Discover the Great Barrier Reef!

We’re super excited about our latest and greatest Sea TREK operator, Reef Magic Cruises in Cairns, Australia! This gorgeous location along the Great Barrier Reef provides TREKkers a unique opportunity to obtain a “bucket list” checkmark!

Australia is known for cute koalas and playful platypus.  It’s also an amazing place to view incredible sea life. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, hosts 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral, one-third of the world's soft corals, 134 species of sharks and rays, six of the world's seven species of threatened marine turtles, and more than 30 species of marine mammals. The Reef is also home to approximately 40 species of sea birds. Whew! That’s an impressive population!

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is massive. In fact, it is the largest living structure on the planet. So big, in fact, that it is visible from space! The reef stretches 1,430 mi (2,300 km) along the Queensland coast, covering an area of over 132,819 square miles (344,000 square kilometers). To keep this in perspective, this equates to 70 MILLION football fields, or the size of Japan!

Leatherback Sea Turtle

The average depth of the reef’s inshore waters is around 115 ft (35 meters), while its outer reefs plunge to more than 6,561 ft (2,000 meters). This, combined with its tropical climate and warm waters, creates the ideal environment for its residents.  From the tiniest of coral and microscopic plankton, to the large leatherback sea turtle, the reef keeps its residents happy by providing intricate ecosystems. The reef’s rich biodiversity helps it to maintain a stable and healthy coral reef system, which in turn, provides food and shelter for its population. GBR has one of the most diverse habitats on the planet!

Surgeonfish

Everyone who lives on the reef has a job to do, to contribute to the ecosystem. A great example is the surgeonfish, which is essential in the process of sediment removal. These fish consume between 8 and 66 grams (.3 oz to 2.3 oz) of algae per fish, per day! They get rid of their stomach contents in a different location from their eating grounds, and around one third of the sediment they eat via the algae is deposited off the reef, in deep water. This process helps maintain the reef, and possibly specific algal habitats in particular, which are a valuable food source for herbivore fish.

Pretty, but Evil- Crown of Thorns Starfish

Like many of the world’s great reefs and waterways, the GBR’s existence is threatened by several factors, including declining water quality. During tropical floods, runoff containing fertilizer and pesticides is dispensed into the reef's waters, which harms its delicately balanced ecosystem. The runoff problem is made worse by the loss of coastal wetlands along the Queensland coast, which act as a natural filter for toxins. The area of wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef catchment has decreased by over 50%, according to the Great Barrier Reef Coastal Wetlands Protection Program. Additionally, pollution from mining, seabed dumping, climate change, overfishing, and coral reef predators such as the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish, all contribute to the decline of the Reef.  Tropical cyclones also contribute to disturbances on the Reef; causing fragmentation, sediment plumes, and decreasing salinity.

Bluestripe Snappers

Thankfully there are efforts being made to protect the Reef and its inhabitants. Australia has permanently banned the disposal of port related capital dredge material in the entire World Heritage Area. Australian and Queensland government investment in Reef management and research activities is projected at more than $2 billion over the coming decade. This includes:

• $140 million in funding for the Reef Trust

• $100 million for improved water quality announced by Australia’s Prime Minister

• $100 million in addition to the current $35 million per year from the Queensland Government for improving water quality and further reducing the impacts of fishing

• And, over $29 million has already been allocated by the Reef Trust to improve the quality of
water flowing into the Reef, enhance species protection and control outbreaks of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish.

Queensland has established the Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce to provide advice on the best approach to achieve up to 80% reduction in nitrogen run-off and up to 50% reduction in sediment run-off in key catchments by 2025. Organizations such as the World Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy are also involved in the protection of the Reef.

Reef Magic's Marine World Platform

Our new Sea TREK family members at Reef Magic Cruises are also taking great measures to ensure the health and longevity of the Reef. Their Sea TREK operations are on a platform attached to a pontoon. The nearest rock/coral formation is 4 meters below any TREKker, so coral is kept safe from potential human contact. During the tour guests learn about the Reef and its importance. Additionally, Reef Magic has its own in-house, self-funded Crown-of-Thorns Starfish removal program. They have strict rubbish and waste removal, and no-straw policies, and their vessels run on low emission engines. Reef Magic holds Advanced Eco Accreditation, issued by Eco Tourism Australia, and has been awarded certification as a Climate Action Business.

So, if you’re planning a visit to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, consider a fun and educational TREK with Reef Magic Cruises. You’ll experience an unforgettable journey to a very special underwater world.