By Arwa Al Hashimi
The new generation of Omanis is becoming more self-aware and this self-awareness also extends to becoming more conscious about the environment and sustainable living in order to preserve the planet.
Sultan al Balushi has grown up in the wonderful coastal city of Al Musannah and with direct access to the wide sea, he grew attached to the water. He is one of the fine examples of how young Omanis are giving back to the environment and are becoming ambassadors for saving the planet.
Even at a young age, Sultan was always passionate about the sea and whatever adventures can be done on it. He enjoyed swimming and diving and much more exploring life underwater. By the age of 16, he was already sailing with Oman Sail which opened his eyes to what he would like his career to be when he grew up which is to become a sailing instructor.
Sultan put in the work. He showed eagerness into learning what it takes to be a sailor. He learned early on that he has to both be smart and competitive and that in order to get to where he wanted, he has to develop a lot of his skills. He started creating connections, meeting and learning from other established sailors both locally and abroad. This connection would prove to be very helpful as it allowed him to have access to education usually one will not find exclusively in Oman.
Sultan’s commitment to becoming ‘a somebody’ in the sailing world was inspired by his yearning to share his knowledge with young people like him who didn’t have access to proper sailing education. A boy from a coastal village in Al Musannah? Who would have the patience to lend out training and support?
Sultan’s career journey would take him to becoming a sailing and windsurfing instructor and with dedication and prod by his eagerness to acquire as much knowledge as possible he eventually reach his goal of becoming a national windsurfing coach.
Sultan’s work as a coach was a realisation of a dream and when he finally earned the chance, he became one of the icons many young people looked up to. After fulfilling one dream, another opened and this is where Sultan’s journey would lead him to become an unofficial ambassador for the environment.
Through social media, he attracted a large following who were touched by his passion and his deep connection with nature and the environment. Sultan is a prolific content creator taking not just photos but actually spinning out vlogs, posts and reels and sharing them on whatever social media he can put his hands on. With his army of followers, he wanted to do his part by spreading knowledge and raising awareness regarding how to preserve the planet and be kinder to the creatures that are part of it.
Sultan shared that creating entertaining content is not an easy task but because it was ingrained in his daily lifestyle, it became somehow manageable. He said that what he shares on social media is all-natural and realistic and his love for what he does can be felt in each of his videos.
As of today, Sultan is one of the vocal content creators who advocate for the environment. He checks out different projects and helps promote those that preserve the environment especially marine life. He is an avid supporter of sustainable fishing and join other educators in promoting the cause of leaving enough fish in the ocean, and protecting the habitats of marine life, especially the threatened species.
Sultan said that by safeguarding the oceans, people who depend on fishing can maintain their livelihoods. By adopting sustainable fishing methods, humans can ensure that fishing can continue indefinitely and the fish population can remain productive and healthy.
“Sustainable fishing is the key to keeping marine life safe. When we all adhere to this idea, then we can guarantee that there will be marine life for the future generation to enjoy,” he said.
Sultan also calls on Omani fishermen to adhere to the fishing rules implemented in the country by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources. He said that working towards the preservation of marine species is not just the job of one person or group but rather a collective effort of which success can only happen if it’s taken seriously.
You can follow Sultan on his Instagram: @sultansailar
