Marine Life on the Great Barrier Reef

The waters of the Great Barrier Reef are teeming with marine life big and small. Depending on the time of year, you could see a variety of beautiful tropical fish, reef sharks, jellyfish, turtles, or even whales – and all amidst the luxury of a trip aboard the Atlantic Princess superyacht!

Read on for some of the amazing wildlife you might be lucky enough to see from the Atlantic Princess.

In the months of May to around September, the Great Barrier Reef is visited by gentle giants as whales migrate to our warmer waters to mate and to give birth to their young. If you take a trip to the reef during this season, you might be lucky enough to spot humpbacks or dwarf minke whales travelling, breaching, or even swimming up to inspect divers!

Dwarf minke whales, the smallest of the baleen whales (filter feeders), can reach up to 8m in length. These curious creatures are sometimes seen swimming up alongside divers – a once-in-a-lifetime memory!

Humpbacks are bigger – females can reach up to 15m in length and weigh over 40 tonnes, or roughly two buses. One famous whale who sometimes travels up north is Migaloo, a pure white humpback who scientists have been observing in the waters up and down Australia’s east coast since 1991. Although there hasn’t been a Migaloo sighting since 2020, scientists believe the 30-something whale is still thriving out there. Here’s hoping he heads back up our way one day soon!

More common marine life sightings on the Great Barrier Reef include loggerhead and green turtles. These serene creatures can often be found gliding among the coral and seagrass. Turtle nesting season takes place from November to March, with hatchlings emerging from early January.

A less fun sighting on the Great Barrier Reef is jellyfish. Our tropical waters are known for over 100 species of jellyfish, including the deadly box jellyfish and Irukandji, one of the smallest and most venomous jellyfish in the world. But don’t worry! Stinger season, from November to May, is still a time you can enjoy the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef by wearing stinger suits, which protect you from jellies and also can offer UV protection against sunburn.

What’s the most likely marine life sighting on the Great Barrier Reef? Fish! With over 1,500 species of reef fish, any Atlantic Princess superyacht trip is sure to give you the chance to see some tropical swimmers. You might see angelfish, clownfish like Nemo, brightly coloured parrotfish, large, docile groupers, potato cod (frequently found at Cod Hole just off Lizard Island), and many, many more!

You may even have a chance to see some reef sharks during your reef adventure aboard the Atlantic Princess. The most common sharks on the Great Barrier Reef are white tip and black tip reef sharks. You might sometimes spot one on a scuba dive or snorkelling outing, but these passive reef-dwellers are generally nothing to worry about and it can even be exciting!

Dolphins also inhabit the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as 35 species of rays such as manta rays and blue spotted stingrays.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to a great many marine creatures, some of whom are elusive or seasonal and some of whom you can spot year-round. Let the Atlantic Princess be your gateway to the glorious world of sea life off the coast of Far North Queensland!