A large population of juvenile green sea turtles is thriving at Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef (AG3) platform, with ongoing research revealing the site is an important habitat for young turtles. For a little chill time, check out the video of some of the cool resident turtles to be found at Quicksilver's Great Barrier Reef activity platform. Marine biologist Heather Platt, Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch Manager, said they have been conducting research into the resident turtle population for over 12 months using photo identification techniques. 38 individual immature green turtles have now been identified with over 390 sightings recorded through a combination of targeted surveys and citizen science contributions. The findings highlight the ecological importance of the AG3 area for feeding, residence and transit of juvenile turtles. “All of our documented turtles are immature, which tells us Agincourt Reef provides an ideal environment for their juvenile years,” said Ms Platt.“ As the study continues, we’re hoping to better understand how long these turtles remain here before moving on to other parts of the reef.” Among the growing catalogue of turtles, Jasper has emerged as the most frequently sighted individual, followed by Little Foot. Others, like T-Bone, appear to be more transient - disappearing from the survey area for months at a time before returning to the platform. Long-term monitoring has also provided insights into a young turtle’s healing journey. “The ‘OG’ of our turtle survey, Charli, (first identified in 2023) appears to be doing very well after being sighted with a significant carapace injury in July 2024. We’ve been able to document his/her healing journey throughout the months that followed. Sighted in recent weeks, you'd almost never know the injury had occurred.” Guests spending the day with Quicksilver are encouraged to submit their turtle photos to assist the Reef Biosearch team in monitoring the population. Each turtle is identified by their unique pattern of facial scales, which remain consistent throughout their lifetime. During in-water snorkel surveys, both images and video are captured to accurately distinguish individuals, assigning each turtle an alphanumeric ID alongside any nicknames. The data collected in the turtle survey is contributing to broader conservation efforts, with records shared with the Sea Turtle Observatory to support population tracking along the Queensland coast. This collaboration increases the likelihood of identifying these turtles again at future feeding or breeding sites across the Great Barrier Reef. The research forms part of Quicksilver’s ongoing site stewardship which focuses on monitoring reef health and protecting the rich marine biodiversity of this globally significant ecosystem.

During a recent drone aerial survey, it was a rare opportunity to capture beautiful vision of Michaelmas Cay and the stunning surrounding reef that Ocean Spirit visits each day. With special permission from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the aerial survey work will form part of a comprehensive Site Stewardship Plan. Together with ongoing site-specific research, monitoring programs, and innovative initiatives like this aerial work, these efforts not only strengthen the resilience of our reef sites but also provide valuable insights to the Reef Authority for informed management strategies across the Marine Park. Vision by Pang Tse, Indepth Video and Photography.

Capturing the amazing and mesmerising natural phenomenon of coral spawning. Right on cue with the sun setting, water temperature and lunar conditions just right, Agincourt Reef set about creating new generations of corals for our reefs. This year is extra special as we’re expecting not one, but two mass coral spawning events on the Great Barrier Reef, with the second expected in mid December, providing an extra boost and resilience for our magnificent reefs. Thanks to Jesse Oberholzer, Indepth Video & Photography, for capturing this spectacular underwater symphony of coral spawning and night life at Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef pontoon. What is Coral Spawning? While corals have a year-round form of asexual reproduction where coral polyps can divide to become two separate but identical coral polyps, spawning takes place externally with mass fertilisation release into the ocean. You might hear it referred to as Sex on the Reef, or even an upsidedown snow storm! Coral spawning is an annual mass reproductive event where corals release egg and sperm bundles into the ocean for external fertilisation. This phenomenon was first witnessed on the GBR by marine biologists in 1982. It is vital to the Reef’s continual adaptation and long term survival. It usually occurs 2-6 days after the full moon in November or December. For spawning to occur, a variety of factors come in to play. We know the moon cycle and specific water temperatures (greater than 26 degrees celcius) play a role, but also tides, salinity levels and day length can also affect the timing. Spawning usually happens 2 - 3 hours after sunset, which scientists believe is timed to ensure most of the plankton feeders are asleep, creating a greater chance of pollination.

Just 27 km across the Coral Sea from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, Green Island Resort is a beautiful boutique eco resort in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. With just 46 suites harmoniously nestled amongst magical rainforest and secluded from day visitor facilities, indulgence, romance and adventure awaits on this tropical island paradise

Join us as Dr Glen Burns, senior marine biologist and Master Reef Guide takes us for a snorkel at Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef pontoon site. Dr Glen has worked on the Great Barrier Reef for about 40 years and people sometimes ask him, "So, how is the Reef looking these days?” As he explains, Agincourt Reef is looking awesome! Located right on the edge of Australia’s Continental Shelf, one of the reasons is very good water quality here. The water quality is excellent which promotes rich coral cover and the best fish diversity. Let’s dive in with Dr Glen! Filmed 28 August 2025 at Agincourt Reef 3. Vision thanks to Indepth Video & Photography.

Poseidon offers an exciting, boutique adventure, perfect for small groups of experienced divers and confident snorkellers with access to exclusive remote reef sites, expert marine interpretation and citizen science. Travelling in comfort on the 24 metre Poseidon from Port Douglas, you’ll visit 3 different sites at the stunning Agincourt ribbon reefs and/or Escape Reef. With clear outer reef waters, beautiful coral formations and incredible marine life diversity, explore spectacular drop-offs and coral pinnacles in this pristine marine wilderness.

To celebrate World Oceans Day (8 June) and the global Coralpalooza™ event, the Reef Biosearch team from Great Adventures spent the day underwater gardening! They outplanted hundreds of coral fragments recruited from the coral nursery at our Moore Reef platform. Coralpalooza™ is the biggest international day of collaborative action for coral reefs and building resilience to climate change. This is the second year Australian operators have participated in the event, partnered by The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Coral Nurture Program with the aim to assist recovery and research at high-value reef locations.

Caring for the reefs we love! As part of GBRMPA's Tourism Reef Protection Initiative, the Quicksilver Group's team of experienced Reef Biosearch marine biologists and dive teams have been busy providing important reef protection and conservation services. Our efforts have been concentrated on our extensive network of reef sites spanning from the Agincourt Reefs north of Port Douglas to Moore Reef east of Cairns Thanks to these activities and being long term proactive reef stewards, we’re proud to be helping pave the way for a sustainable future alongside a thriving Great Barrier Reef. The Tourism Reef Protection Initiative is funded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as part of the Australian Government’s Reef Protection package.

The Great Barrier Reef is an amazing place to work; we love the reef and we absolutely love what we do. Over the past 6 months the stewardship teams across the Quicksilver Group have been diving deep in to into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Tourism Reef Protection Initiative, doing important monitoring and conservation work. From high frequency reef health surveys and monitoring, to crown-of-thorns starfish and drupella control, and more; the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative allows us to play an increased role in the management and preserving this wonderful place we call home. This video highlights the first phase, with the program ongoing until June 2024. The Tourism Reef Protection Initiative is funded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as part of the Australian Government's Reef Protection Package. © Commonwealth of Australia (GBRMPA)

A team of Great Adventures Reef Biosearch marine biologists joined the global Coralpalooza™ event celebrating World Oceans Day by outplanting hundreds of coral fragments at a Green Island dive site. Coralpalooza™ is the biggest international day of collaborative action for coral reefs and building resilience to climate change. For the first time, Australia has participated in the event, partnered by The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Coral Nurture Program with the aim to assist recovery and research at high-value reef locations. Over 45 divers from tourism operators on the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Port Douglas and the Whitsundays participated to plant more than 6,700 coral fragments on the day. Phil Coulthard Great Adventures Reef Biosearch Manager said, “It was a very satisfying day to take part in something so important with a global impact. As Coral Nurture Program partners, we planted around 330 coral fragments at our Green Island “New York” dive site. “On a healthy reef, it’s normal to have some broken coral so these “fragments of opportunity” were first collected and then attached to coral colonies using an innovative CoralClip® that allows them to be planted quickly and with good survival rates.” This work is part of CNP’s aim to plant more than 100,000 corals by 2024 and work with local Reef communities to develop the tools to help coral reefs adapt to climate change. Long-term monitoring is critical to the success and researchers will continue to monitor the sites to better understand the impact coral planting has on reefs and their marine life. This will help determine where and how to target efforts to assist recovery at high-value reef locations in the future.

Welcome to the idyllic Low Isles! Travelling aboard Quicksilver's beautiful sailing catamaran Wavedancer, it's about one hour from Port Douglas. It's the perfect day for young families or if you just fancy a relaxing day on a gorgeous Great Barrier Reef island. Snorkel with a turtle, explore the island with our marine biologists, view the corals through a glass bottom boat, laze on the beach under an umbrella, or on the decks of Wavedancer.

The Wunyami Cultural Walking Tour is a real gem of an experience on Green Island. Wunyami, Green Island's traditional name, means "Place of Spirits". Indigenous guides have special permission from their elders to share stories of the GuruGulu Gungganji and Gimuy Yidinji people. The tour takes around one hour and you'll come away with an understanding and new appreciation of the island's traditional history and cultural significance.

In July 2018, Quicksilver embarked on an Australian-first collaborative reef research and restoration project with scientists from Reef Ecologic to restore a cyclone impacted coral bommie. Four years later, the results speak for themselves. “This project has been highly successful with significant increase in coral coverage and survival of relocated colonies. Important knowledge has also been gained in reef resilience and coral nurturing techniques,” said Quicksilver Group Environment and Compliance Manager, Doug Baird. Located at Quicksilver’s Agincourt 3 platform, the small coral bommie under restoration was impacted by cyclonic waves several years prior and with an unstable substrate, natural recovery was impeded. With GBRMPA approval, the project entailed the installation of six steel mesh panels of 1.5 x 3 metres size to grow coral ‘recruits’ of which three were initially connected to a power source. This was the first time this type of project had been conducted in Australia on the Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Minke Encounter Liveaboard 2022 - Pro Dive Cairns Music: Blosson

Great Adventures cruises to beautiful Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef, just 45 minutes from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. Of the 300 coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island is the only one with a rainforest! It's home to over 120 species of native plants, colourful birdlife, surrounded by coral gardens and marine life. With seagrass beds, it's also home to a large sea turtle habitat.

A very lucky group of school students and visitors to Green Island with Great Adventures were treated to an extra special experience, witnessing the release of a hawksbill turtle, aptly named Billy, back into the wilds of the Great Barrier Reef. Estimated to be around 20 years of age, Billy had been found at Airlie Beach having swallowed a fish line and hook, and transported to Cairns for care by the team at Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC). Jennie Gilbert, co-founder of the CTRC said Billy is the first turtle in their care to have undergone open oesophageal surgery to remove the hook. After the successful surgery and recovery, Billy spent several months “fattening up” and recuperating at the CTRC facility at the Cairns Aquarium. Prior to release, Billy was fitted with a satellite tracker which will aid research and insight into the lives of these graceful marine creatures. His movements will be able to be tracked on the Citizens Great Barrier Reef “Reef Tracker” site. https://citizensgbr.org/explore/reef-tracks Watching the open water release from a glass bottom boat, it was a wonderful sight for visitors to see Billy dive into the clear blue waters of Green Island. With abundant seagrass beds and coral reefs, it’s a turtle paradise! We are inspired by the dedicated team at the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre and wonderful work they do in caring for sick and injured turtles, with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild where they belong in a healthy reef environment.

Experience a day at the wonderful Agincourt Reef with Quicksilver, Australia's most awarded Great Barrier reef cruise company.

When you live and work in one of the most remarkable natural environments on the planet, it’s only natural to protect it! The Quicksilver Group has been involved in a major conservation and reef stewardship initiative made possible by funding through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority as part of the Australian Government’s COVID Recovery and Relief Fund.

Diving the underwater kingdom of Agincourt Reef Filmed by Jesse Oberholzer, Indepth Video and Photography

On 4th November 2020, we were lucky enough to be able to host Today Show weatherman, Tim Davies at Green Island Resort. The weather was perfect as we spent the morning showcasing all that Green Island has to offer!