The Real Little Mermaid: This Black Woman Is Diving To Preserve Coral Reefs — And Black History

Image credit: NICHOLAS VON ALBEDYHLL. Retrieved from essence.com

This story is featured in the September/October issue of ESSENCE, on newsstands now.

“The ocean is for everyone,” states Alannah Vellacott, 33, after a morning of snorkeling amid thriving and vibrant coral that borders stark white-reef graveyards. As she playfully dived and gracefully glided through the shimmering canals of Grand Bahama Island, pointing out the diverse species, the depths of her passion were as crystal-clear as the water.  This “born, bred and Bahamian” marine ecologist, a real-life Black “Little Mermaid,” is on a mission to protect the ocean and the waters that raised her. “The ocean is in need of everyone,” she stresses.

For over a decade, Vellacott has been working in marine research, conservation and education in the Bahamas; she is now the coral-restoration specialist at Coral Vita, the world’s first commercial, land-based coral farm for reef restoration. To help coral “live their best life,” her tasks vary from cleaning algae off the sessile organisms growing at the farm to replanting new, healthy coral in nearby reefs. She is a fierce climate advocate, reminding her audience of more than 26,000 on Instagram that we can protect our oceans by reducing single-use plastics, like water and shampoo bottles, as well as plastic-wrapped produce—and also by voting for politicians who prioritize sustainability solutions. “Little things add up,” she affirms.

Vellacott is also an underwater model who has been featured in a campaign for Brandon Blackwood’s first swimwear collection. And the GoPro ambassador is the first Bahamian Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) “Ambass-adiver,” showing the world that Black women can be divers, scientists and ocean protectors.

Her commitment to coral is deeply tied to her love for her homeland. Coral reefs protect coasts against storm surges, waves and erosion, particularly those experienced during hurricanes—and 80 percent of Caribbean reefs have already died, according to Coral Vita.