Around the Reef - Reef Check Australia - December 2024

Dear Friend

Congratulations to our newest cohort of Scuba Surveyors who have completed their online theory training, now to get good weather to complete the in-water component! Our team will be taking a two week break over Xmas starting on 21 December, but we have a few activities happening leading up to then.

This months email includes:

Action of the Month: Another year done and dusted!
News from the Field
Books and Podcasts
Current Coral Affairs
Get With the Program

Another Year Done and Dusted!

As the year winds down and the holiday season gives us a rare moment to pause, it's the perfect time to reflect on the past 12 months—the highs and lows, the successes, and the challenges that helped us grow. Each experience adds value, giving us a chance to appreciate the journey and set the stage for what’s to come.

Looking back, Reef Check Australia’s team has achieved so much with passion and dedication! Along Queensland’s coastline, we monitored over 80 reef health sites, hosted more than 35 community events, and delivered five training courses. Hundreds of kilograms of marine debris were removed from beaches, waterways, and the ocean, with thousands of community members inspired to protect our precious marine ecosystems. Even our small everyday choices—like ditching single-use coffee cups—saved hundreds from ending up in landfills.

With each of these accomplishments, our partnerships strengthened, and our community grew. We couldn't have done any of it without the support, energy, and contributions from each of you. Together, we’ve made a powerful impact, and for that, we thank you wholeheartedly.

As we say goodbye to 2024, we look forward with hope and optimism to a new year filled with fresh collaborations, more training opportunities, and even bigger goals. There’s always more to do, and we can’t wait to dive into 2025 with the same commitment and drive. Here’s to another year of possibility, growth, and success.

That’s a wrap!

News from the field

Stories and updates from our teams out & about.

South East Queensland

🌿🌊 Peel Island Land Based Clean Up ❄️✨

By José Gonzalez, Reef Ambassador

On October 14th, 2024, Jodi, Charlie, Tony, and I set out for Peel Island for a cleanup mission. The conditions were calm and overcast, but lovely overall, so we were able to tackle a cleanup along 1.2 km of shoreline, gathering an impressive 48 kg, and 779 pieces of rubbish.

Among our finds were three crab pots, countless plastic and metal bottle caps, large chunks of styrofoam, painted timber, metal poles from tents, and the usual campsite trash: glass bottles, cans, clothes, a diaper, lures, and plastic bags. We also hauled in metal debris, broken glass, shoes, toys, ropes, and bubble wrap. As we cleaned, armies of soldier crabs scuttled along the beach in front of us, and I couldn't help but wonder how microplastics might be affecting these little critters too.

After the cleanup, we had to wait about an hour for the tide to come back up. This gave us extra time to clean and also to spend some quality time together, getting to know each other better. It turned out to be a great opportunity to bond while doing something meaningful for the environment. To top it all off, we were rewarded with an amazing show from some acrobatic humpback whales on our way back. It really felt like they were thanking us for helping keep their home clean.

I’m stoked to have been part of this mission and hope we can make cleanups like this a regular thing. Unfortunately, marine debris is an ongoing issue that demands constant attention, and lots of hands. That’s why I’m so grateful to Jodi and Reef Check Australia for organizing and supporting these efforts. I encourage everyone to join us in helping keep our oceans healthy. Thanks, everyone!

José 🙂

Remember, every little bit counts. Together, we can and will make an ocean of difference.

Reef Check Acknowledge the Quandamooka people, Traditional Custodians of the land and sea country on which these activities took place and we pay our respects to their elders past, present and future.

The ‘Shore to Seafloor: Tackling Marine Debris Across the Marine Environment’ project” is proudly funded through the Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action grant program.

Heron Island

Our team spent a magical week on Heron Island again this year so we are pleased to bring you reports on some of our sites.

🌿🌊 Canyons ❄️✨

Written by Patrick De Tomasi, RCA volunteer;

On the southern side of Heron Island, Canyons cuts into the reef slope with shallow, winding gullies and scattered bommies in the deeper waters. Established as a survey site in 2013, Canyons offers a unique, layered view of reef life, with coral structures that seem to stand as ancient underwater landmarks.

During our dive, we came across a vibrant mix of marine life—starting with anemones sheltering some lively anemone fish. The anemones had a bleached white colour with delicate blue tips, a sign that the zooxanthellae had been expelled in response to stress—likely due to the recent coral bleaching event. Yet, the anemone fish were still happily nestled in their anemone home, weaving through the soft tentacles in classic “Nemo” style. The reef showed signs of resilience with huge, old coral formations, but we also saw evidence of bleaching, scarring, and Drupella snail damage. Among the reef’s treasures were trocuhus shells, a range of striking nudibranchs, and a sighting of a Barramundi cod—one of our target species for the survey. Canyons remains a breathtaking reminder of both the reef’s beauty and its challenges. Each survey adds to our understanding and reminds us why these efforts are so vital. Grateful to capture and protect Heron Island’s marine story through Reef Check Australia’s ongoing work.

Shark Bay

Written by Emma Graff, Reef Check Australia snorkel volunteer;

One of the most exciting snorkel spots we had the chance to explore during our trip to Heron Island was Shark Bay, established as a Reef Check Australia health monitoring site in 2011. It’s a place that delivers not just one, but multiple epic wildlife encounters. Here’s what made this site so unforgettable:

We were lucky enough to swim with large schools of fish, their shimmering scales creating an underwater kaleidoscope as they darted in sync. It’s always amazing to be surrounded by so many fish, each species adding its own colour and rhythm to the reef.

The highlight of the day, though, was the experience of swimming side by side with a Lemon Shark. We spotted this graceful yet powerful predator cruising through the water and I was ecstatic to have it swim close enough to me it brushed me with its tail! While sharks can be intimidating, there’s something incredibly humbling about seeing them in their natural environment.

We also encountered a stunning, MASSIVE, Whiptail Ray gliding effortlessly along the sandy bottom, its long tail trailing behind. But the excitement didn’t stop there – we also saw Cowtail Rays and Shovel-nosed Rays, each species with its own unique, graceful movements. These rays were an incredible sight, their wide, flat bodies effortlessly cutting through the water.

One of the most elusive and rewarding sightings was a Pipefish, which is always a rare treat. These slender, camouflaged creatures are hard to spot but a true gem when you do find them, hidden amongst the algae and corals.

Shark Bay is an absolute must-visit for anyone visiting Heron Island. Whether you’re snorkeling with rays, swimming alongside sharks, or just soaking in the beauty of the bay, it’s a place that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a deep appreciation for marine life.

Great Barrier Reef

🌊✨ Fitzroy Island Beach and Underwater Clean-Up - October 2024 🌊✨

Another weekend spent well with Reef Check Australia GBR team as part of Tangaroa Blue’s ReefClean program! With excellent weather on our side, we gathered an amazing crew of divers and ocean enthusiasts for a rewarding adventure at Fitzroy Island! 🌴🤿

We tackled Welcome Beach with a beach clean-up and dove into the southern end of the jetty on a scuba mission to collect debris from around the public moorings. We managed to cut through over 6 meters of tangled fishing line and collected a surprising amount of rubbish along the shore. Every piece we removed helps keep our waters safe for fish, turtles, and all our underwater friends!

A massive shoutout to our partners at Reef Restoration Foundation and Fitzroy Island Sports Hub for the scuba cylinders. Big thank you to our dedicated volunteers; Lauren, Taylor, Rachelle and Ben.

Reef Check acknowledges the Gurabana Gunggandji people as the Traditional Owners of the land and sea country where these activities took place, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.

The ReefClean program is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and delivered by Tangaroa Blue and several partner organisations, including Reef Check Australia. Join the movement for a cleaner, healthier Great Barrier Reef!

Books and podcasts

Have you read or listened to something lately that you would like to share? Let us know and we can feature it here

At Every Depth by Tessa Hill and Eric Simons

An oceanographer and a science journalist profile efforts by community scientists, researchers and first nations people to track species, replant kelp forests and restore clam gardens. The book shares differing viewpoints and explores how oceans are changing.

Current Coral Affairs

Check out some of the latest news and research about our ocean

How do you perform an ultrasound on a whale shark?

Pose as a cleaner fish of course!

Read now in: Australian geographic

Climate change even impacts deep sea fish

Heatwaves on Vancouver Island reach record levels and impact marine life.

Read now in: DAN Magazine

Solomon Islands take the prize for the Worlds largest coral colony.

This massive coral colony is believed to be at least 300 years old.

Get with the Program

Here's what we've got coming up in the next few weeks, keep checking the website for more updates.

Sun 8 Dec | Raffles at Your Mates Brewery - come along to Your Mates in Warana, buy some raffle tickets and support RCA.

Sun 15 Dec | Beach clean up Bowen. See website for more details.

Plus there will be lots more coming up soon so remember to follow us on socials.

Whilst things have taken a back seat on the Coast to Corals talks, remember you can always watch past episodes by taking a look at our YouTube Channel here

and don't forget our annual reports by region are available on our website!

Thanks for reading! If you want to help our work to empower more people to protect Australian reefs, please consider making a monthly tax-deductible donation.

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