Lecture by marine biologist Manu San Félix.
He has spent decades researching and raising awareness about the state of our seas and oceans, convinced that their protection and preservation is everyone’s responsibility. The marine biologist and explorer of National Geographic Manu San Felix will visit the Gandia campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) to give the lecture “From Formentera to National Geographic” within the framework of the inaugural conference of the 2025-2026 academic year to be held by the university center.
Manu San Félix, the Spanish Jacques Cousteau
Nicknamed as the Spanish Jacques Cousteau, Manu San Felix made his first dive in the Mediterranean in 1981 where he discovered the Posidonia oceanica and was amazed by this unique plant in the world. Since then, he has accumulated more than 13,000 dives in all the oceans of the world and has participated in several expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica, becoming one of the greatest defenders of the great marine reserves.
His work focuses on capturing and disseminating the unknown beauty of the oceans, as well as addressing the challenges of ocean conservation. Attracting the public’s attention to these issues is one of its main goals, fostering a fascination with nature and highlighting the importance of water and the oceans in our lives.
Since 2009, San Félix has been working as director of Underwater Images for National Geographic Society in the Pristine Seas project and is a recognized National Geographic Explorer. His career includes directing two documentaries for National Geographic Channel, Shark Island and Let’s save our Mediterranean.
Among his numerous recognitions, Manu San Felix has been awarded two of the most prestigious awards in underwater photography: Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2004) and World Underwater Festival (2005). In 2021, he received the Emmy Award Outstanding Documentary for his work as director of Photography inThe Last Ice.
The inaugural conference of the academic year 2025-2026 will take place on November 12 at 12:30 pm in the Aula Magna of the Gandia campus of the UPV. Talk “From Formentera to National Geographic” by biologist Manu San Félix.
Photography: Manu San Félix Archive