Want to help save the Great Barrier Reef? Become an ecotourist
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During my scuba adventure through the Ribbon Reefs aboard the Spirit of Freedom dive boat, our group transformed into part-time marine scientists. Armed with underwater slates and pencils, we conducted rapid monitoring surveys, recording everything from fish species to coral impacts to promising new coral growth.
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Even getting scuba certified has regenerative benefits. When I upgraded my diving credentials with Diver's Den, a PADI Eco Center that operates our dive boat, a portion of my course fees supported PADI AWARE. This global conservation non-profit partners with the UN's Green Fins Program to minimize tourism's footprint on fragile ecosystems like coral reefs.
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The impact of visitor participation can be profound. Data collected through the Dive Against Debris citizen scientist program led Vanuatu to become the first country to ban single-use plastics. Thanks to similar community-collected evidence from Sydney Harbour, all Australian states and territories have enacted plastics policy changes.
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Beyond its five-star comforts, the island houses the renowned Lizard Island Research Station, which provides crucial scientific data for reef management. Resort guests can tour the facility, peer into aquariums meticulously maintained to mirror natural conditions, and have the opportunity to talk with passionate researchers whose work is making a difference.
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'Just because the reef is in trouble doesn't mean it's not a wonderful place to visit. We have the data, and we know what the solution is. We as a society need to do our part to remove those pressures. We need action on an individual level and at the government level for policy setting,' notes Howells.
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My revelation came during my night dive when dozens of sharks glided past me with supreme indifference. These weren't the mindless killers of movie fame but graceful predators with zero interest in adding me to their menu.
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People protect what they connect with. Lock eyes with a curious Maori wrasse, witness coral spawning under moonlight or share a wave with a sea turtle, and suddenly, abstract conservation concerns feel personal.
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