A short set of clips from today's dive at Bare Island; testing lighting and camera settings. Lots of planktivores about... but 15 C water temp was a bit cool. 🦑 vimeo.com/1104838811

Nice to see substantial populations of Hippocampus whitei #seahorses on our surveys of two sites in #sydneyharbour today #marinescience #threatenedspecies 🧪🦑

In our final week of fieldwork at One Tree Island and we have almost completed surveys on 26 sites, with current loggers and microhabitat studies on many of them. A massive thanks to all concerned! 🧪🦑 #SAEF_ARC #SydneyUni #marineexplorer

Whilst there is more dead coral than live, there are signs of growth throughout; small patches of live coral on broken reef, live tips on dead branches. The challenge of course will be when the next heatwave comes. For close ups: www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer

Our latest paper highlights changes in the marine community at Shiprock in Sydney over half a century. #sydney_science #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑 Open access: doi.org/10.1071/MF24...

Wonderful diversity of critters on our surveys today at the Labyrinth, #onetreeisland #sydneyuni #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑

Despite extensive damage from the recent cyclone and 2024 bleaching, there are some signs of recovery in the southern GBR #onetreeisland #universityofsydney #SAEF_ARC #marineexplorer 🧪🦑

The photogrammetry stage of our field trip is now well underway, capturing reef complexity and biodiversity in great detail #one_tree_island #sydney_science #marineexplorer #saef_arc 🧪🦑

Getting ready for a day in the field #SAEF_ARC #Universityofsydney ##marineexplorer #@OneTreeIslandRS 🧪🦑

Highly protected, actively managed MPAs with evidence of monitoring and enforcement have more positive ecological outcomes. Cell Reports Sustainability: Cell Reports Sustainability 🧪🦑 www.cell.com/cell-reports...

Day 5 of our University of Sydney research trip to One Tree Island, and we have refined our methods and completed 8 biodiversity surveys. Tomorrow we put out flow meters to measure lagoon currents, then start our microhabitat study in earnest. #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪

Can you see the animal? flic.kr/p/2qRYAN7 🦑

Wobby in a cave, Jervis Bay. #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer flic.kr/p/2qRMhJd 🦑

Day 1 of #reeflifesurvey in JB; lovely warm, calm conditions for our first two sites 🦑 🧪

A few fishy faces (ok, two are invertebrates) from this morning's #reeflifesurvey at Camp Cove in #sydneyharbour. If you want to see the flathead (looks like just sand and paddleweed until you zoom in) see www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... 🦑 🧪

Several endangered White's #seahorses on the nets in #SydneyHarbour during our surveys last weekend... and more red cuttlefish (A. mestus) than we normally see #marinescience #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪

As we cross from the Coral Sea back into the GBR we have favourable winds and a nice big incoming tide; smiles all around! A few more sites in the GBR over the next few days before we wrap up #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪

Day 12 of #reeflifesurvey in the GBR and Coral Sea, and we are at Marion reefs around 400 km offshore. Some terrific sea life today particularly on our big bommie site. #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪

After 10 days of good weather we have completed #reeflifesurvey in the Capricorn Bunkers, Swains, Saumarez and Frederick reefs. The water is a beautiful blue in the Coral Sea but fish IDs are a challenge! Next: Marion reefs then back to GBR. Pics: www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪

Day 3 and we've been surveying around the Keppel Islands. Conditions were calm last night for our transit to the Capricorn Bunker group. #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer #marinescience 🦑 🧪

A few critters from today's #reeflifesurvey in the GBR, including a coral lobster and a couple of colourful nudis. www.flickr.com/photos/johnw... #marineexplorer 🦑 🧪

I never tire of #sunrise at sea #marineexplorer #reeflifesurvey

Day 1 of 3 weeks of #reeflifesurvey in the GBR and Coral Sea #marineexplorer

Another #artwork attempt, this time stippling (pen dots... no solid lines) :) flic.kr/p/W8RwnH #shark #marineexplorer 🦑

Hairy anglerfish (Antennarius striatus) angling, yawning and walking 🦑 vimeo.com/660839395

Trying my hand with a paintbrush instead of a camera... red scorpionfish 🦑 flic.kr/p/2mW4BiZ

Love this school of bigeye trevally mooching along in the marine reserve north of Stradbroke Island. 🦑 🧪 Captured during #reeflifesurvey #marineexplorer vimeo.com/722511871

Some highlights from today's dive out the back of Bare Island in Botany Bay, #Sydney 🦑 vimeo.com/1030403413

Several svelte swimming syngnathids... Weedies this time, including 3 males with eggs. 🧪 🦑 vimeo.com/660490777

What's not to love about Syngnathids? vimeo.com/474265816 🦑🧪

Sharing this giant cuttlefish courtship display... I can watch the colour and movement for ages vimeo.com/958787387

Need a chuckle? The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards will brighten your day | Funny | Earth Touch News https://buff.ly/4dALGac 🌎🧪

So I guess I'm here now! I'm Mel, the Ocean Writer & here's my latest story for Nat Geo on the world's largest megacoral, which broke today: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/... (Will be back in due course to figure out the whole Blue Sky thing & follow y'all!)

Save Our Seas Distinguished Speaker Series: The Case of the Disappearing Maugean Skate - YouTube

Reef Life Survey training in Batemans Bay - 4 great days in the water, and 7 new RLSers certified... well done all!