What I thought would be a steady plod towards retirement, with plenty of time spent nursing grandchildren, was abruptly upended exactly six years ago today. This is the story of how an environmental catastrophe changed the course of my life – and led me to reinvent myself. It is a reflection on how, and why, I became an accidental marine scientist.
Read MoreA view across to the inshore reef, Slaughter Bay, Norfolk Island
The Governance–Government Vacuum: Norfolk Island’s Forgotten Ecology
A personal reflection on Norfolk Island’s coral reef environment, political denial, and what John Wyndham’s The Kraken Wakes can still teach us about slow-moving disasters — and why this election matters more than ever.
Read MoreEmily Bay at low tide, early morning, December 2024
A year in review – 2024 on Norfolk Island’s Reef
It is five years since I began wielding a camera underwater in Norfolk Island’s lagoons and my third ‘year in review’ for this ‘Out on a swim’ blog. And what a journey it has been. At least this year I have some great news to report, but – a bit like a curate’s egg (partly bad and partly good) – there are also some downers. Find out what 2024 has meant for Norfolk Island’s reef.
Read MoreHealthy montipora coral on Norfolk Island’s reef
The camera doesn’t lie – looking back over three years of observations
After three years of observations, I have a unique library of some 80,000 images recording life in Norfolk Island’s lagoons. So I thought it would be worth spending the month of March looking back to see what has changed in that time and what hasn’t. Each day I will feature a different image. For 1 March I have picked a simple brown coral – a plate coral from the genus montipora. Read on to see what is happening to our montipora now.
Read MoreRemnant reef overgrown with algae, 31 January 2022, Emily Bay, Norfolk Island
Come on in. The water's fine ...
As Costa Georgiadis says, nature tells the truth, and we must only look at our reef on Norfolk Island to know its truth. We, as custodians, have not been caring enough for it and now that carelessness is coming home to roost.
Read MoreSurge wrasse - Thalassoma purpureum
Nuptial colouration in blennies
Warmer water and some behavioural changes: some fish are getting their nuptial colours on, while others have started incubating eggs in their mouth. It is all happening ‘out on a swim’. Catch up on the last week in Norfolk Island’s lagoons here.
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Collector urchin - Tripneustes gratilla
The importance of sea urchins
August on Norfolk Island is the coolest month of the year. The southerly winds have been bringing in pounding surf and reduced visibility in the bays. For those who are interested, the water temperature has been hovering between 17C and 18C. This week I showcase some of the different species of sea urchins in our bays and provide a few fast facts about them.
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