Great Southern Reef Foundation

What began as a simple GoPro zip-tied to a crab net has evolved into a creative homemade system, complete with multiple cameras, lights, and playful props. One spontaneous idea—using a Christmas ornament—sparked a series of quirky underwater clips featuring his Action Man doll, adding humor to the stunning marine footage. The process is as unpredictable as the ocean itself. Andy Burnell sets up the cameras, drops them, and waits, never knowing what he’s captured until he reviews the footage later. Sometimes it’s ordinary; other times, it’s extraordinary—like the day he discovered a small Great White Shark had followed his kayak for over ten minutes, completely unnoticed. For Andy, the surprise is the best part, and his innovative videos continue to highlight the wonders of South Australia’s marine life in a unique way. “The crab.E.cam is just set up and dropped and I never know what I have recorded. I visualise the shot, set up for it and hope for the best. Looking at the footage later is either boring or amazing! The surprise is everything." Make sure to give his pages a follow on socials look up "crab e cam"

For Andrew Burnell, photographing the Great Southern Reef is all about the thrill of discovery. Last summer, he finally captured the elusive Hutchins Boarfish, a stunning species he’d been hoping to find for years. He’s also encountered incredible creatures like the Giant Sea Pen and Lightning Volutes on the hunt. One of his favourite moments was spotting a tiny 2-centimetre-long Weedy Sea Dragon, which looked just like a miniature Leafy Sea Dragon. For Andy, it’s the surprises beneath the waves that make every dive special. But capturing these moments isn’t easy. He often highlights the challenges of South Australia’s waters, where visibility can shift dramatically due to weather and shallow site conditions, often turning murky. However, he sees this as part of the adventure. When the visibility is perfect, it feels like a reward for all the patience and preparation. Each shot he takes reflects his passion for uncovering and sharing the beauty of the reef. “Weather is everything. The absolute best dives come spontaneously when you can pick the ideal scenario. I watch the weather constantly and look for the last day before a change when there has been a period of favourable conditions, like offshore winds.”

Our latest feature creator, Andrew Burnell, has a deep love for South Australia's coast, from its wild beaches to its sheltered bays. Despite the challenges of cold and murky winters, he cherishes those clear vis "diamond days" when the waters reveal their beauty. After working as a dive guide on the Great Barrier Reef and living in Hawaii, Andy returned to Adelaide’s western suburbs where he now explores the coast by kayak, scuba, and freediving. His passion for marine life led to the creation of the Crab.e.cam Facebook page, which began with GoPro footage of crabs and squid and has grown to showcase diverse underwater adventures to over 25,000 followers worldwide. “I love to visit exotic parts of the GSR but my favourite is close to home. It's the Gulf St Vincent. Here I have the most impact with my imagery, here people aren't aware that there is amazing marine-life right off the metro and nearby coast. Giving people a new appreciation and excitement about our home turf is my favourite thing!” Check out Andy’s great content on his @crab.e.cam pages on Insta, Facebook and YouTube!

"The octopus is as physically and biologically removed from humans as is imaginable" says Mike Jones. "They don’t look like us, they don’t move like us, and as they change colour and shape in an instant, they certainly don’t behave like us." he explains "and yet no creature I’ve encountered underwater has ever felt so human…." He continues “Their intelligence is apparent and though they may retreat they never seem afraid, rather they are always watching, their eyes prominent and focused never leave you. And, more often than not, that careful observance turns to open curiosity. Mike describes moments of connection "Many times a wiggle of my finger will lead to a tentacle extended to me - always on their terms - and yet before long their whole body might be wrapped around my arm - exploring, tasting, feeling." One encounter left an indelible impression. "Armed with my camera, it appears the octopus has seen its own reflection in the dome lens. With tentacles extended, suckers latched on to the glass, it investigates the strange image – is it a perception of ‘self’ or simply a curiosity of the light.”

Gloomy octopuses have been found to use a jet of water to throw shells, silt and algae underwater. Some throws hit other octopuses. They have been observed throwing objects when discarding the remains of a meal, excavating or rearranging den materials or interacting with another octopus.

By day, the gloomy octopus hides in rocky lairs decorated by the shells of their prey. At night they emerge to feed on molluscs and crustaceans. This octopus species (Octopus tetricus) is a medium-sized octopus known for its distinctive ‘sad-looking’ white eyes and rust-coloured arms. The gloomy octopus exhibits complex behaviours, novel social interactions and unusual throwing abilities, making it a unique and interesting animal of the Great Southern Reef. Find out more about this species later in the week, or check out the new marine life feature on our website: https://lnkd.in/dtZNYcfH

Ex abalone diver Marc Payne has worked tirelessly to achieve environmental protection for the pristine WA offshore island, Salisbury Island, which is now finally protected within the new sanctuary zone as part of Western Australia’s new South Coast marine park. With its rugged landscapes and deep waters teeming with life, Salisbury has long been a hidden jewel of the Great Southern Reef, and now, through its new protection status, stands as a critical site for scientific study and environmental education, showcasing a near-pristine marine ecosystem.

The Great Southern Reef supports some of Australia’s most valuable fisheries, biologically productive waters and unique marine life. However, it receives a fraction of the funding allocated to tropical coral reefs. For instance, from 2015 to 2021, temperate reef research across Australia was allocated only AU$6.5 million, while the Great Barrier Reef Foundation alone received AU$565 million in federal funds. As of 2023, the Australian Government has committed to increasing investment towards the GBR to $1.2 billion by 2030 (source: Regional Ministerial Budget Statement 2022-23) yet temperate reef funding remains disproportionately low. "We actually know remarkably little about what's under the waves and in particular in colder water ecosystems." explained Professor Adriana Verges. in a recent ABC article. Her words underscore the need for greater investment in the GSR to monitor climate-driven changes, and to safeguard the resilience of these vital yet lesser-known kelp forests.

Recent surveys in Freycinet and Huon Marine Parks using BRUV and ROV technologies have uncovered fascinating insights into the fish biodiversity across habitats like Joe’s Reef and the shelf-break reefs. The surveys have significantly improved the understanding of the benthic and demersal fish (those living on or near the ocean floor) in these waters, particularly on rocky reefs in the low-light mesophotic (around 30m to 70m) and rariphotic (around 70m to 200m) zones. Species like jackass morwong, striped trumpeter, and rock lobsters are thriving in these rich marine environments. With rocky, complex habitats supporting greater fish diversity, this research sets a solid foundation for future research efforts and helps track changes in these precious ecosystems. Paper title: Fish assemblages on the continental shelves of Freycinet and Huon Marine Parks: Insights from stereo BRUV and ROV surveys #greatsouthernreef

The progress made in researching and understanding the South-east Marine Park reflects the value of prioritising science in marine management. By supporting the Draft Management Plan’s strengths—such as increased sanctuary protections and a foundation for ongoing scientific monitoring—there is an opportunity to celebrate and build upon these achievements. Championing these positive steps ensures that the South-east Marine Park will continue to evolve through sound stewardship, scientific insight, and dedicated protection of these unique marine ecosystems. With the Draft Management Plan closing for public input tomorrow, now is the last chance to contribute and have your say. https://lnkd.in/g_R5fX46