Reef Biosearch celebrating 40 years!

28th of July 2026

Quicksilver Group is celebrating 40 years of Reef Biosearch, its pioneering environmental division that has spent four decades helping shape reef education, monitoring and conservation on the Great Barrier Reef.

From paving the way for the Reef Authority’s Eye on the Reef monitoring program, piloting Ecotourism Australia’s accreditation program to leading collaborative research and stewardship initiatives, it’s been a remarkable four decades.

Founded in an era before ecotourism and interpretation were widely embraced, Reef Biosearch was established in 1986, recognising the need to provide educational opportunities for visitors.

“Quicksilver has a long history of involvement in education and site stewardship on the Great Barrier Reef. Our efforts to educate our guests, conduct research and conservation programs, and monitor the reef’s health have been extensive for many years and reinforces how tourism operators can play a key role in the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef,” said Quicksilver Group Managing Director, Tony Baker.

In the early days, marine biologists provided educational slideshows for passengers and shared their knowledge of the reef. Today, with a team of more than 20 marine biologists and master reef guides, Reef Biosearch continues to combine education, interpretation, conservation and research activities across the Quicksilver Group’s diverse reef experiences.

“Along the way, Reef Biosearch has maintained the longest continuous record of marine observations on the Great Barrier Reef now spanning 40 years and providing valuable long-term data on reef health and environmental change.

“We’re very proud that this pioneering initiative helped pave the way for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) Eye on the Reef program, now recognised internationally as a leading reef monitoring initiative and citizen science program.”

Reef Biosearch Marine Biologist Dr Glen Burns (pictured) has spent more than four decades working on the Great Barrier Reef. He first came to Far North Queensland as a research scientist in 1984 before joining Quicksilver’s Reef Biosearch team in 1989.

“I've worked on the Reef for more than 40 years and, over that time, I've witnessed some extraordinary changes, but not all of them have been bad!,” said Dr Burns.

“I’ve seen severe cyclones come through and pulverise reefs, and then I’ve watched them recover. I’ve watched population explosions of Crown of Thorns Starfish decimate areas of the reef, and then I’ve watched the coral grow back. I’ve seen coral bleaching events, like those in 2016 and 2017, that destroyed significant coral cover and then I watched the reef grow back!”

 “One of the things that amazes me about coral reefs is their natural resilience, and their ability to bounce back from these impacts time and time again. It’s witnessing that resilience and the reef’s ability to regenerate that gives me hope for its future,” said Dr Burns. 

With daily access to an extensive network of reef sites, the Reef Biosearch teams have unique opportunities to contribute to collaborative scientific research and conservation initiatives. 

Current initiatives include coral restoration and coral nurturing programs, coral predator control, reef health monitoring and active participation in GBRMPA’s Tourism Reef Protection Initiative - expanding the role tourism operators can play in supporting reef management and preservation.

But it is every day that guests continue to gain from the team’s depth of knowledge and passion. 

Catering to visitors of all ages who want to better understand what they are seeing, Reef Biosearch marine biologists are part of the crew onboard most of the company's cruises departing from Port Douglas and Cairns. Through engaging presentations, guided snorkel tours and citizen science activities, guests gain a deeper appreciation of the reef’s biodiversity, ecological significance and conservation challenges.

As Reef Biosearch marks its 40th anniversary, the milestone stands as a testament to Quicksilver Group’s longstanding commitment to responsible tourism and environmental leadership.