BY NUMBERS
Diving Deep
From fringing to barrier to atoll, discover what makes Australia’s reefs such diverse ecosystems.
WORDS Anna Christensen
Not all reefs are created equal, and Australia is unusual in having all three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, which extend from the shore; atolls, circular or oval lagoons created when fringing reefs grow upward; and barrier reefs, separated from land by swathes of water.
ROWLEY SHOALS
With its crystal-clear coral lagoons, this little-known trio of reefs is like a slice of the Maldives – but off the dusty shore of the Kimberley. “The Rowley Shoals are atoll reefs, which means they’re fully surrounded by water,” explains marine biologist and coral scientist Emma Camp. “This means you often get a lot of big fish, like potato cod.” You might also see giant clams, dolphins, and whales in the aquarium-like reef. Accessible by a 12-hour chartered boat ride from Broome (Rubibi), Emma suggests it’s more of an expedition for hardcore divers and snorkellers.
When in Broome (Rubibi), make the most of epic scenery, adventures and stunning wildlife scenes with an all-inclusive Kimberley and Top End Expedition with Outback Spirit.
NINGALOO REEF
Under the azure waters of Western Australia’s north-west coast lies a maze of underwater caves, hundreds of whale sharks, and most of the world’s sea turtles. No wonder Ningaloo, a fringing reef off the coast of Exmouth, is UNESCO World Heritage-listed.
Add a guided tour swimming with whale sharks – which migrate in coral spawning season – to your bucket list. Those lucky enough to get close to the gentle giants come back insisting it’s a transcendent experience. But you can also enjoy the rest of Ningaloo’s technicolour beauty with just a snorkel and a mask. “It’s one of the world’s largest near-shore (fringing) reefs, which means it has diverse coral and marine life very close to the shore,” Emma explains. “People can get into their 4WDs, hop off onto the sandy beaches, and experience the reef right there.”
With surroundings like this, you won’t want to miss a second holed up in a hotel room. Instead, sleep on the sands in a luxury safari tent at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, which redefines glamping with all-inclusive five-star dining, an open bar, and guided wilderness activities.
GREAT BARRIER REEF
There’s a reason the Great Barrier Reef has been a must-see destination for decades. “It’s like an underwater city,” says Emma. “The possibilities of what you could see are endless – minke whales, squid, whale sharks, turtles, octopus, or charismatic creatures like the clown fish.”
Roughly the size of Italy, the reef sprawls out over two latitudes, creating diverse habitats for a dizzying array of coral and marine life to thrive. But with coral bleaching on the rise – there have been five bleaching events since 2016 with another marine heatwave incoming – we might be losing precious species we never knew we had. “We’ve got this amazing natural asset, but it’s fragile – we have to respect it and care for it,” says Emma. “I really encourage people to visit because you get that deeper connection to something that can be quite intangible and abstract.”
The Great Barrier Reef is so vast it’s visible from space, but for a more intimate view, lodge at Cruise Whitsundays’ underwater Reefsuites, where you can wake up to views of coral and marine life drifting past through floor-to-ceiling glass.
AUSTRALIA’S REEFS BY NUMBERS…
Amount of football fields that measure out the Great Barrier Reef.
Estimated number of nests turtles make along Ningaloo Reef each year.
Number of species of colourful coral in the Rowley Shoals.
Metres a Ningaloo Reef whale shark can reach – the size of a school bus.
Number of individual reefs comprising the Great Barrier Reef.
Whopping weight in kilograms of giant clams found in the Rowley Shoals.