On Monday 26 March 2012, Conn Bertish took a dip in the Two Oceans Aquarium’s I&J Predator Exhibit. People take the plunge here all the time, but this time it was different; Conn wasn’t wearing flippers, goggles, weights or scuba equipment.

Water is a mysterious substance that not only sustains all life, but is also present in all life.

The programme was started with the aim to raise awareness of the strategic importance of wetlands to facilitate proper management and restoration of wetlands and focuses mainly on wetlands outside nature reserves.

My mind was racing back to that first plastic sample we found in the ocean. Clear navy blue water filled with small coloured pieces of plastic. I stood in line at the supermarket, bursting with excitement because I had finally remembered to bring along my own shopping bag.

While you are enjoying a yoghurt snack from a plastic tub at home, there are a group of people embarking on an arduous cruise on our oceans to monitor how plasticly polluted it is.