Lady Elliot Island
Transfer to Coral Discoverer for an 8:30am embarkation, followed by the program orientation. Your expedition team will introduce the voyage’s citizen science activities and distribute the required equipment.
After lunch, arrive at Lady Elliot Island with time to explore its remarkable reef environment and discover the monitoring projects that will shape the days ahead.
Lady Elliot Island
Today, go behind the scenes of Project Manta and meet the researchers at the forefront of manta ray research and conservation. Gain insight into manta behaviours and identification strategies which will be put into practice later today.
After lunch, snorkel and dive the biodiverse waters surrounding Lady Elliot, including the renowned manta cleaning stations. This will be the first opportunity to deploy monitoring tools and refine your techniques in the field.
Wistari Reef
Set within the remote Capricorn Bunker Group, Wistari Reef offers a more adventurous and immersive reef experience. Located offshore from the Gladstone region, this reef is known for its expansive coral bommies & thriving hard coral species.
Guests enter the water directly from the vessel, creating a more dynamic, open-water snorkeling experience best suited to confident swimmers. With a focus here on maximizing time in the water, the experience is all about exploration and discovery. For those wanting to go further, optional scuba diving offers the opportunity to experience Wistari Reef from an even deeper perspective.
Cumberland Island Group
Today, arrive at the Cumberland Island Group, located off the coast of Mackay. Your onboard team will choose the location of the day's activities according to local weather and tide conditions from a selection of islands including Scawfell and Brampton.
These volcanic islands have a remarkable range of flora and fauna, where reefs and seagrass meadows meet eucalypt woodland and lush rainforest. Here guests can enjoy kayaking sheltered waters, snorkel off a secluded beach and enjoy gentle guided beachcombs and walks documenting any unique wildlife and marine mammals you may encounter. Weather permitting, enjoy a glass bottom boat tour from the surface.
Langford Island & The Northern Whitsundays
Visit Langford Island, where the castaway-style setting provides calm waters, creating ideal conditions for snorkeling Black Island Reef, Blue Pearl Bay and Langford-Bird Reef (pending conditions on the day). Participate in coral monitoring initiatives with Eye on the Reef to support coral health through surveys. Langford Island is also home to the rare Whitsunday Bottle Tree which you will spend some time identifying and surveying.
For those seeking land-based activities, sign-up for a moderate 1.5km hike up to Langford Island Lookout for stunning views accoss the Whitsundays.
Magnetic Island
Known traditionally as Yunbenun, Magnetic Island lies within the land and sea Country of the Wulgurukaba People, whose name means “canoe people”. During this exclusive visit, developed with Canoe Projects Inc, Wulgurukaba Elders and local conservation groups, guests will take part in a meaningful Welcome to Country and hands-on citizen science. Activities will focus on protecting the surrounding reef, reducing human impacts and supporting the island’s fragile marine environment.
John Brewer Reef
Located offshore from Magnetic Island, John Brewer Reef opens into the central Great Barrier Reef, offering a more exposed, open-ocean setting. Here, visit the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) via snorkel or dive. Experience a unique underwater gallery where sculptures are designed to evolve into living reef. Later today join your onboard experts to discuss and analyse results obtained during the Eye on the Reef and Coral Watch monitoring programs.
Yamacutta Reef
Yamacutta Reef is a remote outer-shelf reef system where steady currents support a unique diversity when compared to inshore locations; creating ideal conditions for continued monitoring programs. On previous visits, guests identified a new manta ray individual in the area. You may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of 'Discoveray' during snorkels and dives. Due to the exposed location, glass bottom boat tours are subject to conditions.
Dunk Island
Just offshore from Mission Beach, Dunk Island is part of the traditional Country of the Bandjin and Djiru peoples. Fringed by seagrass meadows that support sea turtles and dugongs, the island rises into lush, national park-protected rainforest. Spend time swimming in calm tropical waters, walking shaded forest trails or relaxing along quiet beaches. With refreshments served ashore, this is an easygoing day shaped by nature, stillness and the beauty of the Cassowary Coast.
Port Douglas
Today hang up your snorkels and flippers and head ashore to visit the Forever Reef Project, the world's first living coral biobank. Established by Dr Dean Miller and Great Barrier Reef Legacy, the project is dedicated to preserving the biodiversity of Great Barrier Reef corals and safeguarding them for future research, restoration and conservation. Discover the science behind coral biobanking and view remarkable coral specimens collected from across the Great Barrier Reef, including corals gathered during previous Coral Expeditions voyages. Later today wrap up your findings and observations on the monitoring programs and discuss impacts, challenges and where your data will be deployed to.
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