Great Barrier Reef Health Information Page

Latest updates from the Reef

With climate change awareness and global coral bleaching events, there’s been a lot of talk about the Great Barrier Reef. Like all natural environments world-wide, the Great Barrier Reef faces challenges but it is also one of the most remarkable, resilient and well managed reef systems in the world. We are passionate about the future of the Great Barrier Reef and share these short presentations with our marine biologist experts and comments from our customers.

Reef Health image updates from the Great Barrier Reef

Latest Reef Health reports & Coral Bleaching FAQ

Reef Stewardship Update September 2023

Phil Coulthard and Dr Glen Burns, Reef Biosearch marine biologists and Master Reef Guides, give us an update on reef stewardship activities underway as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Tourism Reef Protection Initiative.

From high frequency reef health surveys and monitoring, to crown-of-thorns starfish and drupella control, and more; the TRPI allows us to play an increased role in the management and preserving this wonderful place we call home.

This video highlights the first phase, with the program ongoing until June 2024.

The Tourism Reef Protection Initiative is funded by GBRMPA as part of the Australian Government's Reef Protection Package. © Commonwealth of Australia

Posted 12th Sep, 2023

Reef Stewardship Update

Dr Glen Burns, Quicksilver senior marine biologist and Master Reef Guide, gives us an update on reef stewardship activities and participation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Reef Protection Initiative.

Posted 30th Jul, 2021

Dive trip adventures with Pro Dive Cairns

Filmed 6-7 December 2019

"Breathtaking, surreal, awesome, incredible, the best experience I ever had!"

Filmed at our stunning selection of dive sites at Flynn Reef during Pro Dive Cairns 3-Day/2-Night liveaboard trip, check out what guests are saying about their experience, the awesome conditions and spectacular underwater vision.

Posted 7th Dec, 2019

A day in the life of a Master Reef Guide

Meet our passionate Marine Biologist, Samantha Gray!

Meet Sam Gray! Samantha is one of our knowledgeable marine biologists. She is also a Master Reef Guide, being an official interpreter, storyteller and ambassador for our World Heritage icon. We followed Sam for a day out on Ocean Spirit at Michaelmas Cay recently.

Posted 20th Aug, 2019

Ocean Spirit Vox Pops

Showcasing the beauty of Michaelmas Cay and the Great Barrier Reef

Brilliant, amazing, beautiful, highlight of our trip... That’s what our guests are saying and we think you’ll agree! We’re delighted to share underwater vision and guest experiences showcasing the beauty of Michaelmas Cay.

Filmed on a picturesque August day, check out what some of our guests had to say about their experience and the Great Barrier Reef onboard our Ocean Spirit Michaelmas Cay Cruise.

Posted 11th Aug, 2019

Great Barrier Reef Health

With Dr Glen Burns

Quicksilver senior marine biologist, Dr Glen Burns, answers your questions about the Great Barrier Reef.

Posted 23rd Jun, 2019

Awesome reef experiences with Silversonic

Agincourt ribbon reefs

Amazing, wonderful, beautiful, fantastic, excellent! That’s what our guests are saying and we think you’ll agree! We’re delighted to share underwater vision and guest experiences with dive and snorkel vessel Silversonic visiting the renowned Agincourt ribbon reefs.

This beautiful vision was captured during a day trip to sites at The Point, Nursery Bommie and Pavona. With a selection of over 30 exclusive World Heritage Agincourt sites, Silversonic visits three different reef sites daily, each chosen to suit the day’s conditions and ecological diversity.

Posted 27th Oct, 2017

Liveaboard Adventures with Pro Dive Cairns

filmed 17 & 18 August 2017

Guests aboard Pro Dive Cairns' liveaboard trip were delighted to share their awesome reef experiences and current conditions on the Reef. Pro Dive Cairns' 3 Day 2 Night liveaboard trips and Silverswift's dive and snorkel day trips visit a selection of 19 exclusive reef sites in some of the most spectacular Outer Barrier Reef locations from Cairns at Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Pellowe Reefs.

Posted 18th Aug, 2017

Amazing dive and snorkel experiences with Silverswift

Flynn Reef - 17 August 2017

We’re delighted to share guest experiences and amazing underwater vision filmed with Silverswift, our adventure dive and snorkel vessel that departs Cairns daily. An awesome time was had experiencing 3 different reef sites at Coral Gardens, Gordon’s Mooring and Ski Slopes at Flynn Reef. Silverswift's dive and snorkel day trips and Pro Dive Cairns' 3 Day 2 Night liveaboard trips visit a selection of 19 exclusive reef sites in some of the most spectacular Outer Barrier Reef locations from Cairns at Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Pellowe Reefs.

Posted 17th Aug, 2017

Magnificent March on Agincourt Reef

9 March 2017

On a perfect March day we took the opportunity to catch up with some of our guests, who were absolutely delighted after a day seeing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. ?

Posted 9th Mar, 2017

Reef Health Update - Great Diving Adventures

Diving at Norman Reef

Here’s some amazing footage filmed on 2 December 2016 showcasing Great Adventures’ Norman Reef destination. It’s a healthy and vibrant part of the Great Barrier Reef.

Posted 2nd Dec, 2016

Reef Health Update from Agincourt Reef

2 September 2016

It’s now six months since the Great Barrier Reef experienced the widely reported coral bleaching event, predominantly in the Far Northern sector. Whilst our Cairns and Port Douglas region reef sites were impacted to a much lesser extent, we’re delighted to showcase the health and resilience of coral communities in this magnificent World Heritage environment.

We caught up with Quicksilver Group’s Environment & Compliance Manager, and Marine Biologist, Doug Baird, as he takes us on an underwater tour at the pristine Agincourt Reef.

Posted 2nd Sep, 2016

Reef health update #4

June 2016

Passengers aboard Pro Dive Cairns' liveaboard trip from 18-20 June 2016 share their experiences and current conditions on the Reef. Pictures may speak a thousand words, but this vision just might leave you speechless.

Pro Dive Cairns' 3 Day 2 Night liveaboard trips, and Silverswift's dive and snorkel day trips visit a selection of 19 exclusive reef sites in some of the most spectacular Outer Barrier Reef locations from Cairns at Flynn, Milln, Thetford and Pellowe Reefs.

Posted 19th Jun, 2016

Reef health update #3

June 2016

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has released its preliminary findings on the true impact of this summer's major coral bleaching event.

In a nutshell GBRMPA's preliminary report found:

The majority of major bleaching related mortality is restricted to the northern third of the reef, from Lizard Island up to Cape York.
While the reef off Port Douglas and Cairns were stressed by bleaching, overall it wasn't effected as severely. While bleaching stress is still visible in some of the more vulnerable corals, signs of strong recovery are evident. The reef off Port Douglas and Cairns is still very healthy overall.
Media reports stating that '93 per cent of the Reef is practically dead' are totally false. Some media and activist organisations were either purposely misleading the public, or completely negligent in their duty to report the facts. Overall mortality is projected to be closer to 22% with 85% of the mortality occurring between the tip of Cape York and just north of Lizard Island (250km north of Cairns).

For more detailed information visit GBRMPA's Coral Bleaching resource page.

Posted 3rd Jun, 2016

Reef health update #2

11 April 2016

2 weeks ago we spoke to our Marine Biology experts for some up to date information about what coral bleaching is and to what extent it was affecting our region

Today we catch up with the Quicksilver Group's Environmental & Compliance Manager, Dougie Baird, to get an update on current conditions and have a chat with some guests to find out about their reef experiences.

Posted 11th Apr, 2016

Reef health update #1

31 March 2016

The Great Barrier Reef is a massive, dynamic living natural wonder spanning 344,400 sq km. In light of recent media coverage about coral bleaching we believe it important to state some of the facts. So we asked two of the Quicksilver Group's senior environment and marine biologists to give us a better understanding of what coral bleaching is and what the impacts are.

Quicksilver senior marine biologist, Dr Glen Burns, answers your questions about the Great Barrier Reef.

Posted 31st Mar, 2016

Coral Bleaching

Commonly asked questions:

Coral bleaching is caused when coral under stress voluntarily expel the microscopic marine algae, called 'Zooxanthellae', from their cells. Through photosynthesis these algae give corals most of the energy they need to grow, reproduce and provide the colour to the coral. As a coral gets more stressed more and more Zooxanthellae are ejected from the transparent tissue of the coral, and more of the corals white skeleton is revealed. The coral is still alive, but is in a distressed state.

Bleaching can be caused by a number of things: prolonged elevated ocean temperatures, sudden temperature drops (as seen in the southern part of the reef in winter occasionally), extreme amounts of freshwater (usually caused by tropical storms) and sedimentation caused by run off. What some areas of the reef are currently experiencing is above average ocean temperatures caused by a severe El Nino event, similar to what was experienced in 1998.

All corals can be affected to varying degrees, but Staghorns and corals in shallow water are the most at risk. Soft corals are the most resilient, but if exposed to high water temperature for prolonged periods of time they will experience paling and eventually bleaching (1 degree Celsius above normal summer max temperature for 4 weeks is normally the trigger).

It can be, but not always. Importantly, coral bleaching does not mean a death sentence. As corals get most of their energy requirements from the zooxanthellae, without them the corals starve, but if the causative stress is short lived, the plant cells will be reabsorbed and the corals colour rebounds quickly. These corals may however experience reduced growth and reproductive capability for that year, and are more vulnerable to disease. The more prolonged the stress event, the more chance of mortality.

Yes, the Great Barrier Reef system is over 18 million years old and has rebounded from various geological events like Ice Ages, low sea water levels, and warmer water over its enormous life span. In the current bleaching event, some corals will recover once ocean temperatures drop below 29.5 degrees Celsius and corals that have died can be recolonised by coral larvae during the next spawning event. In some cases recovered areas may be recolonised by hardier corals and be more robust for future events.

It depends on the severity and length of the bleaching event, as well as the type of coral involved. It could be weeks, months or even years.