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Reef Naturalist Programs.

Explore the Great Barrier Reef like never before with your very own personal Marine Biologist as your guide. Learn about its inhabitants and meet them face to face.
Reef Naturalist Programs

Explore the reef up close and personal.

Reef Naturalist Days - Reef Teach, Cairns

Looking for a way to help conservation efforts while visiting the Great Barrier Reef? There is no better way to experience the reef and its inhabitants than with a highly trained marine biologist by your side. Our marine biologists and Master Reef Guides are not only qualified postgraduates, but have spent thousands of hours on the reef.

By joining our (1 or 2 day) reef naturalist program you will learn about the coral reef itself along with a multitude of stories about the creatures that inhabit this beautiful ecosystem. You will also have the opportunity to give back by participating in several research and conservation activities while in the water.

Choose your experience

Marine Discoveries offers a flexible approach to your experience with a number of available activities and durations to suit your needs and travel itinerary. Get the most out of your time on the Great Barrier Reef with a 1- or 2-day Reef Naturalist experience.

1 Day Experience

  • Day 1

    Full Day
    Outer Reef Trip

    Two in-water sessions, with both the morning and afternoon sessions focussing on survey participation and taking in the best of what the GBR has to offer.

    On the return trip, participants will prepare and enter their survey data and sightings into the system, adding to the on-going research and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Book Today!

2 Day Experience

  • Day 1
    • Option 1

      Full Day
      Outer Reef Trip

      Two in-water sessions, with both the morning and afternoon sessions focussing on survey participation and taking in the best of what the GBR has to offer.

      On the return trip, participants will prepare and enter their survey data and sightings into the system, adding to the on-going research and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

    • Option 2

      Full Day
      GBR Introduction Seminar

      Through a series of fun and interactive presentations you will not only learn how to identify the most common species of fish and corals, but also how to conduct citizen science. In addition, you develop the background knowledge to put these skills into practice on the following days in-water sessions at the reef.

      Topics Covered: Introduction to the Reef (formation and history), Reef management, fish and invertebrate identification, and different citizen science survey techniques.

  • Day 2

    Full Day
    Reef Trip

    Two in-water sessions, with both the morning and afternoon sessions focussing on survey participation and taking in the best of what the GBR has to offer.

    On the return trip, participants will prepare and enter their survey data and sightings into the system, adding to the on-going research and conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Book Today!

Organise Your
Reef Naturalist Day

Group Sizes

Minimum 2 - 30 People
Larger groups may be possible, please contact Marine Discoveries to discuss.

Swimming Requirements

Moderate Snorkeler & Certified Diver
Young children are welcome, but again they must have strong swimming abilities

This program is designed and targeted to certified divers and moderate to experienced snorkelers only. The reason for this is that the aim of the program is to act as your marine biologist and not as a dive instructor or swimming instructor. Our crew are all trained in this avenue however they will not be able to fulfil their obligations to our customers as marine biologists if they are dedicated to your swimming ability.

Naturalist days can include an introductory dive which, although are an excellent way to experience scuba diving for the first time, they are not conducive to our day as we will have far less time to show you the detail and intricacies of the Great Barrier Reef. For this reason, we do not recommend doing an introductory dive on your naturalist day.

Please also include your international country code

What You Can Expect

Your Reef Naturalist day(s) on the reef will begin by meeting your very own marine biologist at the marina where they will give a short safety briefing and you’ll be on your way. Once on-board they will explain what you can expect in the water and tips and tricks to ensure you get the best from each day.

Your Reef Naturalist experience includes:

  • Passage to and from the selected reef location(s)
  • Snorkel gear and everything needed to successfully complete surveys and sightings
  • Morning tea on the way to the reef
  • Full briefing on the way to the reef by your Marine Biologist
  • Two in-water sessions guided by your Marine Biologist
  • On-Board Tropical Buffet lunch
  • Afternoon tea on the way back home
  • Full debriefing on the days events and sightings
During the in-water sessions, we can tailor the experience to you. We start by introducing you to the underwater world and then aim to get you as involved as possible in research and data collection for national and even international databases. If you have a particular interest in a topic, please let us know when booking so we can include this in your day.
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Acknowledgement Of Country
Marine Discoveries acknowledges, recognises and respects the Elders, families and forebears of the the Bama Peoples – the Aboriginal rainforest people who are traditional custodians/owners of the lands that cover our region. We also acknowledge, recognise and respect other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who call our region and the Great Barrier Reef their home.
Copyright Marine Discoveries Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
ABN : 93 643 207 845