Volunteers

Ally Beeden

I have been a Reef Check volunteer for the past 2 years and have absolutely loved my experiences with this organisation, particularly the diving! Although I am not a marine biologist or anything vaguely related, I love the sea and the environment and have been a diver for the past 12 years. Belonging to Reef Check has given me a whole new perspective on the diving experience, previously undertaken for food gathering or scenic tours, which has improved my diving and made it feel all that much more worthwhile through taking part in monitoring the fabulous Great Barrier Reef. Unexpected bonuses of belonging are the opportunities to make friends with a wide range of great people, becoming part of a really inspiring community organisation and hanging out in lovely parts of tropical Queensland. I highly recommend taking the time to get involved!!!!!!!!

Peter Harley

I first saw the reef off Cairns in 2004. I was amazed by the diversity of colour and life; this was also my first Scuba experience. I vowed that I would learn to Scuba and return some day. I went home to Southern Victoria and made enquiries about Scuba courses and also about coming up here to study Marine Biology.  I applied to JCU and was accepted on a Marine Biology course, but had to defer while my business (winery and restaurant was sold due to divorce). Not long after the business was sold I was involved in an incident with a truck whilst riding my bicycle on the highway. After recovering, I came to Townsville to start my new degree as retraining. It was not long after this I learned about Reef Check and decided to join. I thought this an ideal way to learn things about the reef and apply my studies. I now participate in all the surveys I can as a volunteer. It’s a tough job spending your weekends with great people looking at spectacular sites on the reef, but some ones got to do it!

David Henry

Having recently taken early retirement down south, I wanted to get involved in volunteer reef survey activities.  As a keen long-term diver with a layman’s interest in marine biology I hoped to find a way to contribute to the ongoing management of the Great Barrier Reef, while engaging in my love of diving.  Lucky for me, Reef Check, based here in Townsville, provides the perfect solution.  The courses are rigorous as the survey results are required to assist scientific research.  At the same time, they provide very useful and interesting information for recreational dives on the reef, which I now appreciate in a new light.  Survey trips are fun days, usually with the opportunity for a recreational dive after the survey tasks are over.  The survey team based in Townsville includes people of all ages from across the world, making the trips even more interesting.  It’s a good thing that Reef Check is doing and I’m happy and proud to be one of their survey team.  I’d strongly recommend that anyone who loves diving, with an interest in the Great Barrier Reef, and who has some spare time on their hands finds out more about Reef Check - and consider joining our happy crew. Contact Dave Henry.