Reef Teach was rebranded to Marine Discoveries to better align with the marine environment consultancy activities our team currently carries out. After 30 years as Reef Teach, our marine consultancy has matured as we strive to deliver the research and partnerships important to the future health of the Great Barrier Reef and other marine environments.

Abby Seymour, Cara McMeel and I continue to be the scientific team behind Marine Discoveries, but have a renewed focus on our strengths and core activities which extend beyond teaching to research and connecting science with industry.

Our team of marine biologists will concentrate on spending more time in the water carrying out research projects that will help improve our understanding of the health of the Great Barrier Reef for science, industry and management.

The varied backgrounds of each member of the Reef Teach team has driven the direction for Marine Discoveries. Our growing level of combined experience in all aspects of science – from management to tourism – has led to new business goals that reflect our mission of working with partners to gather scientific knowledge that will better inform marine management.

In a nutshell, Marine Discoveries is an environmental consultancy working with science and industry to deepen reef resilience knowledge and education.

Our main projects involve working with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) on the Photo Point and Coral Index projects. With 9 operators now participating in Photo Point, this artificial intelligence project is becoming an integral part of the Eye on the Reef monitoring that informs management of the Great Barrier Reef. More exciting underwater projects will be coming soon.

Marine Discoveries will continue to consult in the education field, offering our highly sought-after Reef Naturalist Programs, educational talks for private groups, and keynote corporate speaking. Our work placement programs are also an integral component of Marine Discoveries that will enhance knowledge sharing and data collection.

As the owner of Reef Teach for the past decade, I strongly value the connections and partnerships I have made through the business founded in Cairns 30 years ago and look forward to strengthening those relationships through Marine Discoveries.

Gareth Phillips
Owner and Principal Marine Biologist