Scuba Divers Wanted To Go Scuba Diving In Australia And Study The Great Barrier Reef

Scientists are appealing for divers to help them with a study of the coral reefs on a remote corner of the beautiful Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

The largest coral reef in the world is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world but scientists from Earthwatch Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences are keen to find out more about coral disease on the reefs that surround Orpheus Island.

The scientists are worried that the coral reef is at risk from rising sea temperatures, disease and tropical storms. They are calling for scuba diving enthusiasts to help them study the marine environment around the tiny island which is located approximately 1,200km northwest of Brisbane on the east coast of Australia.

Richard Gilmore, the Earthwatch Executive Director, explained that the study enables divers to help the scientific community while enjoying scuba diving adventures at the same time.

"Volunteers will get to experience this unique marine park filled with an unusually wide variety of reef habitats, clam gardens as well as submerged indigenous sites and recent shipwrecks," he said.

The volunteer divers will help survey, tag and photograph the diseased areas of the coral reef, which will then be monitored by scientists over time a period of time.

“It’s a great way to experience something different, while making a difference to this important World Heritage Site,” Richard added.

Every year, thousands of divers take scuba diving holidays to Australia’s north east coast to explore the crystal clear ocean waters that are teeming with breathtaking marine creatures.

The spectacular barrier reef offers turquoise warm waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an unforgettable experience which makes it one of the leading scuba diving destinations for avid divers and underwater photographers.

While scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, divers can swim alongside sea turtles, whales, dolphins, porpoises, sharks, stingrays, seahorses, clown fish, snapper and over four hundred different species of colourful hard and soft corals.

Part of the Palm group of islands, Orpheus Island is just one kilometre wide and eleven kilometres long and features beautiful sheltered bays, small rainforests, and colourful fringing reefs.

The Recovery of the Reef team will conduct their first study from 12th to 19th March, 2012 and second scuba diving team will follow on 30th August, 2012.

By: Susan Crown

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