Sarah's Journey
My connection with the ocean began at the age of four while snorkeling in the Maldives with my father. It was there that I saw my first shark. Instead of fear, I felt fascination. Sharks captivated me in a way no other animal ever had, and after many encounters with different species over the years, I couldn’t understand why they inspired so much fear in others. To me, they were calm, graceful, and wildly misunderstood.
Through the Save Our Seas Foundation, I had the chance to explore the marine world more deeply, learning about the challenges facing sharks and other ocean life. But the moment that changed everything came during a school trip in 7th grade, when I saw a Mako shark being sold at a local fish market. I realised then that admiration wasn’t enough—I needed to take action.
At 13, I launched the Save Our Sharks website to help correct misconceptions about sharks and highlight their importance to healthy marine ecosystems. The more I learned about the ocean, the more concerned I became about pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change.
A year later, I founded CO-EXIST Projects with the goal of supporting marine conservation through creativity, education, and community. What began as an eco-friendly clothing initiative has grown into something much bigger. While we still offer ocean-themed merchandise—such as our seahorse necklace, our co-branded 4Ocean bangle, books by Joel Harper, and our signature t-shirts and caps—our mission now focuses on education, awareness, and empowering change.
Today, CO-EXIST Projects works with passionate partners, educators, scientists, and creators to inspire a new generation of marine conservation.
Our annual WHYCOEXIST Competition has become a global platform, attracting entries from marine conservation enthusiasts from all over the world. Their ideas, artwork, films, and projects remind us why our oceans matter—and why protecting them must be a shared mission.
My goal remains the same as when I started: to collaborate with like-minded individuals and organisations to protect our oceans and together, #helpsaveourseas.
My goal is to help the human race understand the vital need to Co-Exist in harmony with our oceans and the animals that live within it.
Sarah Geron – Founder Coexist Projects
