Conservationist and founder of Livingseas Asia
The coral reefs were not doing so well, and progressively getting worse. I knew I wanted to do something about it and slowly started learning and participating in other projects around the region.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
I originally started Livingseas in Singapore, and I was diving around the region regularly. Along the way, I started to notice that the coral reefs were not doing so well, and progressively getting worse. I knew I wanted to do something about it and slowly started learning and participating in other projects around the region. A few years later, I started experimenting with different techniques in Bali, and eventually found a methodology that worked really well here.
Fast forward to the pandemic, and our tourism business failed as expected without any tourist arrivals to Bali. We decided to switch focus and scale up our existing coral rehabilitation sites, involving more of the local community and sponsors from around the region.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of thriving through the pandemic and in fact growing Livingseas during this period. Through the conservation project, we were able to add six more staff members and through our Fellowship program, we were able to help the local community learn more about conservation and the environmental issues they are faced with.
Scaling up the conservation project has both been good for nature, and also allowed us to keep all our staff paid while doing good work. The sense of accomplishment of seeing the reef grow and the fish coming back has been very rewarding to experience.
What impact have you made in Bali?
Growing 500+ square-metres of thriving coral reef is the impact we’ve created here in Padang Bai, with plans for much, much more. With our Fellowship program, we’ve so far impacted six young local women, and with our upcoming programs, another 12 more will get to learn more about their environment and what they can do to help it.
What does 2022 look like for you?
2022 is looking brighter with the reopening of Bali, and with a few new partners that we recently gained, we are really going to be able to scale up our impact. We are also venturing into seaweed farming to create even more environmental and economic impact for the community.
What do you love most about Bali?
Definitely the nature, it’s already beautiful on land with all the green foliage, but for me specifically, it’s the ocean and the reefs and the abundance of life living on it that’s particularly special.
What's one thing everyone can do to protect our home planet?
Minimise plastic usage by making better choices about what you buy and consume!
Who is your Local Legend and why?
I would say Wally Siagian is my Local Legend. He’s one of the pioneers of diving in Bali, in fact, he helped write the book about it! He has been instrumental in developing the entire diving industry here in Bali.