About Us
After more than 25 years diving throughout Vanuatu and the Pacific, founders Carl and Kevin Fallon, and the dive community around them witnessed first-hand the changes occurring within the region's marine and terrestrial ecosystems. From declining coral health and increasing environmental pressures to habitat degradation, the impact of natural disasters, biodiversity loss and the growing impacts of climate change, it became increasingly clear that simply observing these changes was no longer enough.
The result was the creation of the Abyss Vanuatu Ocean Institute — an ecology and environmental company with a difference. One that is built around the mission 'to create tangible environmental change before it is too late.
AVOI brings together a collective of local communities, governments, universities, colleges, research institutions, NGOs and some of the world's leading marine biologists, terrestrial ecologists, researchers, scientific divers, commercial divers, drone specialists, environmental managers and conservation practitioners. Together, we are building a new model for environmental management that combines science, technology, education, community engagement and kastom knowledge to deliver measurable environmental outcomes across Vanuatu and the Pacific.
Whether restoring coral reefs, planting mangroves, monitoring biodiversity, supporting climate resilience initiatives, training Ocean Rangers or inspiring the next generation through environmental education, every project is designed to leave a lasting positive impact on both people and nature.
Carl Fallon
Carl Fallon is widely regarded as one of Australia's most respected scuba diving professionals, conservation-focused commercial divers and marine educators. A multiple recipient of Australian Diver of the Year, as voted by readers of Dive Log Magazine, Carl is a highly accomplished PADI Course Director, PADI Technical Deep Diver Instructor Trainer and Prism Rebreather Diver, placing him among a select group of diving professionals qualified to teach and operate in some of the world's most challenging underwater environments.
For more than 26 years, Carl has dedicated his career to marine conservation, diver education, commercial diving and environmental stewardship. Throughout this time, he has led conservation-focused international dive expeditions, trained thousands of divers and helped shape the careers of the next generation of dive professionals. A six-time recipient of PADI's Platinum Course Director Award, Carl has personally trained more than 1,000 Divemasters and Instructors across a wide range of recreational, technical and professional diving disciplines. His commitment to accessibility also saw him become NSW's first Disability Diver Instructor Trainer, teaching dive professionals how to adapt their methods to allow people of all abilities to safely participate in diving experiences.
Carl is the founder of Sea Dragon Diving Co, a conservation-focused commercial diving and civil services company delivering specialist marine projects for local councils, government agencies, defence organisations and private industry. As an ADAS Supervisor with a strong commitment to safety, he has overseen projects involving marine infrastructure, environmental management, underwater inspections, habitat restoration and commercial diving operations. Under his leadership, the company achieved internationally recognised ISO 45001 certification for Workplace Health and Safety Management Systems.
His extensive qualifications also include serving as a HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) Instructor and Service Technician for Toll Logistics, preparing offshore personnel for emergency situations in high-risk environments. Carl is also the designer and sole distributor of Predator Pro Shark Protective Swim Netting, an innovative shark mitigation system developed in consultation with the NSW Department of Primary Industries to improve swimmer safety while significantly reducing environmental impacts and bycatch compared with traditional shark netting approaches.
Beyond his commercial and instructional achievements, Carl has been a driving force behind numerous citizen science and marine conservation initiatives. He founded the Botany Bay Watch Program, a pioneering community-based project that trained hundreds of recreational divers to collect meaningful biodiversity data throughout Botany Bay and surrounding intertidal environments. He has worked alongside the University of Newcastle on the Port Jackson Shark Tagging Program and partnered with UTS to support Weedy Seadragon monitoring and conservation. Carl also funded the first large-scale deployment of artificial habitats for the endangered Sydney Seahorse (Hippocampus whitei) and holds permits to undertake seahorse protection and relocation during foreshore construction activities. His work has also extended to seagrass conservation, marine habitat protection and innovative environmental education programs that engage communities in marine stewardship.
Passionate about developing people as much as protecting the environment, Carl continues to lead initiatives that combine scientific research, practical conservation and professional development. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to improving marine ecosystems, advancing diver education and empowering communities to play an active role in protecting Australia's unique underwater environments for future generations.
Kevin Fallon
Kevin Fallon is a conservation leader, environmental innovator and one of Australia's most awarded tourism marketers and communication specialists, with a career spanning advertising, conservation, environmental monitoring, ecotourism, community engagement, technology integration and strategic partnership development.
As one of four Founding Directors of the Symbio Conservation Foundation, Kevin leads large-scale environmental and threatened species recovery programs across Australia, securing funding, partnerships and on-ground project management that deliver measurable benefits for biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, environmental research and citizen science.
He is also the Chief Pilot of Symbio Wildlife Park's Drone Hub, a pioneering environmental monitoring team recognised for advancing the use of drone technology in wildlife surveys, biodiversity monitoring, ecological research, search and rescue operations and environmental management. Under Kevin's leadership, the program has become a leader in the application of thermal drones, autonomous monitoring systems and environmental intelligence tools to support conservation outcomes across a diverse range of ecosystems.
Passionate about empowering communities through technology and conservation, Kevin developed a first-of-its-kind Industry-Led Indigenous Drone Mentorship Program, creating pathways for Aboriginal youth to pursue careers in environmental management, conservation and emerging technologies. The program combines accredited drone training, ecological monitoring, wildlife survey techniques and practical field experience, producing highly skilled Indigenous drone pilots capable of undertaking wildlife monitoring, pest species management and environmental surveys on Country. By bringing together traditional ecological knowledge and cutting-edge technology, the initiative has strengthened local capacity, created employment opportunities and supported community-led environmental management.
Kevin also serves as a Senior Manager at Symbio Wildlife Park, one of Australia's leading wildlife attractions. During his tenure, he has played a key role in delivering record visitation, award-winning tourism experiences, environmental education programs and conservation initiatives that connect hundreds of thousands of people with wildlife each year.
Widely recognised for his ability to bridge the gap between conservation, industry, government and community, Kevin has built a career demonstrating how environmental protection and economic development can work together through ecotourism, education, citizen science and community-led conservation.
His work has reached tens of millions of people globally, achieving over a billion views of his authentic and emotive content, helping inspire a greater appreciation for wildlife, sustainability and conservation. His expertise spans biodiversity monitoring, conservation program delivery, environmental technologies, drone-based wildlife surveys, environmental communications, strategic planning, grant acquisition, stakeholder engagement and community capacity building.
By combining scientific thinking, innovative technology and strong community connections, Kevin has developed a reputation for creating practical solutions that deliver environmental, social and economic benefits simultaneously.
The challenges facing Vanuatu's oceans, reefs, mangroves, forests and wildlife are among the greatest environmental issues of our generation. Climate change, habitat degradation, invasive species, biodiversity loss and increasing pressure on natural resources are impacting ecosystems that not only support extraordinary wildlife but also underpin the livelihoods, culture and wellbeing of communities throughout the country.
The Abyss Vanuatu Ocean Institute (AVOI) was established in response to these challenges, with a commitment to delivering practical, measurable and lasting environmental outcomes. We believe meaningful conservation occurs when science, innovation, traditional knowledge and community action work together. Rather than focusing solely on research or advocacy, our approach is centred on implementing real-world solutions that create tangible environmental, social and economic benefits.
By bringing together local communities, governments, industry, universities, colleges, NGOs and some of the world's leading marine biologists, ecologists, researchers, divers, drone specialists and environmental managers, AVOI is helping bridge the gap between conservation, community and sustainable development. Our work combines evidence-based science with kastom knowledge to better understand, protect and restore Vanuatu's unique marine, coastal and terrestrial environments.
Across the country, AVOI delivers environmental monitoring and management programs, biodiversity and species abundance surveys, reef restoration and Reef Ball deployment, mangrove cultivation and rehabilitation, pest and feral species management, climate resilience and adaptation projects, drone-based environmental monitoring, emergency response capabilities and community-led conservation initiatives. Through the Vanuatu Ocean Ranger Program, environmental education programs and citizen science initiatives, we are also investing in the next generation of environmental leaders who will help shape the future of conservation and sustainable resource management across Vanuatu.
At the heart of everything we do is a belief that local people must be empowered to lead the protection and stewardship of their own environment. Through education, employment, skills development and community engagement, we are creating pathways for Ni-Vanuatu people to become environmental professionals, conservation practitioners, researchers and ambassadors for sustainability.
Our aspiration is to help establish Vanuatu as a global leader in community-driven conservation, environmental innovation, climate resilience and sustainable ocean management. By combining world-class expertise, emerging technologies and local leadership, we are working to ensure that Vanuatu's reefs, oceans, forests, mangroves and wildlife are healthier, more resilient and better protected for future generations.
Simply put, we exist to create tangible environmental change before it is too late, leaving a lasting legacy for both people and nature.
