DIVE LOG DECEMBER 25 ISSUE 415

A female Orange Anemone fish, Amphiprion peraderiaon. perching on a giant anemone .

another century untill all of the higher Order creatures repopulate the Lagoon and divers can see dozens of species of fish, sharks and corals typical of a healthy mature reef. One telling contrast is that the southern Great Barrier Reef has rich abundant, populations of marine life. You can identify a a dozen Butterfly fish on a single dive or twenty Damsel fish or ten good sized Serranids. (Cod and Groper) There are so many turtles, rays, sharks and fish safely residing in the reefs surrounding Heron and many of the islands in the Capricorn Bunker reefs. The reefs remain a totally wild ecosystem that is brim full of life and activity. At

the same time, their marine inhabitants get to see divers regularly and are not so skittish. The corals are healthy and the sheer variety of fish and invertebrates make excellent diving and snorkelling. As they say, “It’s the way the world should be!” The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is doing a really great job with more than 33% of the entire GBR a dedicated Green Zone and a few per cent set aside for research. Meanwhile much of the the rest of the world has NO marine sanctuaries or protection. A few shining lights such as Tubbataha, Komodo and Wakatobi stand out as bright shining beacons

Golden Trumpet fish is a deadly predator on the reef.

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DIVE LOG Australasia #415 - December’ 25

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