National Geographic Society

P.O. Box 98199

Washington, DC 20090-8199 USA

38.90531943278526, -77.0376992225647

800-647-5463

Inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888

Learn More »

Connect With Us

Main Navigation

The Ocean

Ocean Hero: David de Rothschild

Photo: David de Rothschild on-board Plastiki

Photograph by Luca Babini courtesy Adventure Ecology

Name: David de Rothschild
Place of Birth: London, England
Current Home: San Francisco, California
Occupation: Adventurer

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A pirate

How did you get started in your field?
I have always been very curious and asked a lot of questions. I became interested in health and the environment, went to school for natural medicine, and trained as a naturopath. I realized I could combine this with my sense for adventure to create stories to inspire others.

What’s a typical day like for you?
There is no such thing as a typical day for me. I wake up early and go for a run with my dogs. My days can include anything from developing content for new adventures to meeting with designers, architects, and sponsors for Plastiki. I work early in the morning until late at night, but I love what I do!

What has been your favorite experience in the field?
I don't have one particular experience. My favorite thing is setting off on a new adventure—it is an amazing moment of heading into the unknown. Everyone's hard work has paid off and you can find out what will be on the horizon.

Do you have a hero?
Yes, I have many. Sylvia Earle, Enric Sala, the engineers and team on Plastiki, and everyone doing something to help save planet Earth.

If you could have people do one thing to help the ocean, what would it be?
Give recognition to the ocean for all that it does for us—it is the driver of life.

Smooth Sailing for the Plastiki

David de Rothschild's boat is making its way across the Pacific and still has all 12,000 plastic bottles intact.
What Is the Plastiki?

Discover more about the Plastiki's route, how it sails, what we expect to see, and how the crew will sleep.
David de Rothschild, Environmental Storyteller

He's trekked across Antarctica, set a speed record crossing the Greenland ice cap, and reached the North Pole with hungry polar bears at his heels. Learn more about de Rothschild and his new adventure aboard the Plastiki.

Ocean Heroes

Ocean Photo Galleries

Ocean Topics

National Geographic Magazine

Tide Pools Pictures

A cast of thousands clings to rocky real estate in a narrow strip of shore called the intertidal zone.
Great Barrier Reef Photo Gallery

From tiny coral polyps grew a marvel: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Could it all come crumbling down?
The Acid Sea

Carbon dioxide we pump into the air is seeping into the ocean and slowly acidifying it.

Get More From the Magazine »

Your Ocean

For Kids

Learn about the ocean with activities, photos, and games.
Ocean Education

Bring engaging and important ocean learning to your classroom.

Support the Ocean

Help protect the last healthy, undisturbed places in the ocean so we can learn how to help healthy reefs thrive, help unhealthy reefs recover, and better preserve the ocean.

Donate

Explore the Ocean

Ocean Life

Order ocean books, DVDs, maps, and more from the National Geographic online store.
Ocean Special Issue

Explore the world's oceans, from their prehistoric beginnings to modern-day efforts to preserve their natural wonder.
Citizens of the Sea

Dive into astonishing diversity of ocean life from marine scientist Nancy Knowlton and the Census of Marine Life.