Every July 7th, Argentina celebrates the National Soil Conservation Day, a date historically associated with the care of solid ground.
But what about the soil lying beneath the sea? That’s the question Patricio Cartelli, director of the Bucea Hoy center in Puerto Madryn, has been working on for over two decades to raise awareness about the ecological importance of the seabed.
“The seafloor is also soil: it breathes, supports biodiversity, generates oxygen and food. But because it’s not visible, it’s often not taken care of,” says Cartelli, one of the few diving instructors in Argentina and leader of an ecocenter with a unique national environmental certification in South America.
A lively world beneath the surface
Far from being a submerged desert, the Patagonian seabed harbors complex and interconnected ecosystems, where camouflaged soles, sponge colonies, rocky formations, and algae forests thrive. “Over time, one learns to see traces, recognize sounds, understand that there are invisible dynamics that structure marine life,” explains Cartelli.
His underwater experience is also sensory: he talks about zero gravity, floating in four dimensions, and the respect generated by encounters with species like sea lions. “When you are not a threat, they approach, observe, interact. That changes your way of inhabiting the environment,” he assures.
Hidden yet profound threats
The seabed is being altered by human activities such as:
- Trawling fishing, which “drags without distinction” and leaves lasting impacts
- Marine pollution, including plastics, industrial waste, and untreated waters
- Unregulated tourism, which degrades reefs and fragile ecosystems
Cartelli compares this situation to land desertification processes: “We don’t even know 5% of what happens in the depths, but we are affecting it every day.”
Environmental education for soil conservation
Cartelli was born in Buenos Aires and over twenty years ago chose Madryn as the territory to transform his relationship with the sea. Since 2011, he has led Bucea Hoy, a center that trains divers, works with people with disabilities, and develops underwater environmental education programs.
“The sea never repeats itself. There’s always something new to discover. But to protect it, you must first learn to look,” he states.
The challenge of broadening perspectives
The National Soil Conservation Day can also be an opportunity to acknowledge that submerged soil is part of the natural heritage, even if we don’t step on it or fence it off.
“It’s essential for planetary balance. Learning to see the invisible is the first step to start caring for it,” concludes Cartelli.
Cover photo: Patricio Cartelli
