Reef Life Survey divers have been regularly collecting biodiversity data at the World Heritage Listed Lord Howe Island Group for over a decade, and have recently returned from a massive survey effort in a continuation of this ongoing monitoring. Completing 82 surveys across 32 longstanding monitoring sites, the data collected enable RLS to report on the condition of Lord Howe's shallow reefs, as well as ongoing and emerging trends through time.
Meeting on turrakana, the Tasman Peninsula, RLS Cofounder Rick Stuart-Smith was joined by interstate RLS Trainer Meryl Larkin, and long-time local RLS diver and collaborator Scott Ling who together would guide a group of new trainees through their RLS accreditation over a four-day temperate surveying extravaganza. Met with playful seals, stunning cryptics, shimmering schools, and even a sevengill shark, the training session went off without a hitch, and RLS Tasmania now welcomes seven new members to the crew.
RLS South Australia returned to the Encounter Marine Park to complete annual monitoring surveys and train some brand new volunteer divers in February, 2024. Completing 32 transects in total, all while training seven new divers, the survey effort was both massive and rewarding! The team recorded 112 different species of fish and invertebrate, including some creepy cryptics and Great Southern Reef icons.
Sailing 640nm in two and a half weeks, the crew aboard Melita set out from Exmouth to explore the reefs of Ningaloo Marine Park and beyond. The team finally said goodbye to the tropics, as Melita descended along the WA coast toward the temperate reefs of the higher latitudes.
On this leg of Melita’s lap of Australia, the crew would sail from Marapikurrinya/ Port Hedland to the magnificent Montebello Islands, before coming back into port in Exmouth. It was a celebration of charismatic megafauna, as the team were met by humpback whales, mating sea turtles, dugongs and curious sea snakes. Travelling over 350nm in total and completing over 30 surveys along the way, this was another epic leg in Melita's journey around the continent.
