Reef Etiquette.

Slow down while diving and snorkeling – you are less likely to bump into things accidentally and cause damage to yourself or the reef. You are less likely to get a cramp or tire yourself out, and you’ll also be amazed how much more you see when you slow down.

Be mindful of your position in relation to the reef! Snorkellers: don’t touch or step on the reef. Coral is sharp but also very fragile. If you need to rest, float on your back or hang on to a float or rest station. Divers: be careful not to accidentally kick the coral or kick up the sand and sediment with your fins and make sure none of your equipment is dangling, aim to be at least 1m away from the reef at all times.

Maintaining neutral buoyancy is tricky at first, but probably the most useful diving skill – you’ll enjoy your dive more, use less air, and be able to get closer to the reef without harming it or yourself. Make sure you’re properly weighted (ask boat staff to help you conduct a weight check if you’re not sure), and practice maintaining neutral buoyancy. Why not consider doing a peak performance buoyancy dive course?

Although not all marine life is dangerous to us, we can easily damage many things without realising it. For example, by touching coral, even gently, you are scraping away the protective layer of mucus that protects the coral from picking up an infection. .. unless the boat staff hand something to you… please don’t touch anything.

Please don’t take anything away from the reef, except rubbish. The Great Barrier Reef is a marine park with strict laws on collecting to protect marine life for future generations to enjoy. Items such as shells and corals can be bought in souvenir shops around the world, but there is no guarantee they’ve been collected legally or sustainably, and there may be laws on importing them to your own country. We believe that photos and books make better souvenirs!

Please don’t damage the reef (or yourself) just to get a good photograph. Be careful how you position yourself and your camera equipment, adjust your buoyancy appropriately, and don’t harrass, chase or feed marine life in order to take a photograph.

Just because you see someone else doing something, doesn’t mean it’s safe or that you have to do it too. Do only what you’re comfortable with in the water.

Thousands of marine animals die needlessly every year because our rubbish ends up in the sea. Plastic bags and bottles and cigarette ends, etc. can all do a lot of damage, so please “reduce, recycle, reuse… or bin it“.

Human food, like bread and meat, is not suitable for marine animals and may damage their health. Fish feeding may also result in undesirably aggressive behavior. Boats are required to have a permit from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to feed fish and to follow strict guidelines.

If you notice any dead, sick or injured marine animals, such as turtles, dugong, whales and seabirds, please report your observations to the staff on board the boat or call the Environmental Protection Agency hotline on 1300 360 898 at any time.

Removal of coral and animals from the reef is not allowed and damages the carefully balanced ecosystems. A photo is a much better keep-sake of your visit to the reef.