Official Reef Teach & Marine Discovery Program information for use by media, press, tourism and conservation organisations or online in your blogs or travel sites.
Gareth Phillips
or
Natalie Phillips
"With Learning Comes Appreciation"
"Your Very Own Marine Biologist"
"Cairns Unique Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef"
1992 | Reef Teach was founded through the realisation that people were not satisfied by the amount of information they could get from the short 15 minute Great Barrier Reef talks provided on the boats. |
Reef Teach developed a land based information show about the Great Barrier Reef that satisfies this interest, together with enhancing and complimenting peoples reef trips. | |
1994 | Underwater Naturalist: this is the original marine biologist for the day concept. Visitors were guided around the Reef with one of Reef Teach’s marine biologist. |
2008 | Gareth and Natalie Phillips emmigrate to Cairns from South Africa. |
2010 | Gareth and Natalie Phillips (husband and wife team) purchase the Reef Teach business. |
2011 | Reef Teach conduct opportunistic research and continue to deliver land based and on-board marine education talks as well as private guiding around the reef. |
2014 | Reef Teach introduces the "Advanced Reef Teach" program, a combination theory and practical course designed to cover Reef Management, Marine Diversity and Conservation topics in greater detail, whilst participating in the Eye On The Reef - Sightings Network initiative. |
2016 | Reef Teach launches dedicated research programs delivering Reef Teach designed marine research projects and collaborative research projects working with a variety of "Eye On The Reef" initiatives. |
2016 | Reef Teach Marine Discoveries Internship program introduced, offering Research Assistant & Volunteer Internships allowing "Citizen Scientists", visitors to the reef and students the opportunity to directly contribute to conservation projects on the GBR. |
2017 | After many years of trialing and development Reef Teach’s original “Underwater Naturalist day” was officially relaunched as the Reef Naturalist Programs, with options to participate in a full day advanced education seminar and biologist guided practical reef experiences from 1 to 4 days out on the GBR snorkeling and assisting in data gathering activities. |
To me, it is a privilege to go to the Great Barrier Reef. Even though I go multiple times every week, I still believe I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I always take a moment every day I am out there, just to look at it and appreciate it.
People are tired of being told they are killing the world. We help them see the reef in a new light and, if they see how important it is, they just might help us look after it.
We'll [also] show you it's not too late for the reef. Let's remain positive, let's be excited and most importantly, let's keep looking after this amazing natural resource, together.
My main goal through Marine Discovery is to facilitate the good work that researchers are already doing and to enhance it whilst giving visitors to Queensland a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the world's biggest living organism.
Take your knowledge to new depths at this fun, informative centre, where marine experts explain how to identify specific species of fish and coral, and how to approach the reef respectfully.
Before you go to the Reef - or even if you're not planning to go - take in the supurb two-hour Reef Teach multimedia and interactive show, which is arguably the most worthwhile thing you can do in Cairns.
Gareth's enthusiasm for the reef is catching… especially when he launches into weirder and wonderful biology that was cleverly omitted from the movie Nemo, but is just part of everyday life on the Great Barrier Reef.
Take your knowledge to new depths at this fun, informative centre, where marine experts explain how to identify specific species of fish and coral, and how to approach the reef respectfully.
If you have only 3 things to do in Cairns, this should be one of them!
Acknowledgement Of Country
Reef Teach acknowledges, recognises and respects the Elders, families and forebears of the the Bama Peoples – the Aboriginal rainforest people who are traditional custodians/owners of the lands that cover our region. We also acknowledge, recognise and respect other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who call our region and the Great Barrier Reef their home.