NORTH QUEENSLAND

When my partner Annie and I were trying to decide on a farewell trip before she moved back to New Zealand we both expressed a desire to dive at one of the 7 natural wonders of the world situated right at our doorstep, ‘while we still can.’ Although the reef was beautiful and teeming with sea-life the effects of climate change induced coral bleaching were painfully clear.

Thousands of years ago, the Great Barrier Reef was above water. Instead of supporting a marine city, trees grew upon it and indigenous lived along its ridges. In the space if 100 years, sea levels rose to such an extent the area became completely submerged reducing the size of Australia’s landmass to the borders that we know today. Earth continues to evolve. Weather patterns change, species go extinct, but through that process, new beauty can also take hold.

The Great Barrier Reef is a classic example of that. Climate induced processes created it all those years ago but today they are actively destroying it by increasing the temperature and acidity of the ocean as well as increasing storm events and rough seas that fragile coral are not able to endure. And what makes it even more of a hard pill to swallow is the fact that humans have caused this.

It is difficult to say what the reef will look like in 50 years. Probably grim. No doubt the ocean will evolve to support new life but I struggle to envisage a replacement as wonderful as this. If we don’t act to curb climate change the reef will be gone within the century. A sad visit, but I feel lucky to have witnessed the beauty.