Sylvia Alice Earle (born August 30, 1935) is an American marine biologist, oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer. She has been a National Geographic Explorer at Large (formerly Explorer in Residence) since 1998. Earle was the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and was named by Time magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998.
Early Life and Education
Earle was born in Gibbstown, New Jersey, to Alice Freas (Richie) Earle and Lewis Reade Earle. Her family moved to Dunedin, Florida, on the Gulf Coast during her childhood. She earned an associate degree from St. Petersburg Junior College (1952), a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University (1955), a Master of Science (1956), and a Ph.D. in phycology (the study of algae) from Duke University (1966).
Career and Major Achievements
Earle began using scuba equipment for marine research in the 1950s, becoming one of the first scientists to do so. In 1964, she was the only woman aboard the Anton Bruun for the International Indian Ocean Expedition. In 1968, she became the first woman scientist to descend into the ocean in a submersible vehicle as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Man-in-Sea project.
In 1970, after being initially rejected from the Tektite Project due to her gender, Earle was selected to lead the first all-female team of aquanauts in the Tektite II project. The team lived 50 feet (15 meters) underwater for two weeks off the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 1979, Earle set the women's depth record for an untethered sea walk, descending to 381 meters (1,250 feet) in a JIM atmospheric diving suit off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii. This record still stands.
In 1982, she co-founded Deep Ocean Engineering with engineer Graham Hawkes, designing and building the Deep Rover research submarine, capable of operating down to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). In 1986, she set the women's solo dive record in a submersible she helped design.
Earle served as Chief Scientist at NOAA from 1990 to 1992, the first woman to hold that position. During this time, she led research trips to assess environmental damage from Iraq's destruction of Kuwaiti oil wells during the Persian Gulf War.
In 1992, she founded Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER Marine) to advance marine engineering. The company is now run by her daughter Elizabeth.
Mission Blue and Conservation Work
In 2009, Earle founded Mission Blue (also known as the Sylvia Earle Alliance) with support from the TED Prize. The organization aims to establish a global network of marine protected areas called "Hope Spots" — areas scientifically identified as critical to the health of the ocean. As of 2025, Mission Blue has designated over 160 Hope Spots worldwide, covering millions of square kilometers of ocean. The organization works toward the global target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.
Earle is a vocal advocate for ocean conservation, warning about overfishing, ocean acidification, plastic pollution, and climate change. She supports the introduction of ecocide as a crime under the International Criminal Court and promotes plant-based diets as an alternative to industrial fishing.
Publications
Earle has authored more than 150 scientific and popular publications, including 13 books. Notable works include:
- Exploring the Deep Frontier (1980, with Al Giddings)
- Sea Change: A Message of the Oceans (1996)
- The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's One (2009)
- Blue Hope: Exploring and Caring for Earth's Magnificent Ocean (2014)
Honors and Awards
Earle has received more than 100 national and international honors, including:
- Time magazine's first Hero for the Planet (1998)
- Library of Congress Living Legend (2000)
- TED Prize (2009)
- National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal (2013)
- UN Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)
- Princess of Asturias Award of Concord (2018)
- Named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor (2025)
She holds 34 honorary degrees and has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (2000) and the Women Divers Hall of Fame (2000).
Personal Life
Earle has been married three times and has three children. She follows a vegetarian diet and has logged more than 7,000 hours underwater across over 100 expeditions. She continues to dive and advocate for ocean conservation into her 90s.
