The Coral Sea is one of the world’s last remaining pristine tropical marine environments, a vast wilderness comprised of diverse habitats that play host to a wide range of our ocean’s top predators including whales, sharks and turtles.

Last month I was fortunate enough to join a team of marine scientists, professional photographers and filmmakers on a boat trip that combined a once in a life time experience – to swim with a whale - with hands on scientific research to help understand the biology, ecology and behaviour of these extra ordinary animals that we still know so little about.

The Coral Sea is located off the north-east coast of Australia and sits adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. While the Coral Sea is biologically unique, many species that inhabit the Great Barrier Reef also inhabit the Coral Sea so there is biological connectivity there.

However, unlike the Great Barrier Reef the Coral Sea is largely unprotected. Science indicates that if we protect an animal on the Great Barrier Reef we need to protect as much of a species range as possible including the Coral Sea.

Both the GBR and the Coral Sea are home to the Dwarf Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), a beautifully patterned baleen whale that can reach up to eight metres long. These magnificent creatures are known to visit the far reaches of the Great Barrier Reef in large numbers between March and November.

As a marine mammal scientist, the trip gave me the opportunity not only to learn more about the animals that I am so passionate about, but also the chance to workshop ideas with marine scientists on what further research needs to be done to find out more about these enigmatic animals.

It’s our job to identify the threats they face and find the best ways to protect them such as a declaration of the Coral Sea as a Marine Protected Area.

Continue on to part 2