411 Dive Log Australasia April 2025

Juvenile Barramundi Cod

Rainford’s Butterflyfish

and fungal pathogen epidemics occurs partly because the ecosystem is so unbalanced that diseases can take hold and overcome the reef organisms’ natural ability to maintain their health. Sounds like a great topic for a research project! On our next dive, we saw Wire Netting Cod and good sized Coral Trout. My Butterfly fish count was in the teens. The sheer bio-diversity of Chaetodons and Angelfish is reassuring that these reefs are in good health. Plentiful schools of herbivorous surgeon fish and Parrotfish trim the algal growth so that the corals are not smothered by seaweed. Nearly all of the reefs here are pristine, just the way they should be. It is disheartening to dive on reefs in the Blue zones where humans can predate with fishing that are desolate and devoid of marine life. There is nothing to see. Sadly, this sight is common across the entire Pacific. It is how the Mediterranean Sea is; an empty sea overfished to oblivion. The Nothing!

On a very positive note, the management plan of the Great Barrier Reef is working brilliantly. GRMPA is a world leader in management and conservation of coral reefs. In fact, most countries that I have visited and dived in have almost nothing in the way of protection for the reefs. The sea is a free for all where humans take, take and take, giving nothing back. Stories of dynamite fishing, cyanide poisoning and jackhammering the reefs with crowbars are well known. No wonder the reefs are destroyed. The world is slowly beginning to seeing the light and eco-warriors in places like Komodo and Tubbathaha have fought to restore these reefs. Nowadays they are world famous tourist drawcards for divers. Komodo stands out like Indonesia’s jewel in the sea with fabulous diving and marine life. Reef protection will have dramatic benefits in the near future. The Great Barrier Reef will resume its place as the number one dive destination in the world. Far too

White Mouth Morays Gymnothorax meleagris are quite aggressive

Dive Log Australasia #411 April 25 36

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