Alvin Chelliah’s love for the ocean began when he was just fifteen. A family dive trip to the Perhentian Islands opened his eyes to a world beneath the surface—a world of colour, movement, and fragile beauty. That first encounter with coral reefs didn’t just spark curiosity. It ignited a purpose.
Today, Alvin is a marine scientist, conservationist, and the Chief Programme Officer at Reef Check Malaysia, dedicating his life to safeguarding Malaysia’s marine ecosystems.
His journey with Reef Check began in 2010 as a volunteer during his Master’s studies. What started as weekend surveys soon evolved into a full-time calling. He trained dive centers, government agencies, and communities across Malaysia, helping them understand the ocean not as a distant resource, but as a living system that needs collective care.
In 2014, Alvin was sent to Tioman Island to build a new initiative—Cintai Tioman, a community-based conservation program focused on reef resilience. Under this program, he and his team launched recycling drives that collected over 50,000 kg of waste, created eco-tourism guidelines now used by more than 100 operators, and developed environmental education programs for local schoolchildren.
One of his proudest achievements is the creation of the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG). Alvin and his team trained more than 85 local members across all seven villages on the island. These community guardians now work alongside the Department of Fisheries to co-manage marine protected areas. Together, they remove ghost nets, monitor coral bleaching, manage Crown-of-Thorns outbreaks, and install mooring buoys to prevent anchor damage.
Their advocacy extends further. Alvin has been a vocal opponent of destructive development projects—most notably the proposed international airport on Tioman Island—and continues to champion sustainable, community-driven solutions.
His impact doesn’t end on Tioman. The community-based model has expanded to Redang, Mersing, and four islands off Semporna, proof that empowered local communities can become powerful protectors of their own ecosystems.
But for Alvin, the greatest reward is personal. It is seeing young people he once taught in school turn into passionate conservationists working alongside him in the field.
His mission is simple yet profound:
To empower local communities to take full ownership of conservation—where people, nature, and development can thrive together.
This is not just science for Alvin.
It is a legacy.
It is hope.
And it is a lifelong commitment to ensuring Malaysia’s reefs survive for generations to come.