About Us

REEFWATCH MARINE CONSERVATION

ReefWatch has served on the National Board for Wildlife, Government of India. We have had the privilege of working with many dedicated and inspiring individuals in the fields of science, government, filmmaking, photography and the media. Our efforts are targeted towards protecting and nurturing the diversity of life in India’s coastal and marine environments. We currently have bases in Maharashtra, Karnataka and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

VISION

To protect the ocean and the life within, so our children (and theirs) will have access to this source of richness and beauty that sustains us today.

OBJECTIVES

ReefWatch’s strategy for the conservation of our marine spaces is simple. We must first know and understand our ocean, and then use this knowledge to inform sustainable management.

OUR OBJECTIVES

RESTORATION & REHABILITATION

To establish scientifically informed, community-driven projects to actively restore damaged marine ecosystems and rehabilitate threatened marine animals:

RESTORATION & REHABILITATION

1) Adapt internationally established ecosystem restoration techniques to the Indian context by piloting them on our coast and provide consultancy to other agencies wishing to implement the same.
2) Providing veterinary care to injured, endangered marine animals and training first responders and vets along the coastline.

EDUCATION

To raise awareness about the ocean’s beauty, biodiversity and the essential ecosystem services it provides us with by:

EDUCATION

1) Developing and conducting programs that introduce the youth of the nation to the wonders of the marine world and anthropogenic pressures upon the aquatic ecosystem through hands-on underwater experiences as well as classroom sessions.
2) Empowering coastal youth with knowledge, skill development, training and avenues for change towards a better, bluer, planet.
3) Creating multimedia content on the topic of India’s ocean to raise awareness among the public.

MANAGEMENT

Advise government, regulatory bodies and local community groups to sustainably use their environmental resources by:

MANAGEMENT

1) Providing support and advocacy to the concerned ministries of the Government of India and local authorities towards creating more effective policy and implementation methods for the preservation of marine areas and organisms.
2) Creating avenues for various groups of stakeholders to become involved in the management and conservation of essential marine and coastal ecosystems at the community level.

BOARD MEMBERS

Mitali is considered to be one of the most resourceful ad-film producers of today in the country. She is deeply passionate about raising awareness about the need for marine conservation. In the conservation scene, she is best known for her film “Troubled Waters”. Mitali combines her passions for scuba diving and films to inspire younger generations to be ecologically conscious, responsible citizens.

MITALIi DUTT KAKAR
CO-FOUNDER

Prahlad is a leading Indian ad-film director. He is the founder and main director for Genesis Film Productions, one of India’s leading production houses, established in 1977. As a CMAS 2 Star Instructor, Prahlad is single-handedly responsible for inspiring generations of divers and marine conservationists across India.

PRAHLAD KAKAR
CO-FOUNDER

Tarak Patel is the Managing Director at GMM Pfaudler. He has a BA in Economics from the University of Rochester, USA and an MBA degree jointly conferred by Columbia Business School, London Business School and University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School. He is passionate about protecting the oceans through sustainable CSR programs and the education of coastal communities.

TARAK PATEL
DIRECTOR

Sumer is an award-winning underwater photographer and documentary film-maker. He’s one of the most experienced scuba divers in India, a CMAS Course Director and a Managing Partner at Lacadives. He uses his images and experiences to educate the world about the ocean.

SUMER VERMA
DIRECTOR

OUR TEAM

Nayantara has an MSc in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps University of Oceanography. She is qualified as a PADI Open Water Scuba
Instructor and is passionate about introducing people to the oceans and instilling empathy in them towards the marine environment. Nayantara is particularly adept at rehabilitating coral reefs while educating locals about sustainability.

NAYANTARA JAIN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

With a degree in Marine Science from the University of Auckland and a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Pondicherry, Shantanu worked in a diverse range of roles all over India. After 3 years working in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve with a Mobile Wildlife Vet Service, he found himself drawn back to the sea and now works with stranded marine animals along the coast of Karnataka.

Dr SHANTANU KALAMBI
PROJECT MANAGER

Farnaaz has a Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Science and Marine Conservation from the University of Plymouth, United Kingdom. Her dissertation was on ‘The influence of Dive tourism in marine Conservation awareness in India’. She worked as an intern with WRRC in Bangalore while finishing highschool. Farnaaz is now working with marine ecosystems along the coast of Karnataka. 

FARNAAZ NAWAB
PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR

Equipped with a Masters in Wildlife Conservation Action from the Institute of Environment Education and Research (Pune), Thejaswini interned in Bandipur National Park and has completed her thesis on Hammerhead sharks along the coast of Mangalore and Udupi. She manages our base at Kundapur in Karnataka.

THEJASWINI SHETTIGAR
BASE MANAGER

Karishma Goenka is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and former environmental journalist who joined us in 2020 as a Project Assistant on the Re(ef) Generate program. She earlier worked on Havelock Island as a dive instructor at one of its biggest dive centers.

KARISHMA GOENKA
PROJECT ASSISTANT

Dhruv Sirohi is a PADI Master Instructor who joined us in 2021 as a Project Assistant on the Re(ef)Generate program. He has over six years of experience training divers and scuba instructors at one of Havelock Island’s leading dive centers.

DHRUV SIROHI
PROJECT ASSISTANT

Abhishek Das is a Field Assistant on the Re(ef)Generate Program. He has experience working in construction and on fishing boats in the Andamans. A proud Andaman local, Abhishek is our resident expert on local flora and fauna and an expert boat captain.

ABHISHEK DAS
FIELD ASSISTANT

Saw Joelson is a Field Assistant on the Re(ef)Generate Program and the youngest member of our team. Joelson belongs to the Karen Community from Mayabunder. Young and eager to learn, he is also on the path to becoming a certified diver.

SAW JOELSON
FIELD ASSISTANT

VOLUNTEER TESTIMONIALS

Our volunteers are an indispensible part of our team & the work we do at ReefWatch. Over the years, we have welcomed students & professionals from various fields including marine biologists & divers, but also law students, designers & management professionals.
Our only criterion for our volunteers is enthusiasm, passion for the ocean & professionalism.

"One month at the ReefWatch base in Chidiyatapu was a rich and soulful experience. As an ocean lover and diver myself, I got a deep understanding of marine biodiversity, the symbiotic relationship within the reef as well as conservation of every species. The team consists of experts and is passionate about what they do. ReefWatch involves the entire local community of the coastal village, including education for the children. This created close interaction with the community and a chance to share my creativity with them. "
Kanchi Mehta
Kanchi Mehta
"My time as a volunteer at Reefwatch was simply magical. The days I spent on the islands, learning about the marine ecosystem and participating in protecting it, has definitely changed the way I live my life now and I feel great about it. Be it interacting with the locals or the marine life underwater, everything seemed so interesting while I learned about it from some amazing marine conservationists and fellow volunteers, who really inspired me to think big. Volunteering with Reefwatch still remains the best experience of my life and I'd love to be a part of it again."
Mauravi Jukar
Mauravi Jukar
"I would like to start off by saying ‘Thank You’ so much for a memorable experience! There are no words to explain how profoundly grateful I am to have come here and learn so much about the good humankind is capable of. You guys are really doing some amazing stuff and I would love to continue to be a part of it. As I write this, Karishma is teaching me some more, and I love it! I love learning from you. I am so glad I decided to come to you for my first volunteer program. You’ve given me a beautiful insight to conservation, both in theory and in the field. Thank you so much! There is much more to say, but no words to explain. Much love to you and the lacadives team. I thank the oceans you guys exist!."
Mihika Goyal
Mihika Goyal
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We are an Indian Not For Profit, established in1993 as a Public Charitable Trust, committed to the conservation of marine & coastal biodiversity.

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