DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION IN RAJA AMPAT
The Galaxea
Based permanently in Raja Ampat, Galaxea is a 15m wooden catamaran, dedicated to ecosystems management and conservation of local coral reefs, whilst providing a field base for our team, and a training and education centre for local community members.
In 2022 we were able to take a critical step in the growth of our foundation, and with the support of international non-profit partners integrate Galaxea into our operations. Unique in style, the Galaxea has enabled us to expand and upscale our existing programs in the region by providing an dedicated platform for our community based marine conservation efforts.
An ex-liveaboard that now gives back.
Operating as our floating field base, this ex-liveaboard now gives back to the environment. Cabins once offered at a high price to tourists, are now used by our local team from more remote regions of Raja Ampat who live on board. Open spaces once used for post dive drinks and relaxation have now been converted into to classroom, learning, meeting and office space for our team and local community. The dive deck – once the place for recreational scuba diving, is now a dedicated area for our reef restoration team, and a training area for local community members who receive free scuba diving training.
Sustainable Tourism and Education
Additionally, Galaxea also serves as a platform for sustainable tourism and education in Raja Ampat, offering visitors to the area the opportunity to participate in hands on reef restoration under the guidance and leadership of our local team, whilst learning about the global and local threats to coral reefs, and how best they can reduce their impact on the reefs they’ve travelled so far to see. This collaboration also serves as a valuable medium through which local people have the opportunity to engage directly with tourists (as opposed to ‘serving’ within the tourism industry) and offer genuine interaction and insight into local community knowledge, aspirations and needs.
A platform for marine skills training
Galaxea also directly involves community members in practical, hands-on boat operations. Our team, regardless of prior level of boat handling/crewing experience, has the opportunity to gain skills in boat handling, operations, care and maintenance, and are supported to receive recognised and certified “Basic Safety Training” at the Maritime Science Education and Training Center in Sorong city, along with advanced levels of Captain’s and Technical/Marine Mechanic training.
Sustainable Resource Use and Energy Solutions
On board Galaxea, we harness solar energy to meet our daily electricity needs, powering everything from onboard systems to charging batteries for our two electric engines that are used on our speedboats for daily operations. This shift to solar energy significantly reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, minimizing both noise pollution from generators and traditional speedboat engines, and eliminating the risk of water pollution from fuel and oil. Additionally, we practice sustainable water management by catching and storing rainwater to meet our daily needs, reducing the need to extract water from local village wells. This not only lessens our environmental impact but also helps preserve vital resources for local communities.
THE GALAXEA*
Interconnectedness & New Beginnings
‘When integrating this boat into our operations, we wanted a name that reflected who we are, what we do, and what we are dedicated to protecting. ‘Galaxea embodies all of that. Read on to discover why we called her Galaxea.
GALAXEA: a coral we know and love
In the bay of Yenbuba lies an old and cherished friend of ours—a wise ‘elder’ of the reef, a beautiful and resilient Galaxea (sp) coral. Over 6 meters in diameter and unusually large, this majestic coral stands as a sentinel of the bay, likely 100s of years old. Having weathered the tides of time, offering shelter and life to countless marine creatures, to us, this Galaxea sp wasn’t just another coral; it was ‘someone’, who we’d greet on every dive, paying our respects to this venerable guardian of the reef, before exploring the bay. But during the last El Niño, we witnessed her slow and sorrowful decline. Bleached by the unrelenting heat of sustained warmer waters, this Galaxea began to fade, her vibrant energy diminished. Over time, she succumbed, leaving behind only a skeletal frame—a heartbreaking loss caused by the human-induced changes threatening our coral reefs the world over. Yet, even in loss, nature has its own way of telling stories of hope. A year later, we began to see tiny signs of renewal on Galaxea’s weathered skeleton: budding polyps, the first steps in coral reproduction. These brave little pioneers had settled, seemingly determined to carry on the Galaxea’s legacy. Today, the Galaxea’s once-lifeless form has become a foundation for new beginnings. Young coral recruits have found a home on its surface, begining to transforming her into a flourishing hub of life once more. The Galaxea now supports new life, as the foundation for new growth and resilience for the reef she has long supported. This renewal brought us immense joy. In the face of climate challenges, the Galaxea demonstrated the enduring strength of nature—a resilience not only to survive but to nurture others. As we reflected, we saw parallels between this remarkable coral and our own journey. The Galaxea’s story mirrors that of our founders in Raja Ampat, and our wider mission. Like this coral, we strive to rebuild, nurture, and provide a foundation for the future, even in the face of immense challenges. This Galaxea tells a tale of wisdom, perseverance, and life’s ability to endure—a story that reminds us why we dedicate ourselves to conserving one of the world’s last true marine wildernesses.
THE GALAXY: A view with a meaning
Since the beginning of time, different people and cultures across the world attached various meanings to the Galaxy. For some; it symbolises the aspirations and the patterns of tomorrow that you are shaping through your beliefs today. To others, it’s symbol of the interconnectedness of life, representing the unity and interconnectedness of all things.
From Galaxea’s upper deck, cloud-free nights reveal the vast Milky Way—a humbling reminder of our small place in the universe and our potential for profound impact on this planet. Whether as an individual, an organization, or a single coral within a larger reef, we are all part of a greater whole: the ecosystem we inhabit.
These reflections resonate deeply with the mission and vision of our foundation. Through our work, we aim to Restore, Protect, and Conserve these vital ecosystems. By doing so, we not only safeguard coral reefs but also ensure their role as a foundation for life and resilience in the oceans of tomorrow.
*Galaxea’s legal name is ‘KLM Mastro Aldo’ – a name that holds little meaning to us and does not reflect our mission, vision or values. But given the historical belief and understanding that it is bad luck to rename a boat, we have chosen not to. Therefore, during legal and administrative processes we use ‘KLM Mastro Aldo’, and during our day to day conservation fieldwork and operations, we refer to our flagship vessel as the (more meaningful), “Galaxea”.
100% of your donation goes to
the field.
Donateur français Cliquez ici
If left unchecked, 90% of coral reefs will be threatened by 2030, with almost all reefs facing, high, very high, or critical threat levels by 2050.
If we don’t act now, future generations will not have the privilege of seeing a live coral reef, let alone receive the benefits that coral reefs provide, including food, coastal protection, livelihoods and medicine.
In Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the most biodiverse coral reefs on Earth are under threat; rapid and unsustainable development combined with climate change threaten the future of these reefs, along with the food security, heritage and livelihoods of many.
Your contribution today has a direct impact in enabling our team to work with local people to Restore, Protect and Conserve reefs in the world’s last remaining coral stronghold.
We cannot do it alone, but with your contribution we can do it together.
100% of your donation goes to
the field.
Donateur français Cliquez ici
If left unchecked, 90% of coral reefs will be threatened by 2030, with almost all reefs facing, high, very high, or critical threat levels by 2050.
If we don’t act now, future generations will not have the privilege of seeing a live coral reef, let alone receive the benefits that coral reefs provide, including food, coastal protection, livelihoods and medicine.
In Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the most biodiverse coral reefs on Earth are under threat; rapid and unsustainable development combined with climate change threaten the future of these reefs, along with the food security, heritage and livelihoods of many.
Your contribution today has a direct impact in enabling our team to work with local people to Restore, Protect and Conserve reefs in the world’s last remaining coral stronghold.
We cannot do it alone, but with your contribution we can do it together.
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Yayasan Orang Laut Papua is a registered NGO under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Republic of Indonesia. Number AHU-0016408. Year 2019. The SEA People is a registered Charitable Association under the Gouvernement de la République in France (Numero Identification Siren 853074300) and serves as an administrative and fundrasing base for supporting the fieldwork of Yaysan Orang Laut Papua. Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions