Rotto-island

Whitsundays-based marine biologist Johnny Gaskell spends his days diving, researching and advocating for protection of the world’s largest coral reef system – the Great Barrier Reef. We took a deep dive into his passion for the ocean, from coral restoration to his fan boy feelings for whip coral shrimp, and why life is better under the sea.

Meaning ‘deepwater’ in local Wajarri language, the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef is the largest fringing reef in Australia. Stretching for 300 spectacular kilometres, the Ningaloo Marine Park begins at Western Australia’s Exmouth Gulf and ends at Red Bluff, just north of Carnarvon. What’s special about this particular reef?

For more than 20 years, one man has helped make the remote drive down the iconic Gibb River Road in Western Australia’s Kimberley region not just possible, but also highly memorable for thousands of travellers.