French couple swims the Atlantic to raise ocean awareness and inspire students
A French couple embarked on a journey across the Atlantic Ocean to raise awareness about marine conservation — not by boat or plane, but by swimming. Matthieu and Chloe Witvoet began their adventure Friday, diving into the Atlantic’s waters from the shores of Cape Verde.
Their goal: to swim more than 2,000 miles to Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island, in an effort to spotlight the importance of protecting the world’s oceans, Reuters reported.
The couple alternates shifts in the water, each swimming six hours per day. When night falls, they take refuge on a support boat that drifts along their route.
Their journey is being closely followed by schoolchildren across France. Every day, students connect with the Witvoets through live video feeds, tracking their progress in real time and learning about the conditions and discoveries the pair encounter in the Atlantic. This direct connection turns the expedition into an educational experience.
Teachers integrated the swim into their curriculum, preparing weekly lesson plans on ocean-related topics tailored to the couple’s current location. These lessons cover a range of subjects, from marine biodiversity and the impacts of pollution, to climate change and the interconnectedness of global water systems.
By following the Witvoets’ progress, students gain a deeper understanding of the ocean’s role in the planet’s health and the need for stewardship.
The hope, organizers said, is that the Witvoets’ voyage will inspire not only students, but the wider public to take a greater interest in ocean conservation and to recognize the urgent challenges facing marine ecosystems around the world.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
