Port Douglas - Cairns vessel transfer service
20th of December 2023
Rare whale shark encounter for semi-sub passengers
10th of August 2022
Meet our newest Master Reef Guides
4th of January 2024
Celebrating 100 years of cruising to Green Island
9th of September 2024
20 years of Giving! Christmas Charity Appeal gives a helping hand
5th of December 2024
Christmas Appeal gives a helping hand to local charities
7th of December 2023
Although the Porcupine fish is one of the cutest on the Great Barrier Reef did you know that this is also the face of a silent killer?!
Part of the Pufferfish family (Diodontidae), the Porcupine fish is able to inflate itself by swallowing water, which makes it harder to be eaten by predators. Their body is covered in poisonous spines, that when are erect, are able to emit a dose of a toxin called ‘tetrodotoxin’ which is 1200x more toxic than cyanide.
They are generally quite shy and nocturnal, hiding away in holes and crevasses within the Reef system. If you approach a Porcupine Fish, they generally retreat back into their environment. You would have to make a real effort to end up caught on one of their spines.
While these guys might have a killer smile, we do recommend not getting too close if you find yourself up close and personal with one on the Great Barrier Reef.