• A well preserved remote coastal island
  • stingrays observe us disguized by the sandy bottom
  • This shearwater chick is not quite ready to take its first flight
  • Inquisitive maori wrasse
  • Preparing mudcat for a tropical storm
  • Whitsundays Whithaven Bay

Last year's project does not look like work! It consisted of exploring 1500 km of remote Great Barrier Reef waters a 10 m catamaran called “Mudcat”. The boat, a Wharram Pahi 31', was named after a small fish, which buries itself into mangrove mud as it is perfect to snick in mangroves! Such a small boat has enabled us to reach wild locations away from the main cruising routes. As a marine biologist, it was great to have the freedom to do natural history observations and diving without having the pressure of collecting data to complete a research project. I have previously been working on the Great Barrier Reef as a science diver for three years, looking at the impact of nutrient runoff in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon macroalgae and invertebrates. And as any boat, the Mudcat has been a project in itself and has now found a new owner.