AMERICAN SAMOA. Bruckner Chase is called Toa a le Tai for good reason by the Samoan people. Toa a le Tai means Hero of the Sea and the National Marine Sanctuaries commemorated Bruckner’s energy, vision and success in creating the first comprehensive ocean swimming curriculum for high school students. The National Marine Sanctuaries’ colorful cartoon video of the Toa a le Tai is fun, unique and spot on (see below).

“Thank you to the National Marine Sanctuaries for giving me the inspiration to keep swimming and keep reaching to positively impact how we feel, think and act towards the oceans,” said Bruckner who was humbled by his cartoon character, but energized by the support that has been given him by his colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Under the auspices of the non-profit Bruckner Chase Ocean Positive, Bruckner is jetting off from New Jersey to American Samoa to “positively impact how we feel, think and act towards our oceans.”

With the support of his ocean conservation grant from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, he will soon kick-off the ocean swimming and science youth development programs for the government of American Samoa. “As much as I want to help people become stronger open water swimmers, my primary goal is to get them to understand and embrace a personal connection to the marine environment and encourage a sense of conservation stewardship as well. The Samoa model has clinics that include modules for Ocean Sciences/Ocean Swimming and Marine Safety.”

A truly worth goal by a Hero of the Sea.

Did You Hear the Ocean Calling? from Bruckner Chase.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source