Cape Town's Underwater World Featured on TIME Magazine Cover, Highlighting Marine Biodiversity
Cape Town's underwater world has been prominently featured on the cover of TIME magazine's Ocean Issue. The cover image showcases the Great African Seaforest, a vast underwater kelp forest that extends along the Cape Peninsula and north towards Namibia. Captured by Cape Town-based photographer and freediver Helen Walne, the image accompanies an article titled 'The Power Hiding in Underwater Forests' by conservation researcher Tatjana Baleta. The article highlights the ecological significance of the kelp forest, which supports a diverse range of marine life including sharks, seals, and various invertebrates. The feature also discusses the threats posed to these ecosystems by marine heatwaves, coastal development, and pollution. The Great African Seaforest gained international attention through the Oscar-winning documentary 'My Octopus Teacher', which showcased the beauty and ecological importance of this marine habitat.