitable Foundation, Vice President of Seacology, and a board member of the Sylvia Earle Alliance: Mission Blue. As a producer Shari has worked on many environmental films including “Mission Blue” and “Chasing Coral” on Netflix as well as “Sharkwater Extinction” and “Ghost Fleet”.

Short, sweet, and a little sharky - we are thrilled to share Andy Brandy Casagrande IV’s Sylvia Story today. Casagrande is an Emmy Award winning cinematographer, field producer, and television presenter specializing in international wildlife and natural history documentaries.

Internationally acclaimed oceanic photographer (former Wildlife Photographer of the Year and International Photographer of the Year), Christian Vizl takes us on a surreal underwater journey with his stunning black and white ocean photography.

Erika Woolsey is all about taking the plunge and experiencing Earth’s oceans for oneself -- even if that means harnessing the power of virtual reality and 3D coral models to do it.

Safina is an ecologist and award-winning author who has worked tirelessly to change U.S. fishing policies, ban high-seas drift nets, and to launch his own non-profit called The Safina Center. His organization aims to unite the arts and sciences in order to lend a voice to nature and awaken audiences on an emotional, not just intellectual, level.

Continuing with our Sylvia Stories, we have Cristina Mittermeier. She is a woman who dips her toes in many waters as an award-winning photographer, a National Geographic adventurer, and co-founder of SeaLegacy.

In honor of our Off the Reef Fall Benefit keynote speaker, Dr. Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue, we are launching the Sylvia Stories! We'll be speaking with some of our ocean heroes, and sharing their individual Sylvia Story - how they are inspired by "Her Deepness" herself.