Marine biologist and dive instructor Pablo Cogollos moved from Spain to work on the Great Barrier Reef with Sunlover Reef Cruises two and a half years ago. He collects data for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Eye on the Reef program and is the face of Sunlover’s newly launched Marine Biologist for a Day Citizen Scientist Program.
Guests can work with Pablo to complete a Rapid Monitoring Survey using underwater slates to record marine animals and plants at Moore Reef. The data gives the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority up-to-date data on reef health and trends as well as early warning signs of environmental impacts.
“Seeing how the Reef is changing with climate change is really important to me as I want to focus on that in my major. I have dived all over the world and in my life time I have seen big changes in many parts of the world. I volunteer for CAFNEC (Cairns and Far North Environment Centre) and see that people in Queensland are trying to make a difference by doing things like recycling and cleaning up beaches.” he says.
Seeing humpback whales on the Great Barrier Reef is Pablo’s favourite experience and one that he shares with Eye on the Reef. Sightings of turtles and dolphins get reported as do threats to the Reef including crown of thorns starfish and signs of coral bleaching.