What happens when a legendary surfer and a conservation nonprofit come together to restore some of the most remote islands on Earth?

You get a powerful story of passion, purpose, and preservation. 

I got the chance to sit down with Martin Daly—Australian surfer, commercial diver, and ocean explorer—to talk about his decades-long journey through the world’s oceans and his growing commitment to protecting them. During my time in the Marshall Islands, where I worked with our amazing field team to restore Bikar Atoll and Jemo Islet, I lived on the Indies Surveyor—one of Daly’s legendary surf and dive charters. 

Daly, best known for discovering some of the most iconic surf breaks in Indonesia, has spent the last 20 years living in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where he’s now riding a new wave: one of ecological restoration. 

Daly’s life has been defined by the sea. From his early days diving and surfing in Australia to his leasing of Beran Island for a new eco-resort, he’s seen firsthand the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems. 

Over the past 50 years, he’s watched coral reefs bleach, fish populations dwindle, and once-pristine environments succumb to human impact.

From Surfboards to Sanctuaries

Daly’s response to this degradation is action.

He leased Beran Island in the Marshalls and began developing an eco-resort designed to tread lightly on the land and sea. His goal is to show that tourism can be a force for good—supporting conservation rather than exploiting nature.

Daly believes surfers are uniquely positioned to be environmental stewards. Not only do outdoor adventurers travel to these beautiful, remote locations, but they intimately understand the delicate balance of the marine ecosystems they enjoy.

From rising ocean temperatures to shifting marine life patterns, surfers and divers are on the frontlines of climate change—and they have a voice that can inspire action.

Watch my interview with Martin Daly to see why the most passionate adventurers must also become protectors of the environments we love. And support us in our mission to restore islands for nature and people worldwide by joining our newsletter or making a donation today!