The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most diverse and expansive ocean habitats in the world and is home to millions of different life forms. It is the largest living structure that can be seen from space consisting of 3,000 individual reefs and islands that stretches along 2,300km of the Queensland coastline. This living underwater world is one of the richest and most complex eco systems on Earth.
The Great Barrier Reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority and the Australian Government who have made an effort to promote conservation in this region. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority estimates that there are:
- 1625 species of fish
- 215 species of birds
- 6 of the 7 marine turtles are found here
- 133 species of sharks and rays
- 30 species of whales and dolphins
You could spend a lifetime here and still not see everything that the Great Barrier Reef has to offer because every encounter is unique. Research of the Great Barrier Reef is ongoing and new species of marine life are still being discovered. Be sure to have your underwater camera close by as you will never know what animals you will find at the Great Barrier Reef.
Some of the types of marine life that attract millions of visitors to the Great Barrier Reef from around the globe each and every year to feast their eyes on include:
- Corals
- Fish
- Dolphins and Whales
- Turtles, Sea Snakes and Molluscs such as Octopus
However, despite the abundance of aquatic life, the reef has become endangered by natural factors and the intervention of humans. More information on some of the greatest threats to the Great Barrier Reef can be found by clicking here.