Meet our aquatic friends

As the ultimate nursery playground for humpback whales, mothers use the waters of the Great Barrier Reef to teach their calves essential survival skills on their way back down the Queensland Coast. Dwarf minke whales also frolic off the shores of Tropical North Queensland, and you can join an expedition to swim with these rare creatures. 

With a wingspan of up to seven metres, manta rays can be found cruising through the Great Barrier Reef, particularly around Lady Elliot Island during the cooler months. You can also meet clownfish, Maori wrasse, potato cod and giant clams as you explore our underwater reef playground from Bundaberg all the way up the Queensland coastline to Cape York.

Home to six of the world’s seven turtle species, there are ample opportunities to get up close to these beautiful creatures. Swim with turtles off the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, or see their tiny flipper prints in the sand of Mon Repos as turtle hatchlings make their way to the ocean to begin their life’s journey. 

Sharks are the eighth marine species to tick off your Great Barrier Reef bucket list and are usually spotted cruising the warmer waters alone. Whitetip, blacktip and grey reef sharks are among the most common to be seen in the Great Barrier Reef.