Visitors to the Great Barrier Reef will have the chance to play an active role in its regeneration by taking part in “citizen science” initiatives with Reef Unlimited.
Operator of Reef Magic and Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel, Reef Unlimited and their marine science division, GBR Biologyare calling on guests to ‘roll up their wetsuit sleeves’ and lend a helping hand in assisting recovery on the Great Barrier Reef with a series of new Reef Recovery days.
As climate change and human activity continue to threaten coral reefs, destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef are turning to coral reef assisted recovery initiatives to boost eco-system resilience. Coral reef site assisted recovery actions can help make the reef more resilient and spread awareness of the condition and challenges of coral reefs.
According to the 2023 Sustainable Travel Report, two-thirds of its 33,000 survey respondents said they ‘want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived’, with more than three quarters of respondents looking to travel in a more sustainable manner.*
Reflecting this trend, Reef Unlimited says the new Reef Recovery Days will give guests the chance to give something back and play their part in understanding and boosting coral reef resilience.
“Travel can be a force for good, with today’s travellers seeking more sustainable and responsible travel experiences. Our guests have told us that they not only want to swim and snorkel in the reef, but they also want to help conserve it for future visitors. To leave the reef in a better condition than when you found it is a very compelling proposition and something that we believe our guests will want to be involved with,” says John O’Sullivan, CEO of Experience Co, parent company of Reef Unlimited and GBR Biology.
With the help and guidance of trained Marine Biologists and Cultural Guides, guests will be able to attach coral fragments to ‘Reef Stars’, hexagonal sand-coated steel frames that provide a stable base for coral fragments of opportunity to grow.
The ‘Reef Stars’ are then installed on areas of coral rubble that have been created through extreme weather systems and other damage. Through their modular structure and the addition of live coral fragments of opportunity, these ‘Reef Stars’ stabilise loose coral rubble beds. The Reef Star technique transforms coral rubble beds to a live diverse hard coral dominated habitat in a shorter time frame, than would occur naturally. Thus, providing a boost to local scale resilience and giving the reef a helping hand to combat against future disturbances. Tourism plays a vital role and is very much at the forefront of conservation on the Great Barrier Reef.
During these Reef Recovery Days visitors can still enjoy the myriad activities available on the Reef Magic and Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel pontoons – with time to snorkel, dive, take a tour on a semi-submersible or glass-bottomed boat, eat lunch and relax – but they can also learn from marine biologists and participate in the reef recovery project.
Guests will also be able to interact with cultural guides – local Traditional Owners who can talk about traditional ecological reef management.
Reef Recovery days will be run on an ongoing basis with dates available through until June 2025 on www.reefmagic.com.au and until the end of April 2025 on Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel. There are limited spots available for the Reef Recovery days so pre-booking is essential. Suitable for ages eight and above.
Reef Unlimited has been involved with the installation of more than 1,500 ‘Reef Stars’ at a variety of reef sites across the Great Barrier Reef since 2020.
‘Reef Stars’ were developed by Mars Sustainable Solutions and The Reef Cooperative Reef Star Project is a collaboration between Citizens of the Reef, GBR Biology, Mars Australia, Gunggandji Aboriginal Corporation, Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation and supported by founding funder, The Cotton On Foundation.
