Reef Connect

Snorkel lessons, coral classes, marine mindfulness, sand turtles sculptures. Just a few favourite moments from .roots.worldschool marine biology camp 🌊🩵💙

What a special privilege to have found this black fan coral skeleton after a little snorkel lesson in the shallows!

It was a spontaneous opportunity to get curious, ask questions and learn about:

🪸 What makes a coral a coral
🪸 How they are born, move around (in their larval phase) and attach themselves to the substrate
🪸 How corals get energy and build their skeletons
🪸 The difference between hard and soft corals
🪸 How different corals can look underwater in comparison to their washed up skeletons
🪸 The importance of enjoying nature, and making sure we put things back where we found them, to ensure they remain part of the ecosystem 🐟🌱🌊🦈🐡🐙🦀

Thanks to .roots.worldschool for the opportunity to have nature as our classroom these last two weeks! The best kind of learning happens with bare feet and freedom to explore!!!

Ever found yourself imagining what the world would look like if humans didn't have such a big footprint? The most ideal place for a turtle to dig a best to lay their clutch of eggs is up in the dunes, above the highest tide mark and beneath the shade of vegetation 🌴 ☀️

This mumma turtle had to resort to laying her eggs in the middle of a beach - her usual nesting habitat has been completely taken over by beach stalls and tourist infrastructure! 😢

Dedicated volunteers built a turtle hatchery to relocate the eggs and keep them safe from predators (iguanas, wild dogs, etc!) and it has turned into an educational tourist attraction focused on informing visitors about all that can be done to increase the chances of survival of these ocean beauties 🩵💚

Although the Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochlys olivacea) is one of the most abundant in this region, they are still vulnerable to extinction, largely due to human activities. What actions do you take in your everyday life that could be linked to the survival of this and similar species, wherever you might live in the world?

Dive into a new career in the new year! 🤿🐟🌊🦀

We're looking for a Marine Program Manager to join our team at Ocean Connect!

Lead citizen science programs, mentor volunteers, and help in raising awareness of our amazing Gold Coast marine life!

More info and job description here:
https://www.oceanconnect.com.au/jobs-and-volunteer-positions

Closing date for applications is February 6.

Do you have a marine biologist in the making?

Give them a huge step up with this amazing opportunity- last chance to apply!!!

📢 Exciting News for our Youth Ambassador Workshop! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that we've extended the radius up to the Gladstone region for our application ensuring you do not miss out on what's happening with CoralWatch. 🌆🌄🌐

Find all the information and application form on:
https://coralwatch.org

Applications open from October 1-31.
Successful applicants notified by November 13.

Thank you for being a part of our community, and we can't wait to see what exciting experiences you'll discover with this expanded radius! 🌍🎉

Today is June 8th! And that means it’s World Oceans Day 🌊💙

Swipe to read more about what World Oceans Day is all about!

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The ocean ecosystems face tremendous pressure from human impact on the planet.

The last few years have been particularly devastating for coral reefs around the Indo-Pacific region. Hundreds of millions of people depend on coral reefs for food, shelter, tourism, and a healthy lifestyle.

That's why we must become aware of our actions, learn from our mistakes and make the wisest of choices for the health of our planet.

Watch this video about the devastating consequences of unsustainable living and climate change across vast areas of the Pacific Ocean: https://reefconnect.com.au/the-consequences-of-climate-change-and-unsustainable-living/

Help us make a difference. Like, tag and share to spread the word about our oceans.

The Consequences of Climate Change & Unsustainable Living - Reef Connect Australia The ocean ecosystems face tremendous pressure from human impact on the planet...

Happy Earth Day everyone 🌍

As Sylvia Earle once said, “No blue, no green” 💙💚

Let’s take a moment to appreciate our ocean and our earth 🌊🌱

When it comes to saving our endangered coral reefs, many people think they need to actively join a cause to help.

However, did you know you can make a real difference simply by changing your lifestyle a little?

We have compiled a list of things you can do at home that will have a huge impact on reef health and our planet.

Click to see more: https://reefconnect.com.au/9-life-hacks-to-save-reefs-from-home-and-save-money/

9 Life Hacks To Save Reefs From Home (And Save Money) - Reef Connect Australia When it comes to saving our endangered coral reefs, many people think they need to actively join a cause to help. However, did you know you can make a real […]

Whale Shark Wednesday 🦈💙

Happy Wednesday everyone. Today we’re sharing some whale shark love, some whale shark facts, and some whale shark etiquette 💙

If you’re ever lucky enough to swim with whale sharks, it’s important to follow code of conduct to make sure the whale shark isn’t disturbed and you get the most out of your encounter ✨

Slide 5 is taken from who conducted his masters thesis on whale shark ecotourism and the impact this has on whale shark health. Read our blog to find out more and how you can make sure you’re following whale shark code of conduct on your next encounter 🌊

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🗣️WEEKLY ROUNDUP of some oceany events over the last week in case you missed! 🐬🐙🧜🏼‍♀️🐚🐢🦀

Monday 27th Feb - International Polar Bear Day! 🐻‍❄️

This year the focus was on raising funds to help protect moms and cubs, giving the best possible chance of survival. The date coincides with the period when polar bear mome and Cuba are snug in their dens, to raise awareness of the need to protect denning families across the Arctic 🌨️❄️

Wednesday 1st March - World Seagrass Day 🌱

This year marks the first World Seagrass Day as formally recognised by the UN.

Monday 27th Feb - Wednesday 1st March - 10th anniversary of the World Ocean Summit and Expo, held in Lisbon 📍

The summit is designed to inspire bold thinking and new partnerships and to trigger effective action to develop a sustainable ocean economy. The summit steers progress by addressing the greatest challenges facing the ocean, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution 🌎♻️

Happy World Whale Day! 🐋

World Whale Day began in 1980 in Hawaii, an idea by Greg Kauffman who is the founder of the Pacific Whale Foundation, first celebrated to honour the humpback whales and raise awareness about the threat of extinction. Each year, World Whale Day aims to increase public knowledge of not just humpbacks, but all whale species, sharing an appreciation for their beauty and ecological importance, as well as bringing awareness to the threats they continue to face.

During my stay at Guinjta Bay, I had the pleasure of sharing the ocean with the migrating humpback whales as they travelled down the Mozmabique Channel. Getting so close to the humpbacks, watching them play at the surface and witnessing a mother showing her calf how to breach, was a truly enamouring experience. They are remarkable and powerful creatures, I was amazed at how loud their fin slaps were and could be heard all the way from the shore, even when the whales were many meters out to sea.

shares his most memorable whale encounter:

“I was fortunate enough to experience what is potentially the most unique whale encounter in the world in Baja California, Mexico. In some isolated bays there, the secluded nature of these bays puts the grey whales at so much ease that they are unlike any other whales that I have heard of. They seem to actively seek out humans that are on the water there, tailgating the small boats and even coming out of the water near the boats to get a better look at the people. The situation there is truly unique.”

Swipe to learn about the different whale behaviours, from a super informative infographic taken from

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