The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is as fragile as it is beautiful. Stretching more than 2000km along the Queensland coastline, it’s a complex ecosystem populated with dazzling coral, friendly sea turtles, gliding rays, timid reef sharks and tropical fish of every size and color. Whether you dive down to it, snorkel over it or explore it via a scenic flight, this vivid undersea kingdom is unforgettable. However, no matter how great it is, there is no denying that it has deteriorated over the years. One of the main issues is coral bleaching. In 1998, a huge underwater heat wave killed 16% of the corals on reefs around the world. Triggered by the El Niño of that year, it was declared the first major global coral bleaching event. The second global bleaching event that struck was triggered by the El Niño of 2010. The US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the third global bleaching event in October 2015 and it has already become the longest event recorded, impacting some reefs in consecutive years, as it is still going on today. This is all due to global warming, because the ocean absorbs a majority of climate change heat. The coral is unable to handle these high temperatures, and therefore they kick out their outer layer that has not turned toxic. This however leaves them vulnerable, hence allowing coral bleaching to occur. Sometimes the coral can rejuvenate once the water cools down, but this is not always the case. Certain species of coral are more easily effected than others, some are strong and can resist it while others are weak and cannot.

            The reefs are a small proportion of the world’s ocean floor, yet they support a lot of marine species. They are an integral part in the survival of the very important oceanic ecosystems. This is why we need to pay a lot of attention to this issue and work hard at reversing and preventing it. There are a few things everyday people can do to help. When going into the ocean, mainly in areas with coral, one should not jump in with sunscreen on, as it is a form of pollution to the coral. If you are swimming near such areas, please wear wetsuits to protect your skin rather than sunscreen. The sunscreen’s ingredients destroy the coral over time. We can also protect marine life by not using plastic bags. If they get into the ocean sea turtles think they are jellyfish and eat them. It then gets stuck in their digestive tract and can lead to death. Lastly you can work on not littering as much and being conscientious of your trash. This will help keep the ocean clean and less polluted.

            The Australian government is helping in a number of ways. They institute a no touch policy, meaning while you are diving or snorkeling you are not allowed to touch any of the coral or marine life unless they come up and touch you (gently or in an educational manner). They also allow certified scientists to go down and remove things that harm the coral. Two examples of these are the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and the Drupella snail. These prey on coral and destroy it. The COTS eat a lot of the coral and do so very quickly. There are not many around Flynn Reef where I went scuba diving, but they pose as a very big threat to the coral. They usually come in plagues every couple of years. The Drupella snail, however, are very plentiful yet they do not pose much of a threat as they are never going to destroy the reef by themselves. The marine biologist on my trip found hundreds the snails on his dives that day (picture attached in next post- they look like seashells). The Australian government created a $142.5 million National Environmental Science Programme for Reef research. They also designate certain marine reserve areas, which increase populations of endangered fish species, improve coral health and protect biodiversity. This however cannot prevent reef degradation from larger-scale issues such as cyclones, coral-bleaching events, and decreasing water quality.

            Now on the lighter side of things, here is my experience of scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Only one word can explain it… AMAZING. It was everything I imagined and then some. It was a little scary in the beginning when I first jumped in and had to get used to breathing with an air tank with a mouthpiece and not being able to breath through your nose. But once I tried it for about 20 seconds I was fine and ready to get the show on the road. It was breathtaking seeing all the different kinds of coral and fish up close. We even encountered a very friendly sea turtle! I wish I could attach a video to this because I was filming when we found the turtle and he stayed with us for five minutes and got very up close and personal! Not only did I get to go scuba diving for the very first time, but I also got to go off snorkeling and exploring the Reef on my own. That feeling of freedom in something that is so huge is beyond words. I can now officially knock that off my bucket list! I have to thank the crew at Silverswift for being so helpful in answering my research questions and showing me different unique wildlife and places to snorkel while on the trip. Attached in the next post is a picture of me with two of the guys who helped me the most! What a way to start off my Magellan research. Onto the next!

For picture proof that coral bleaching is real please go to this website and view the photos, it is well worth your time to witness the severity of coral bleaching: http://www.globalcoralbleaching.org

Unfortunately videos will not download
(p.s. still no luggage!)

Some of the Drupella Snails one of the divers found

Two of the crew who helped me with my research!