Coral Futures Expedition with Australian Geographic

“This one-of-a-kind expedition combines adventure, citizen science and a shared mission to safeguard the future of our planet’s most vibrant marine ecosystem. Together we can make an impact and shape a brighter future for our oceans.”

Chrissie Goldrick | Chair, Australian Geographic Society

About the Expedition

Sail with us aboard Coral Discoverer on a special seven-day voyage into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. In partnership with Australian Geographic, this expedition blends adventure with purpose—giving you the chance to take part in vital reef monitoring and conservation projects that directly contribute to the protection of this extraordinary marine ecosystem. Between hands-on Citizen Science activities like coral surveying, enjoy time to snorkel vibrant reefs, explore remote sand cays, or sip champagne on the sundeck as the sun sets over this UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonder. Your journey supports the Forever Reef Project and other vital conservation initiatives through Australian Geographic. Along the way, visit breathtaking locations like Orpheus Island, Moore Reef, Lizard Island, and the Ribbon Reefs, where every moment brings a deeper connection to the reef and its future.

Highlights

> Learn about the Coral Restoration Program and how corals are planted and rejuvenated across The Great Barrier Reef

> Swim, snorkel and dive among the iconic marine species of the Great Barrier Reef

> Participate in scientific and conservation efforts to monitor and research marine biodiversity through programs including Eye on the Reef, GBRMPA Sightings Network, Coral Watch and Mangrove Watch

> Join our Expert Guides, and uncover the vital role of the Mangrove Ecosystem and what makes the Hinchinbrook area uniquely significant in Australia.

> Join our Marine Scientists as you participate in hands-on scientific surveys and help process coral specimens for Forever Reef’s coral ark, preserving coral diversity for generations to come.

> Follow in the footsteps of James Cook with a hike to the summit of Lizard Island. Snorkel over the vibrant giant clam gardens just steps from the sandy white shores of Watson’s Bay. Along the beaches, green and loggerhead turtles nest during the summer and can often be spotted in the shallow waters close to shore.

> Join bathymetrist Dr Robin Beaman to see and learn about the sea floor beneath the reef.

> Sip sundowners and feel the sand beneath your feet on isolated sand cays and uninhabited islands

> Tour the coral biobank facility in Port Douglas, the world’s first ‘living library’ of coral, where efforts are
underway to ensure these fragile organisms survive into the future.

> See the annual coral spawning and learn the science behind this natural event that coincides with the full-moon.

> Enjoy solitude and ten magical Queensland sunsets

Expert Hosts

Dr Dean Miller is a scientist, conservationist, and multimedia professional with a Ph.D. in coral reef management, tourism and resource allocation and a wealth of scientific experience in the field from Antarctica to the Arctic and everywhere in between. He has been involved in over 300 ocean expeditions on ships all over the globe, but the Great Barrier Reef has been his main focus for the past 25 years. Dean is the Managing Director and co-founder of the Great Barrier Reef Legacy, a non-profit organisation in Far North Queensland. Their flagship program, the Forever Reef Project, that Dean also created and is the project leader of, is collecting all species of Great Barrier Reef hard corals and keeping them alive in state of the art holding facilities for their ultimate conservation, and to make live corals, tissue samples and genetic material available for reef research and restoration efforts. This ‘coral ark’ is currently holding 179 species of coral, and aims to collect all 415 by 2026. This is Australia’s only living coral biobank, and the planet’s most biodiverse collection, making this one of the largest conservation efforts for coral reefs worldwide.

Dr Robin Beaman is a marine geologist and ocean mapping scientist based at James Cook University in Cairns, leading efforts to reveal Australia’s vast underwater landscape. Ocean mapping improves our understanding of the geological origins and nature of the seafloor, the distribution of marine life, and contributes to managing Australia’s marine jurisdiction. Robin has 30 years’ experience in marine geology research and mapping expeditions involving various academic institutes, government, industry, and philanthropy organisations. Research topics include the study of drowned (submerged) reefs and mesophotic (twilight) coral ecosystems, submarine canyons and turbidite sediment gravity flows, underwater landslides and debris fields, and the deep-water marine life that inhabits these large-scale geological features. Robin’s passionate interest is to develop the most comprehensive and accurate 3D depth models for the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, and to share with the public how we map and explore the ocean and to share these new discoveries.