Magazine

David, you will be giving a speech at "A Love Beyond" this year. Can you give us an insight into your speech?

I have really focused my decisions on life through the lens of 1) purpose - what the world needs, 2) passion - what you need, and 3) play - what motivates us. I will share some outputs of these elements with stories of lessons learned and mistakes made on a 20-year journey of exploration.

You are known as an environmental activist and adventurer. What originally inspired you to get involved in environmental protection?

I have always been a card-carrying nature lover, but 20 years ago, I spent 100 days skiing across Antarctica. The sheer vastness and scale of that magical continent left an indelible mark on my spirit and the connection I feel and hold for nature. It left me with an overwhelming sense of being a tiny part of something much bigger and more powerful. It left me feeling halfway between a question and an answer, to which I have spent the last 20 years answering and looking for.

The journey with the Plastiki was a milestone in your commitment to environmental protection.  What was the most significant moment for you on this expedition?

I think the most significant moment was beginning the process of building Plastiki. The sailing was always going to be in the hands of the ocean, but taking the leap from the concept to build was everything. I had to build a team that trusted me and the concept and had belief in themselves to creatively problem solve. We became a family. We all lived together. It’s a moment in my life I feel very blessed to have been part of and, for me, the most challenging and rewarding part as I learned the most. Obviously, sitting under the stars on a cloudless night in the middle of the Pacific rocks your being as well.

What experiences from your expeditions and projects would you like to pass on to the participants of the "A Love Beyond" retreat?

It’s sometimes so easy to overthink and get caught up in your own way. Don’t overthink the outcome and just focus on starting the journey. Only when we feel uncomfortable do we really learn! And always talk to everyone! You never know where the most interesting stories will lie.

How can companies in the tourism sector make a greater contribution to environmental protection, and what examples inspire you in this context?

I look at tourism companies as the curators of culture, humanity, and nature - they have a responsibility to provide not only safe and memorable experiences but, in my eyes, meaningful ones. I think when you have a moment that expands your self-interest and puts others first, you have a richer, deeper connection. Only travel can do this. The usual sustainable elements should be a given (offsets, etc.), operators should strive to curate moments that allow you to break the everyday habits we all default to that make us comfortable. Fostering this into the experience gives you the chance to return from your travels with a new perspective to add back into your everyday life! That’s true magic!

And what about individuals and/or our guests? How do you think they can contribute most effectively to environmental protection?

Be curious! Don’t just accept the "that's the way we have done it" mentality. I like to constantly challenge myself around decisions that default me to the path of least resistance. If something is too convenient, it’s probably bad for nature and the planet! Check behind the labels and process for yourself, don't rely on others to do that for you!

What are your plans and projects for the future? Are there any new expeditions or initiatives that you are planning and can tell us about?

Thirteen years ago, I started to dream about building a new experimental vehicle to travel around the world for the purpose of radical listening. To observe and learn, and more importantly, unlearn!

This year, after many years of planning and development, we have begun the first major milestone in the building of that vehicle! I am very excited and proud to share that with the world very soon!

For bookings and more information: https://cervo.swiss/en/a-love-beyond