From championing a team of expert divers using cutting-edge rebreather technology to help uncover the sea’s wonders, to backing some of the most advanced coral reef restoration programmes on the planet, Rolex has long supported efforts to protect our oceans. Through the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, the company is shining a light on those leading by example in their efforts to understand and preserve the planet’s blue heart.

Among those working to protect our oceans is one of the world’s most distinguished photographers, Cristina Mittermeier. By becoming the first female photographer to achieve one million followers on Instagram, it has enabled her to mobilize a global audience of ocean advocates. She is renowned for her exceptional images of the marine world, using visual storytelling to ignite change and draw attention to the urgent need to safeguard our seas.

Despite growing up in the landlocked Mexican town of Cuernavaca, Mittermeier has dedicated her life to championing the oceans, using her powerful imagery to inspire others to do the same. “Everybody understands photography,” she says, “it’s a universal language that has unparalleled power to inspire and engage audiences to take action.”

A pioneer in the conservation field, Mittermeier’s multi-award-winning career has taken her to more than 130 countries and every continent on the planet, often on assignment for National Geographic magazine. In 2018, she was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year.

With the support of the Perpetual Planet Initiative, Mittermeier and her partner Paul Nicklen have documented the many untold wonders of the oceans, highlighting the issues facing them. The pair co-founded the non-profit organization SeaLegacy, which brings together filmmakers, photographers, and storytellers to shine a light on marine conservation efforts around the world. Across more than 45 expeditions, Mittermeier and Nicklen have documented over 765 species and captured over seven million images. “One of the greatest joys and achievements of my career is when people use one of the photographs I have taken as a banner to champion their cause,” says Mittermeier. “Any time I can use my photographs to represent something bigger makes me really happy.”

As well as using her lens to draw attention to critical conservation issues, Mittermeier is determined to inspire community action to protect the oceans. She mentors young conservationists and ocean advocates, as well as encouraging local people such as fishers to lend their voices to the conservation agenda of their countries, to protect the planet for future generations.

Mittermeier was awarded the Seattle Aquarium Sylvia Earle Medal in 2021, in recognition of her three decades of courageous journalism. She is keenly sought after as a public speaker at forums such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and at key conferences such as the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon in 2022. Three years later, Mittermeier was one of a select number of artists invited to be cultural leaders at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where she delivered a powerful, optimistic message to people around the globe.

Alongside her photography and public speaking, Mittermeier has edited and co-authored 27 books on conservation issues. In 2024, she released her own book, “Hope”, with the support of Rolex, inspired by the incredible stories she has encountered during her distinguished career. Featuring a collection of her favourite prints spanning every continent, she has said of the project: “This book is the embodiment of our planet’s resilience and humanity’s connection to nature.”

ABOUT THE PERPETUAL PLANET INITIATIVE
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing journeys marked by milestones and emotions that culminate in defining moments. Achievement is a path followed towards excellence.

For nearly a century, Rolex has supported pioneering explorers pushing the boundaries of human endeavour to help them achieve countless historic feats. Over time, the company has moved from championing exploration for the sake of discovery to protecting the planet. Through the Perpetual Planet Initiative, Rolex stands alongside explorers, scientists and entrepreneurs, supporting their work to build a better future for all life on earth.

The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative was launched in 2019 and now has a portfolio of more than 30 partners. It also includes the Rolex Awards, which has supported exceptional individuals spearheading innovative projects for nearly 50 years. The expanding portfolio of partnerships and supported individuals are active in three main focus areas: Oceans; Landscapes; and Science, Health, and Technology.

Rolex supports a wide range of projects in the field of Ocean conservation such as: Mission Blue and Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle, dedicated to safeguarding the seas, and contributing to a global movement aiming to protect 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030; conservation photographers Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen who, across more than 45 expeditions, have documented over 765 species and captured over seven million images; and Coral Gardeners, who are working to transplant resilient corals to reefs and have replanted more than 100,000 coral cuttings in twelve different restoration sites across French Polynesia, Fiji, and Thailand.

The Landscapes roster includes: a strengthened partnership with the National Geographic Society on understanding climate change; Rewilding Argentina and Rewilding Chile, offspring organisations of Tompkins Conservation, which have inspired the protection of 5.6 million hectares of wild landscapes in South America; and Steve Boyes and the Great Spine of Africa series of expeditions, exploring the continent’s major river basins.

Rolex also supports partners in Science, Health, and Technology such as:

Andrew Bastawrous, who has screened over 10 million people worldwide for treatable eye conditions; Felix Brooks-church, who is helping to nourish 10 million people a day in Tanzania and Kenya by fortifying staple foods; and Miranda Wang, who is revolutionising plastic recycling.

In addition, Rolex also supports organisations and initiatives fostering the next generation of explorers, scientists and conservationists, such as The Explorers Club and the CERN & Society Foundation.