Our Story

In 1989, Ms Rili Djohani was an accomplished diver who had already logged long hours underwater in the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. Still, the waters of the Coral Triangle were a revelation. Nowhere else is the underwater world so riotously colorful and rich, no other place on the planet teems with such an abundance and diversity of life. There is no other place that is simultaneously tranquil and vibrant to such a degree.

As a marine ecologist, Rili knew that coral reefs serve humanity’s well-being in many ways; they create and protect the very land people live on, provide income for millions of coastal communities, and feed hundreds of millions of people all around the world.

During her early dives back in Indonesia, freshly enthralled by the otherworldly beauty of life underwater, Rili was abruptly reminded how fragile this world is. Fishing with dynamite and explosives had left parts of the reefs gutted, vivid colors faded to dull greys, life all but a memory.

If unchecked, Rili knew, this tragedy would spread and cause immeasurable harm to the region, and ultimately the whole planet. Local fishing communities would be the first victims of reef destruction: no more food, no livelihoods, no protection from the waves.

With a small team ready to step into the roles needed for an independent organization, Rili, along with Mr George Tahija, Mr Hasyim Djalal, and Mr Made Subadia, founded CTC as an independent Indonesian foundation in 2010.