The marine biologist, explorer and underwater documentary filmmaker has made nearly 15,000 dives and participated in 58 expeditions of the National Geographic Pristine Seas project.
His intervention as the main speaker of the second day will address the richness of marine ecosystems, the threats they face and their capacity for recovery
The meeting, organized by the Cádiz Free Trade Zone and the University of Cádiz from October 28 to 30, will also feature the participation of Sara García Alonso, the first Spanish woman selected as a reserve astronaut by the European Space Agency.
The marine biologist, explorer and underwater documentary filmmaker Manu San Félix will be one of the featured speakers at the Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul 2026, which will be held in Cádiz from October 28 to 30. With 45 years of experience, nearly 15,000 dives and a career linked to National Geographic, San Félix will share with attendees his knowledge of the oceans and his experience in the conservation and recovery of marine ecosystems.
His participation on Thursday, October 29 as the main speaker on the second day of the event will allow us to discover some of the most extraordinary places on the planet through the experiences, photographs and underwater images of an explorer who has dedicated a good part of his life to documenting both the richness of marine biodiversity and the threats that compromise its future.
Since 2009, Manu San Félix has been part of Pristine Seas, the National Geographic project dedicated to the exploration and conservation of the oceans. Within the framework of this initiative, he has participated in 58 expeditions to different places around the world, a trajectory that has allowed him to learn about marine ecosystems of great ecological value and observe both their deterioration and their capacity for recovery.
During these decades, the explorer has used photography and underwater documentary as tools to bring the reality of the oceans closer to society. Its images show the extraordinary diversity of marine life, but also the consequences of its degradation and the possibilities that conservation offers to recover affected natural spaces.
Its work also extends to the Mediterranean, where the Vellmarí Association promotes marine education initiatives and restoration of Posidonia meadows. These ecosystems play an essential role in the environmental balance of the Mediterranean. Through its projects, the association seeks to involve society in its recovery and in the knowledge of its ecological importance.
San Félix's intervention at the Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul will combine personal experiences, underwater images and a close, realistic and hopeful vision of the future of the oceans. Its message is based on a central idea: protecting and recovering the marine environment also means investing in the health, well-being and happiness of people.
From the bottom of the sea to space
The presence of Manu San Félix joins that of Sara García Alonso, researcher at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) and the first Spanish woman selected as a reserve astronaut by the European Space Agency (ESA), whose participation in the Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul 2026 was announced a few days ago.
Both represent two different areas of scientific exploration, knowledge of the ocean and space research, which will be present at a meeting dedicated to analyzing the opportunities of the Blue Economy, innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Sara García Alonso will participate in the opening day on October 28 and will take the baton from other personalities who have been part of previous editions of the meeting, such as Ángel León, Gunter Pauli, Céline Cousteau, and Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente.
With the motto “Projecting in blue, the Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul 2026, organized by the Free Trade Zone of Cádiz and the University of Cádiz, will bring together representatives from the scientific, business, technological and institutional fields from October 28 to 30 at the Congress Palace in the Cadiz capital to address the challenges and opportunities related to the sustainable use of marine resources and the development of new economic activities linked to the sea.
The program will bring together conferences, discussion tables, professional meetings and networking activities aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and connection between companies, institutions, researchers and entrepreneurs.
The meeting is part of the initiatives to promote the Blue Economy developed by the Cádiz Free Trade Zone and the University of Cádiz, including Incubazul and Blue Core, aimed at supporting innovative business projects related to this sector.
The Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul 2026 will also coincide with the celebration in Cádiz of the XXIX Conference of Ibero-American Free Zones, organized by the Association of Free Zones of the Americas (AZFA) and the Free Zone of Cádiz from October 26 to 28, which will allow the confluence of business and institutional representatives from different countries.
Registration for the Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul 2026 is open and can be done through the website www.proyectandoenazul.es.
Blue Zone Forum InnovAzul 2026 is part of the ZF Blue Core-Business Incubator 4.0 project, 85% financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the Pluriregional Program of Spain FEDER 2021-2027, through the INCYDE Foundation.