Our goal is to be the leading mitigation specialist for the oil, dredging and coastal development sectors by helping these sectors complete important and critical projects in a way that minimises marine impacts and even increases opportunities for nature and maintains biodiversity and local fish stocks.

SOI is dedicated to advancing sustainable design below the waterline and the restoration and enhancement of marine habitats through the application of best-practice and world leading technologies. We are continously seeking out and trialing new technologies and strategies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our reef restoration programs.

We are supporting and collaborating on a range of research projects around the globe and we provide recognition of important contributions to 'better design below the waterline' via our annual 'Sustainable Ocean Innovation' award.

Our artificial reef design philosophy is that constructed reefs should aim to mimic natural reefs in form and function.

We incorporate a philosophy of biomimicry and 'innovation inspired by nature' when it comes to designing reef units and restoration programs.

We prefer to use artificial reef units that have natural curves and organic shapes so that after a few years it is impossible to tell it is a man-made reef. We believe the marine environment is owed at least this simple courtesy.

As a company we look for additional ways to give back and reduce our footprint.

• Carbon Offests - we offset CO2e emissions for all our flights and concrete used in our artificial reef units via certified carbon credits provided by Prime Carbon whose carbon credits have the added benefit of reducing nutrient runoff to the Great Barrier Reef.

• Buy 1 Give 1 - a percentage of profits from each project go towards global charities. Since late 2010 we have sponsored environmental education for school kids in China and the planting of over 500 trees for reforestation of habitat for the endangered Orangutan.

• Special Projects Fund - 20% of our consulting time each year is provided at no charge to worthy projects.

 

Biomimicry - Innovation Inspired by Nature, Janine Benyus, 1997

 

David has a unique background, blending a career in marine science with extensive business development and project management experience.

After starting his career as a qualified commercial diver and then PADI diving instructor, he gained his degree in Oceanographic Technology from Florida Institute of Technology in the USA and began building artificial reefs in 1991 from materials of opportunity while studying the impact of oil production in the Arabian Gulf.

It was during this time that he began paying attention to the way marine life chooses and utilises different structures and groupings of reef materials, further developing his interest in artificial reef design to enhance biodiversity.

Since then he has undertaken major impact assessments and artificial reef projects around the world. He has extensive experience designing and building artificial reefs for fisheries enhancement, dredge impact mitigation, coastal protection and tourism in the Middle East, South East Asia, Caribbean, Meditteranean, Australia and the Pacific. He has worked with NGOs, state and national governments, research institutes and universities and industry to improve artificial reef design and enhance reef restoration outcomes.

After his undergraduate degree, David was awarded his MSc in Environmental Management from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, and began developing his business and management skills. He has led a number of successful business ventures, including a unique marine ecotour company and now his own marine consultancy, and since 1997 has been the sole authorised contractor in Australia for Reef Ball artificial reef modules.

He was Business Development Manager for three national companies collaborating with organisations such as CSIRO and Pratt Water to take numerous innovative environmental products and services from concept to market, and is currently a business mentor in the Mentor Partners Program for the Glen Eira and Kingston City Councils.

 

Social Responsibility

David is committed to socially and environmentally responsible business practices and donates 20% of his time to worthy causes through the SOI Special Projects Fund and donations through the Buy1Give1 Program, http://www.b1g1.com/buy1give1/sustainable-ocean.

He is dedicated to 'better design below the waterline' and is a leading advocate for the advancement of marine impact mitigation and restoration strategies. His unique combination of science, business and industry experience sets him apart from other consultants and has enabled him to offer the best balance between theoretical and practical project outcomes.

John is an international leader and trainer in sustainable coral propagation, reef restoration and culturing of marine ornamental fish and pioneered many of the techniques SOI and others use today. John designed, built and ran the world’s largest ornamental mariculture facility in Puerto Rico, and has established or managed dive centres and other aquaculture facilities in Roatan Honduras, Thailand, and multiple locations in the US.

He has been the team leader for coral restoration projects around the world including Thailand’s tsunami reef restoration projects and was the invited guest speaker and contributing author at two World Bank Conferences on Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development.

John has worked in Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Antigua, American Samoa, Palau, Honduras, Solomon Islands, Singapore and the USA. John has a deep understanding of island cultures and is passionate about helping local communities reduce and repair damage to the reefs they depend upon.

Iain is a marine ecologist with over 30 years of international experience as a Chief Technical Adviser on project identification, development, planning of sectoral reviews and management in Coastal Zone, Marine Parks/Protected Areas, Community based resource management and stewardship and stakeholder participation.

Iain is the founder of Reef Conservation Mauritius which now runs marine educational programs in over 80 schools and provides marine tour guide training accredited by Tourism Mauritius.

Iain is a leading consultant to government and industry on environmentally sustainable marine eco-tourism, tourism and recreational planning.

Iain has an MSc in Marine Environmental Protection, is a certified trainer, Yacht Master and PADI Master/Staff Instructor, BSAC Advanced Instructor and Commercial Diver (HSE III). Countries of work experience include Canada, China, Denmark, Far East, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Middle East, Rodrigues, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania (Mafia Island), Uganda, UK, USA, Western Indian Ocean Region, and Yemen.

Capitalizing on his B.S. Biology degree, 9 years of diving and passion for the marine environment, Mike is a natural at helping individuals experience the marine environment and draw their own personal connections to the vast but fragile ecosystems - and in turn facilitate the desire to help protect/preserve these systems.

Mike worked for the Jean-Michel Cousteau’s educational program for 7 years where he educated, inspired and trained generations of individuals from the future decision makers with-in our youth to the influential role models of professional business peoples, athletes and movie stars. His enthusiasm and presentation skills also played a key role in making the marine educational programs a financial success, thus ensuring their continuation.

Mike worked on sustainable projects with-in the local communities of New Zealand and El Salvador and played a key role in a coral restoration project that helped re-establish Thailand's tourism business, and relocation of over 500 coral colonies out of a dredge zone in Saudi Arabia. Mike is a qualified coral handler by the Reef Ball Foundation. His roles on projects include boat captain, writer, educator, researcher, photographer, presenter or project supervisor.

Intrigued and educated through the biodiversity with in cultures of the world, Mike has lived and worked in such places as California, New Zealand, Thailand, Grand Cayman Island, Saudi Arabia, Australia, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Shaun Britton and Paul Muttimer, through their business ‘Squidinc’ develop cartoon characters and storylines for educational texts, products and children’s books.

Shaun is a designer and illustrator who worked for many years at the Walt Disney company and develops cartoon characters for many national and international clients, including Nike and Coca Cola.  Paul has successfully developed and published numerous storylines and characters for national organisations and products.

SOI has engaged Squidinc to develop a range of reef characters to act as ambassadors and educational assistants within SOI’s Reef Recovery Programs.

We have working relationships with 14 additional experts worldwide as well as conservation volunteers. Details of team members that will be involved in your project will be included in our proposal.