In 2007, while diving off Goa’s coast, Venkatesh Charloo rescued a small angelfish tangled in a ghost net. As he freed it, the fish turned back and gently brushed against his hand—as if in gratitude. That simple moment beneath the waves changed his life forever.
“It made me realise that even the smallest beings underwater have emotions,” he recalls. “They feel pain, they struggle, and they deserve protection.”
Today, Venkatesh is not just a scuba diver or instructor he’s a marine conservationist on a mission to heal India’s oceans, one coral at a time.
From Banking to the Blue
A successful banker in Hong Kong, Venkatesh traded corporate comfort for the call of the ocean in 1995. Moving to Goa, he joined the Barracuda Diving Centre and soon took charge of its operations. He began hosting annual underwater clean-ups mobilising local communities, resorts, and students to protect Goa’s fragile marine ecosystems.
“It was never just about cleaning,” he says. “It was about awakening awareness showing people what their waste does to the ocean.”
But Venkatesh wanted to do more than clean up he wanted to restore life.
Birth of Coastal Impact
In 2009, he founded Coastal Impact, a non-profit dedicated to marine conservation, research, and education. Through school awareness programs, art competitions, and community outreach, his team helped young minds see the ocean as a living, breathing ecosystem.
Then came their most ambitious project yet: coral transplantation in Goa.
Rebuilding Life Underwater
With a ₹20 lakh grant from the Habitats Trust, Venkatesh’s team began restoring coral reefs using a unique, low-cost method. They built metal frames lined with recycled tiles, attaching tiny coral fragments rescued from the seafloor.
“Each fragment is like a seed,” he explains. “Over time, it grows into a thriving coral colony.”
In just two years, their pilot project saw a 500% increase in coral growth a remarkable sign of hope for Goa’s marine biodiversity.
Innovation Meets Passion
The journey hasn’t been easy. The pandemic slowed progress, and funding was scarce. Yet, innovation kept the project alive. Venkatesh introduced a ‘Adopt-a-Coral’ initiative where individuals can sponsor coral fragments for ₹5,500 a year to support their care and maintenance.
Today, over 110 corals have been adopted, each representing a personal commitment to the planet.
His team is also experimenting with AI technology to measure coral growth and partnering with eco-startups creating sustainable structures for transplantation.
A Lasting Impact
Featured in National Geographic’s “One for Change” series, Venkatesh’s story stands as proof that one person’s passion can inspire a movement.
“Marine conservation doesn’t give instant results,” he says. “But every coral we help grow, every child we inspire that’s a victory for the ocean.”
As India’s 7,500 km coastline faces mounting threats, Venkatesh envisions a collective effort where communities, organisations, and changemakers come together for a bluer, more sustainable future.
His next goal? Expanding coral restoration efforts across India’s coastline turning ripples of change into powerful waves of hope.
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