Members of the Australian Dolphins Swim Team swapped the pool for Flynn Reef off Cairns on a Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef expedition on Dreamtime Dive & Snorkel.
Led by Commonwealth Games gold-medalist, world record holder and Citizens Ambassador Shayna Jack, the group comprised members of the 27-strong squad selected for the upcoming World Swimming Championships in South Korea; including Commonwealth Games gold-medalists Alex Graham and Clyde Lewis; who are in Cairns for a pre-event staging camp.
“We saw such diversity of marine life and different corals, it was incredible,” Shayna Jack said. “It’s great to see the Reef looking so healthy and to learn what we can do as a team can help keep it that way.”
Shayna Jack exploring the Flynn Reef; Photo Courtesy: Gabriel Guzman
Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef is a network of individuals, organizations and businesses working to conserve the Great Barrier Reef and inspire people around the world to protect it.
“It’s been brilliant to take some of Australia’s most talented athletes out on the Reef again this year,” Andy Ridley, CEO Citizens said. “We hope the team have been inspired by what they’ve seen out on Flynn Reef today, share it with their supporters and encourage them all to help protect this precious place.”
Photo Courtesy: Davey Houlton
The Dolphins also learned about the unique cultural heritage of the region from Dreamtime’s largely Indigenous crew, consisting of rangers from the four tribes found along the stretch of coastline from Port Douglas to the Frankland Islands – Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Gunggandji, Mandingalbay Yidinji and Yirrganydji tribes – as well as Torres Strait Islanders.
“To learn about the creation stories of the Great Barrier Reef and the crew’s connection to Sea Country added a whole new element to the trip today,” Alex Graham said.
Photo Courtesy: Gabriel Guzman
Members of the team will also took part in a pilot survey for the Great Reef Census, a collaborative citizen science project which aims to establish a broad snapshot of the Reef’s status.
Citizens are working with a diverse range of partners on the project including the Reef & Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC), Uber, Nickelodeon, Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef and GBRMPA.
“It’s exciting to see the Dolphins swim team engaged in testing the methods for next year’s Great Reef Census alongside Citizens and RRRC,” said Sheridan Morris, Managing Director RRRC.
Four lucky students and two teachers from Cairns State High School and Trinity Bay State High School joined the team on board, getting in the water with the Dolphins and learning more about how their schools can support a healthy reef.
“The Reef is still an incredibly vibrant ecosystem,” Andy Ridley said. “Working with the Dolphins swim team helps us engage Australia and the world in keeping it that way.”
The Australian Dolphins also made a similar trip in 2018.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Swimming Australia. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.