""

Ecotourism & CLimate Action And the Great Barrier Reef

Wavedancer is truly an inspiring, eco-friendly experience. As a sailing vessel, our footprint is gentle. We’re very proud to have achieved Advanced Ecotourism Certification for our Great Barrier Reef operations, the highest eco certification attainable in Australia. With this, our guests can be assured the opportunity to learn about and appreciate this most important World Heritage Area.
‍
Each day, visitors to Low Isles with Wavedancer have the opportunity to join our marine biologists for an intriguing guided snorkel tour and island walk and learn from their extensive and passionate knowledge of the reef systems we visit.

Quicksilver’s own environmental division, Reef Biosearch, led by one of the largest team of privately employed marine biologists in Australia, was founded in 1986 with the aim of combining tourism, education and research for the ongoing conservation of the Great Barrier Reef.

What Is Ecotourism?

Ecotourism Australia's Eco Certification Program, describes Ecotourism as "Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation."

What Is Ecotourism?

Ecotourism Australia's Eco Certification Program, describes Ecotourism as "Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation."

What is the Eco Certification Program?

The Eco Certification Program is an initiative of Ecotourism Australia, which has established an Eco Certification Program Management Committee to provide policy and management support for the program. The Eco Certification Program operates as a self-funding, not-for-profit program, with a Management Committee overseeing an Audit and Assessment Panel, which are chaired by a person independent of Ecotourism Australia.

Credibility with industry, communities and travellers is at the heart of the Eco Certification Program. This is maintained through:
  • A rigorous assessment process including referees
  • Review and updating of criteria every three years to reflect emerging best practice.
  • Feedback from customers of accredited operators.
  • Audits of operators, including an on-site audit on the entire set of the Eco Certification Program criteria during the period of accreditation.

What is the Eco Certification Program?

The Eco Certification Program is an initiative of Ecotourism Australia, which has established an Eco Certification Program Management Committee to provide policy and management support for the program. The Eco Certification Program operates as a self-funding, not-for-profit program, with a Management Committee overseeing an Audit and Assessment Panel, which are chaired by a person independent of Ecotourism Australia.

Credibility with industry, communities and travellers is at the heart of the Eco Certification Program. This is maintained through:
  • A rigorous assessment process including referees
  • Review and updating of criteria every three years to reflect emerging best practice.
  • Feedback from customers of accredited operators.
  • Audits of operators, including an on-site audit on the entire set of the Eco Certification Program criteria during the period of accreditation.

Climate Action

When you travel with Wavedancer, and the Quicksilver Group, you can be assured of environmentally sustainable best practices.

Operating within the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, The Quicksilver Group is committed to environmentally sustainable marine tourism and maintaining the health of the Great Barrier Reef. We are acutely aware that we are all responsible for Climate Action and the need to be proactive. This philosophy is core to our operational and environmental practices.

Quicksilver was one of the first companies to be certified by Ecotourism Australia's Climate Action Program and has been certified as a "Climate Action Business". What this means is that we proactively undertake adaptions and emissions reduction, and audit and measure our carbon footprint.

Climate Action

When you travel with Wavedancer, and the Quicksilver Group, you can be assured of environmentally sustainable best practices.

Operating within the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, The Quicksilver Group is committed to environmentally sustainable marine tourism and maintaining the health of the Great Barrier Reef. We are acutely aware that we are all responsible for Climate Action and the need to be proactive. This philosophy is core to our operational and environmental practices.

Quicksilver was one of the first companies to be certified by Ecotourism Australia's Climate Action Program and has been certified as a "Climate Action Business". What this means is that we proactively undertake adaptions and emissions reduction, and audit and measure our carbon footprint.

Research and Intervention

Quicksilver supports scientific research and actively participates in many collaborative research projects. Some exciting projects include an innovative reef restoration project at Agincourt reef (the first of its kind with Reef Ecologic) and coral rehabilitation initiatives (University of Technology Sydney’s Coral Nurture Program and Modular Artificial Reef Structure - MARS programs).

Developing operational partnerships with leading scientific institutions like the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) on a variety of projects has also enhanced our collaborative research reach.
One of the most significant intervention efforts we are involved in is a comprehensive coral predator mitigation program targeting COTS (crown of thorns starfish) and Drupella snails.

Research and Intervention

Quicksilver supports scientific research and actively participates in many collaborative research projects. Some exciting projects include an innovative reef restoration project at Agincourt reef (the first of its kind with Reef Ecologic) and coral rehabilitation initiatives (University of Technology Sydney’s Coral Nurture Program and Modular Artificial Reef Structure - MARS programs).

Developing operational partnerships with leading scientific institutions like the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) on a variety of projects has also enhanced our collaborative research reach.
One of the most significant intervention efforts we are involved in is a comprehensive coral predator mitigation program targeting COTS (crown of thorns starfish) and Drupella snails.

Reef Monitoring and Reporting

In 1928, Low Isles was the base for the first scientific study of a coral reef anywhere in the world. It seems fitting that Quicksilver’s team of Reef Biosearch marine biologists have continued this pioneering legacy and have the longest established and ongoing observations on the Great Barrier Reef, since 1986. This has allowed Quicksilver to develop a great familiarity with our reef sites and their resident marine life giving an excellent understanding of site specific ecological changes and reef impacts. Proudly, our reef monitoring program became the precursor to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Eye on the Reef program.

We participate in recognised programs such as GBRMPA’s Eye on the Reef, Coral Watch and report whale sightings to assist valuable research.  Findings become part of regional and international information networks. It also provides GBRMPA with excellent real time awareness of reef health at high value tourism sites.

We hope that by travelling with Quicksilver, our guests will become ambassadors for future conservation of the reef.

Reef Monitoring and Reporting

In 1928, Low Isles was the base for the first scientific study of a coral reef anywhere in the world. It seems fitting that Quicksilver’s team of Reef Biosearch marine biologists have continued this pioneering legacy and have the longest established and ongoing observations on the Great Barrier Reef, since 1986. This has allowed Quicksilver to develop a great familiarity with our reef sites and their resident marine life giving an excellent understanding of site specific ecological changes and reef impacts. Proudly, our reef monitoring program became the precursor to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Eye on the Reef program.

We participate in recognised programs such as GBRMPA’s Eye on the Reef, Coral Watch and report whale sightings to assist valuable research.  Findings become part of regional and international information networks. It also provides GBRMPA with excellent real time awareness of reef health at high value tourism sites.

We hope that by travelling with Quicksilver, our guests will become ambassadors for future conservation of the reef.