Meet the Team

Chelsea founded the Institute for Marine Research with her husband Rafael after seeing the critical need for greater attention, and upgraded research methodologies to be brought to the remote island communities of the Philippines to ensure fine-scale analysis of coral reef dynamics could be assessed, and improved coastal management and restoration decisions could be made alongside the island’s local government unit.

Chelsea has spent 9 years studying coral reef dynamics from Australia, to Madagascar, Honduras and now the Philippines. Through this experience she has been able to study methodology effectiveness, whilst understanding the importance in building governmental and community relationships to ensure results from scientific findings can be translated and implemented through localized management practices to ensure the social and economic security of these remote island nations.

Alongside running IMR Chelsea is also completing her PhD with the Great Barrier Reef’s Restoration and Adaption Program, where she is reseeding degraded reefs using sexually derived larvae from wild spawn slicks and determining the environmental proxies towards the large-scale application of larval reseeding for reef recovery. From 2024, Chelsea will begin preliminary research towards the feasibility of larval reseeding to be conducted on target reef sites devoid of natural recovery as outlined by IMRs long-term monitoring project.

Rafael founded IMR together with his wife Chelsea. Born and raised in the coastal city of Lima, Peru and living in Miami, Florida in his youth he developed an early fascination with the marine world that surrounded him. His passion for marine biology led him to pursue higher education, earning a degree in Marine Biology with a minor in Eco Businesses. His connection with the ocean deepened when he became a certified dive instructor, exploring the intricate ecosystems beneath the waves and witnessing firsthand the beauty and fragility of marine life. These experiences underwater fueled his determination to protect these environments, inspiring him to devote his life to marine conservation efforts.

As the director of IMR, Rafael has taken on the responsibility of driving meaningful change in the way we perceive and protect our oceans. One of his key objectives is environmental education. He firmly believes that knowledge is the most powerful tool in the fight against environmental degradation. Together with the IMR team, the institute has developed innovative educational programs aimed at raising awareness about marine conservation strategies among students from all over the world.

Rafael is not only passionate about education but also deeply committed to advancing the technological frontier of marine conservation. He envisions a future where cutting-edge technology plays a pivotal role in gathering and analyzing data to inform effective conservation strategies. His vision is to make marine conservation efforts as technologically sophisticated as possible, ensuring that accurate and comprehensive data reaches local governments. By providing these authorities with the most up-to-date information, he empowers them to make informed decisions that are crucial for the protection of marine habitats and species.

Corey is a Marine Scientist and PADI Dive Master with extensive experience in marine conservation and ecology. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation from Bournemouth University, Corey has contributed to significant research, including a dissertation on fish community differences between artificial structures and natural reefs in Poole Bay, South England. Corey has logged over 300 dives, guiding scientific and recreational dives at Barefoot Conservation in Raja Ampat, West Papua, where they also led a cyanobacteria monitoring project, provided lectures and training, and participated in coral ecology and manta ray identification projects. Additionally, Corey has been involved in reef restoration projects in North Bali, constructing artificial structures to promote biodiversity and assessing recruitment success through biodiversity surveys. In addition to their scientific endeavors, Corey has worked as an Indoor Skydive Instructor at IFLY Basingstoke. Corey is also committed to charity work, having volunteered with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Breast Cancer NI.

Berlinda is one of Instructor Development Philippines’ in-house Platinum Course Directors as well as IDC Coordinator. Originally from Holland she first came to Dauin in 2012 during her trip around the world to complete her Divemaster Course. After a stint working as a Divemaster in other areas around the country and a brief return visit home she then came back and completed her Instructor Course in Dauin in 2013 and spent the following years working towards her Course Director.

B, as she is referred to, offers courses in Dutch and English and especially enjoys teaching Divemaster Courses, Project AWARE programs and of course IDC’s.

Jokay is a marine conservationist from Manila with a background in Economics from De La Salle University. Though she spent six years in the finance industry, her lifelong passion for the ocean—fueled by childhood dreams of becoming a marine biologist—ultimately led her to shift careers and follow a more purposeful path. She first joined the Institute for Marine Research as a research assistant, where she also learned to scuba dive, eventually becoming a certified divemaster and now serving as a research technician specializing in fish. Also an avid surfer and freediver, Jokay feels most alive and at peace in the water. On her days off you can find her at the beach with her nose in a fish book or in the office persuading her colleagues to watch horror movies with her. Her mission is to inspire more Filipinos to appreciate and protect the country’s rich marine biodiversity through meaningful community engagement and environmental education.

Jonas brings a strong blend of field expertise, scientific training, and community-centered coastal management to the Institute for Marine Research.
A proud graduate of Silliman University in Negros Oriental, he holds a BS in Marine Biology and is a certified Divemaster. His work across Region VII of the Visayas as a Coastal Officer has equipped him with extensive experience in natural resource management, local governance, and stakeholder engagement.
With research spanning seagrass ecology, coral reef assessments, and mangrove monitoring, Jonas excels at translating ecological data into practical conservation action.
He is especially passionate about empowering coastal communities and creating science-based solutions that support long-term ocean stewardship.