Welcome to our Winter issue of Quickies

Highlighting the importance of the Chinese market to our Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region, a senior delegation from the Quicksilver Group, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Crystalbrook Collection, have just returned from a successful strategic trade mission.

Visiting Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai to meet with our key travel trade partners and stakeholders, the trip was significant in reconnecting with the region’s largest pre-COVID inbound market.

“The Chinese market has been an important market for Tropical North Queensland and this trip has been a great opportunity for our senior staff to reconnect with partners and friends to discuss strategic plans for recovery,” said Adam Maroske, Quicksilver Group Sales Director.

Importantly, the trip also supported Cairns Airport and Cathay Pacific’s announcement that seasonal direct flights between Hong Kong and Cairns will resume in December over the festive and Chinese New Year periods.

"The timing of the Cathay announcement has been very well received. It has given our partners valuable lead time to plan tours and itineraries, making it easier for their customers to include our region in their travel plans.”

The trip was also a great opportunity to catch up with staff from the Tourism Events Queensland and Tourism Australia offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The high-level delegation brought together the region’s largest Great Barrier Reef tourism operator, largest rainforest tour operator, and Cairns newest accommodation portfolio, showcasing the best of the region’s natural beauty and luxury hospitality.

Joining the trip were, from the Quicksilver Group: Tony Baker, Managing Director; Adam Maroske, Group Sales Director; and Catherine Wang, Asia Sales Manager. From Skyrail: Richard Berman-Hardman General Manager; Jane Xue, Sales Manager; and from Crystalbrook: Kylie Brajak, Group Director Sales and Distribution, and Ying Yu, Sales Manager.

With renewed air links and strong engagement, we’re looking forward to welcoming more Chinese travellers back to the reef, rainforest and city experiences that made Cairns one of Australia’s top tourism destinations for the Chinese market.

In an Australian first, Pro Dive Cairns has become the first dive operator in the country to certify 190,000 PADI divers.

To mark the occasion, PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors), the world’s largest diver training organisation, presented Pro Dive Cairns with a commemorative plaque, recognising the company's outstanding contribution to global dive education and recreational scuba diving.

Commenting on the milestone, Quicksilver Group Managing Director, Tony Baker said, “We are incredibly proud of this achievement. The fact that so many people from around the world have chosen Pro Dive Cairns to learn to dive is fantastic and reflects the commitment of the management and staff over many years to provide the very best possible dive education and scuba adventures.”

PADI Asia Pacific Vice President Thomas Knedlik congratulated the Pro Dive Cairns team on their outstanding achievement. "The entire PADI team is thrilled to celebrate this remarkable milestone with Pro Dive Cairns, a globally recognised leader in diver training," 

"With 190,000 PADI certifications issued, Pro Dive Cairns joins an elite group of dive operators worldwide. While this is certainly an impressive number of certifications issued, what truly sets Pro Dive Cairns apart is their unwavering commitment to diver safety, quality education, and professionalism. Our two companies have enjoyed a strong and successful partnership for 42 years, and we look forward to continued success together," Mr Knedlik added.

Pro Dive Cairns General Manager, Arek Mszyca, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the strength of the company’s long-standing relationship with PADI. “This milestone is a reflection of our long partnership with PADI and the professionalism of our staff. Our reputation as one of the world’s leading diver training centres is built on consistently delivering safe, high-quality, and memorable diving experiences.”

Pictured:  Annie Halloran, PADI Regional Manager Australia and Arek Mszyca Pro Dive Cairns General Manager

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest diver training organisation operating in 186 countries and territories, with a global network of more than 6,600 dive centres.

Reef monitoring, coral predator control, exciting new research projects, and site stewardship planning are just some of the incredible work undertaken by Quicksilver’s dedicated Reef Biosearch marine biologists and dive teams as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRIPI).

As the third phase of the TRIPI program is wrapping up and the final report is being compiled, we can see the positive impact it’s had on our daily operations and, most importantly, on the health of the reefs we all care so deeply about.

“In addition to consistent Eye on the Reef monitoring and assessment surveys, and regular collection of monthly Reef Cloud Photopoint imagery by the Reef Biosearch team, our amazing dive team has also been incredibly busy with our coral predator control program, having removed over 10,000 Drupella snails and 200 Crown of Thorns Starfish since September last year,” said Phil Coulthard, Quicksilver Group Environment and Compliance Manager.

A key achievement stemming from this third TRIPI program has been the development of a Site Stewardship Plan (SSP) for the Agincourt Reef pontoon (platform) site.

Quicksilver has always been hands-on when it comes to site stewardship and looking after this incredible ecosystem - in fact, our own Reef Biosearch monitoring, which began back in 1986, helped lay the groundwork for what is now the Reef Authority’s Eye on the Reef program.

“The SSP solidifies this long-standing commitment, formalising it into a dynamic working document that will guide us towards an even more sustainable future across our operations.

It’s also ignited some exciting new research projects and inspiring initiatives led by our teams. This includes biodiversity indexing of the incredible variety of life thriving on our reef, aerial mapping utilising drone technology, an important turtle monitoring program, and enhanced education programs.”

Supporting of the success of the TRIPI program, the Federal Government has committed to ongoing funding with the fourth TRIPI to kick off in July. Since introduced in 2021, the TRIPI program has been a game-changer for enhancing reef conservation efforts by utilising the tourism industry to collect crucial data and support site stewardship initiatives. This information greatly enhances the Reef Authority's ability to monitor, understand, and ultimately protect the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. We are proud to be amongst just 25 high-standard tourism operators who are part of this important program, directly contributing to conservation goals.

While our Cairns based dive and snorkel catamaran Silverswift is undergoing her annual refit this year, Poseidon has temporarily relocated from Port Douglas to conduct the Silverswift service between 19 May – 30 June.

During this time the Silverswift schedule and service remains unchanged, that is, Poseidon will be taking guests for dive and snorkel adventures at three different and spectacular sites.

When Silverswift returns from refit, Poseidon will be heading back up North to Port Douglas to recommence her regular service out to the stunning Agincourt ribbon reefs on 2 July. 

It was a memorable day as Great Adventures’ Reef Spirit departed for beautiful Green Island with an experienced and almost all-female crew on board - an inspiring sight in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

At the helm of the 24-metre catamaran was Cheylsea, Great Adventures’ newest female Master who regularly captains Reef Spirit. She was joined by deck hand Courtney, coxswains and glass bottom boat drivers Ashlea and Connor, and cruise attendant May. 

While Cheylsea is a familiar face at the helm, it’s a rare occasion to see a majority female crew working together at sea - highlighting the opportunities and paving the way ahead for career pathways in the maritime industry. 

“Cheylsea has recently completed her AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) certificate of competency for ‘Master less than 45 metres Near Coastal'. This means Cheylsea can captain all reef vessels in our fleet up to 45 metres in length (148 ft),” said Brian Cave, Great Adventures General Manager Operations.

“It’s fantastic to see greater equality and more opportunities opening up in what has traditionally been a male-dominated profession.”

So next time you're heading out to the Reef, you just might be lucky to have some of our 'Reef Queens' as boat crew, not only proudly representing women in maritime but professionally delivering a great experience for guests while keeping everything shipshape on each voyage.

Pictured left to right Ashlea, Courtney, Cheylsea, Connor and May.

School has never been so much fun, and why wouldn’t it be when your classroom is on the beautiful Low Isles!

The Low Isles Living Classroom launched recently with resounding “thumbs up” from grade 3 and 4 students and teachers from Port Douglas and Mossman State Schools, who were amongst the first groups to participate.

The Low Isles Living Classroom is run by Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch marine biologists, who are putting the fun into curriculum based environmental education. With activities like snorkelling, an island walk and heritage trail to the historic lighthouse, these students learned about food webs, life cycles of the reef and living and non-living things in the environment.

Special thanks go to island caretakers Renata and Col for their passion in engaging school participation, and to the Low Isles Preservation Society (LIPS) for their support in contributing funding for this unique educational adventure.

The Low Isles Living Classroom has stemmed from the success of Great Adventures Green Island Living Classroom which was a first for our region in providing accessible curriculum based education experiences on the Great Barrier Reef, suitable for students of all ages.

Low Isles is just one hour’s sail from Port Douglas aboard Quicksilver’s 30 metre sailing cat, Wavedancer – all part of the adventure for a day out of the traditional classroom.

The Green Island Living Classroom is 45 minutes from Cairns with Great Adventures and provides a dedicated classroom facility, access to tour Green Island Resort’s ‘back of house’ environmental management systems, a coral research project, in addition to all the wonderful activities to participate in during a day on a beautiful Great Barrier Reef island.

Education funding programs..

Queensland schools can benefit from the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program, with the State Government providing subsidies for eligible school excursions undertaken by 31 December 2025. The recently announced Federal Government Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF) will provide a welcome boost to education and awareness about the Great Barrier Reef for schools and international visitors.

Charli, Rocket, Tripod, T-Bone and Little Foot are some of the names of many green sea turtles that call home to the waters surrounding Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef platform (AG3).

Researcher and part of Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch team of marine biologists, Heather Platt, has been conducting research into the turtle population here since February and through photo identification has to date identified 29 green sea turtles.

The study into the population is highlighting the AG3 area’s ecological importance (approximately 17,500sqm) for feeding, residence and transit of the species. 

“All of our documented green turtles are immature, so our AG3 site must be a great place for them to spend their juvenile years. The first photographic record we have of Charli dates back to October 2023, and as this study continues, it will be interesting to learn how long these residents typically hang around before finally venturing off,” said Heather.

Turtles have their own unique patterns of facial scales that remain stable throughout life and each individual has been photo identified during in-water surveys while snorkelling.

“Because they lack facial symmetry, video is also taken to ensure accurate identification of left and right sides. While some turtles have received nicknames, all individuals are assigned alphanumeric designations, and the sightings are recorded in a database.“

“Our data is being shared with Sea Turtle Observatory research collecting data from all along the Queensland coast, so it's possible that one of our turtles will one day be recognised at one of the many Great Barrier Reef breeding sites.”

The turtle research is being conducted as part of the Quicksilver’s site stewardship of this premier reef location. In collaboration with the Reef Authority, site stewardship plans identify the incredible marine biodiversity and overall health of our primary reef sites. In an earlier and ongoing study, over 110 different species of corals have been found at Quicksilver’s Agincourt Reef platform.

With six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles found on the Great Barrier Reef, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the most abundant. Primarily feeding on seagrass and algae, they are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem.

Generally, green sea turtles reach maturity between 30-50 years of age. An adult green turtle will have a straight carapace (shell) length of 65-90 cm. The green turtles identified at the Agincourt 3 platform site mostly range between 45-55 cm. 

With the Winter chill setting in down south, whales have certainly got the right idea heading north to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef for their annual vacation. No wonder they are considered highly intelligent creatures!

Just like clockwork, humpback whales migrate from Antarctic waters along the east coast of Australia every winter and we generally see them at the Great Barrier Reef between June to September. It’s always a special experience for customers lucky enough to spot them during our reef trips.

Apart from being one of the most special places on our planet, why do they migrate here? The warmer waters are the perfect environment to mate and give birth. As they travel up the coast, the whales begin to form small groups or mating pairs.

Cue the romantic music… Male humpbacks produce “songs”, which are believed to attract females at mating times (although there have been records of songs in summer, the non breeding season). The songs comprise a magical mix of clicks, moans and eerie wails. These songs can have distinct patterns, and can last for over 20 minutes, with the whale only pausing to take a breath. The same song will often be repeated for hours on end.

The gestation period for humpbacks is approximately 11-12 months so by the time next winter comes around, the result of this year’s holiday romance will be ready to be born - birth certificate stamped The Great Barrier Reef!

A 6000 year old coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef would have to be one the most unique and beautiful locations in the world to exchange wedding vows.

Perfect for small and intimate weddings, the team at Green Island Resort have some wonderful options for saying I do in paradise! With Green Island’s beautiful beach and rainforest locations for picturesque ceremonies, there are also indoor or undercover options, and amazing reception and sumptuous wedding feast options.

Check out Weddings on Green Island for more information.

Green Island Resort has achieved another environmental accolade - the ecoBiz Star Partner rating as a comprehensive endorsement of the Resort’s strong environmental performance and commitment to sustainability.

The 3-Star Partner rating was awarded in recognition of ongoing efforts in managing 1) energy, 2) waste and 3) water consumption, all while contributing positively to the health of the environment and surrounding Great Barrier Reef.

Business Chamber Queensland’s ecoBiz Star Partnership is based on a demonstrated decrease in resource intensity. A Star Partner must show a 10% decrease in their resource intensity for at least one of the following three categories: Energy, Water or Waste. Green Island Resort demonstrated outstanding reduction in resource intensity of Energy by 36%, Water by 14% and Waste by 35%.

Helping to facilitate these achievements, Green Island Resort’s ‘back-of-house’ facilities include integrated energy-efficient technologies utilising solar power and new generation generators, innovative waste management practices such as a food digester turning food waste into organic fertiliser, a tertiary sewage treatment, and a desalination plant.

When you live in a truly special part of the world, it’s only natural to want to care for it. That’s exactly what a dedicated group of Green Island Resort staff did recently, taking it upon themselves to organise a voluntary beach clean-up to help protect their island home.

Led by Facundo and Juan, and joined by teammates Maria, Silvina and Kayla, the group collected six kilograms of marine debris that found its way to the island’s shores. Among the rubbish were plastic items, bottles, fishing hooks and more. The team carefully sorted recyclables and waste to ensure proper disposal and transport back to the mainland.

It’s inspiring to see our team members taking the initiative in their own time to protect the environment we all love.

“Every piece of debris and litter removed – whether by staff or during one of our Clean and Green Eco Walks led by the marine biologists – not only helps protect marine life from potential harm but also contributes valuable data to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative,” said Phil Coulthard, Environment and Compliance Manager for the Quicksilver Group.

We know the Great Barrier Reef is the most incredible natural wonder - the world’s largest living entity and home to some of the greatest biodiversity on our planet.

Described by UNESCO as “a globally outstanding and significant entity”, the Great Barrier Reef has become the first non-human recipient to be nominated for the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP)  ‘Champions of the Earth’ Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Councils have collaborated with the communities of the Great Barrier Reef including Traditional Owners, marine biologists, the tourism industry and Reef Guardian Schools to support the nomination.

You can join us in voting to support the nomination here

It was a pleasure to welcome aboard Channel Seven's Sunrise crew for a weather cross on Reef King, Great Adventures skipper Nick, along with our lovable mascot Wally the Maori Wrasse, showed host Georgia the ropes on some of the great ways to experience the incredible underwater world of the Reef.

A visit to Green Island proved to be lucky for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the lead up to the Federal election. He's pictured here with our Environment and Compliance Manager, Phil Coulthard and Cairns Reef Biosearch Manager, Bekki Hull.

Bekki Hull is one of the marine biologists you just might meet on a day out with Great Adventures. As the Cairns Reef Biosearch Manager, Bekki is also a Master Reef Guide and shares her passion for what she does with this short QTIC (Queensland Tourism Industry Council) careers in tourism video.

We’re pleased to introduce Sabrina Kohli as our new Local Sales Executive, supporting tour desks across Cairns, the Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. Originally from the UK, Sabrina has travelled Australia’s East Coast and while working in tourism sales, developed a strong appreciation for our range of reef products. Recently relocating to Cairns to enjoy the tropical lifestyle, Sabrina is thrilled to officially join the Quicksilver team. She’s especially excited about the opportunity to regularly visit the Reef, discover the underwater world and marine life, and even try her hand at scuba diving.

Beyond the Reef, Sabrina is looking forward to exploring the natural beauty of the region - from ancient rainforests to hidden waterfalls, uncovering the many gems that make our region so special.

Sabrina can be contacted here