British Paralympian swimmer, Ellie Simmonds OBE, recently joined forces with our team and SHEBA to raise awareness of the fundamental role coral reef restoration plays to protect biodiversity under the sea.

In a new video, ‘Stories of Hope’, Ellie visits the iconic Sheba Hope Reef in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia, to take part in coral restoration first-hand and learn about the work SHEBA and our team is doing with the local community to restore coral reefs around the globe.

Passionate about ocean conservation, Ellie shares her experience and love for our world’s oceans and the life within them. Alongside the local community and MSS marine scientists, Ellie experiences coral restoration up-close, from learning how to build and coat reef stars, how local communities are involved, to free diving underwater and planting them on the ocean floor.

Ellie saw first-hand the impact of SHEBA’s coral restoration efforts, swimming over the iconic Hope Reef, which was unveiled to the world in 2021, with 14m by 46m lettering of H-O-P-E spelled out in regrown coral, marking the ocean with a symbol of hope. What was once a barren and lifeless underwater landscape, in now a thriving coral reef ecosystem with coral growth increasing from 2% to 70%, fish populations increasing by 260% as well as a 64% rise in the number of fish species.

‘Stories of Hope’ demonstrates that positive change can happen in our lifetime, and that there is hope for the future of our oceans if we continue investing in the work required to restore them. In the video, Ellie urges and inspires everyone to rally behind the Hope Grows movement to preserve and restore the beauty of our oceans.

Ellie Simmonds OBE, Paralympian swimmer, says: “I’ve always been passionate about ocean health with the water being such a big part of my life for many years – and it was truly inspiring to learn and see coral reef restoration in action, from the damaged coral which is bleached and barren, to the sites where SHEBA®’s work is complete – and marine life is flourishing. I’ve learnt why coral restoration is so important, not only to ensure marine life flourishes, but also for the millions of people that rely on them for food, income and protection against climatic events. This is why it is so important for me to support the SHEBA® Hope Grows Movement and urge people that, with action, there really is hope for us restoring the beauty of our oceans.”

Follow Ellie's journey on her Instagram to learn more!