The Quicksilver Group stands as a leading example of sustainable tourism on the Great Barrier Reef, integrating eco-conscious operations across four fundamental pillars:
1. Education
2. Research
3. Conservation
4. Interpretation
Education
The Living Classroom Program
  • Immersive Learning Environment: This program transforms the Great Barrier Reef into a dynamic, interactive classroom. Students gain invaluable direct experience of the reef through this outdoor excursion program.
  • Comprehensive Curriculum Alignment: The program is designed to align with the Australian Curriculum, covering essential cross-curriculum priorities.
    Specialised modules are also available, specifically catering to senior Biology and Marine Science syllabuses.
  • Expert Guidance and Mentorship: Students learn directly from Quicksilver's highly qualified team, including dedicated Reef Biosearch Marine Biologists and passionate Master Reef Guides.
  • Diverse Activities: The program incorporates a wide array of hand-on and observational activities like guided snorkel tours, engaging interactive presentations, island walks and glass bottom boat tours. Back of house tours at Green Island Resort also showcase our sustainability practices, demonstrating how environmental responsibility is integrated into tourism activities and resort management.
  • Leveraging Government Support: The Living Classroom strategically supports initiatives like the Queensland Government's Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program and Federal Governments Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF). These programs now offer subsidies to schools to visit the reef with operators like Quicksilver that qualify as a service provider.
Research
Fundamental to Sustainable Operations
  • Reef Biosearch: Established in 1986, our in-house Research Department is a dedicated environmental division that boasts one of the largest teams of privately employed marine biologists in the industry. This internal expertise ensures the direct application of scientific finding to daily operations. They conduct continuous monitoring and maintain the longest ongoing logbook database (over 35 years) of marine observations on the GBR. These biologists also play a crucial role in advising reef management authorities like the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Reef Authority) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), ensuring alignment with the latest scientific understanding.
  • Site Monitoring: Reef Biosearch actively monitors and assesses reef health at our sites. This allows us to identify issues, predict potential impacts, and implement effective site stewardship management. A significant effort to expand our monitoring efforts throughout our operations has been in partnership with the Australian Government to deliver services for the Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI).
  • Collaborative Research & Intervention: Quicksilver actively participates in and supports research and intervention programs. In 2018 we partnered with Reef Ecologic and the Australian Government’s National EnvironmentalScience Program to undertake a reef restoration research project at Agincourt reef. We are also involved in other coral rehabilitation initiatives (e.g., the University of Technology Sydney’s Coral Nurture Program andModular Artificial Reef Structure - MARS programs). Developing operational partnerships with leading scientific institutions like the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) on their Reef Restoration and Adaptation (RRAP)programs and the Centre for Tropical Water & Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) on a variety of projects(e.g. Tile Settlement) has also enhanced our research credibility and opened the door for future collaboration and facilitation of projects in the future. Finally, our most significant intervention effort would have to be our comprehensive coral predator mitigation program targeting COTS (crown of thorns starfish) and Drupella snails.
  • Site Stewardship through Research: Quicksilver has established one of the most comprehensive Site StewardshipPlans (SSP) for Agincourt 3 through the Reef Authority’s Tourism Reef Protection Initiative (TRPI). These plans are fundamentally based on site-specific research and monitoring programs, including biodiversity indexing, turtle population dynamics, and the innovative use of drone monitoring coupled with GEONadir software for advanced reef mapping and impact assessment.

Reef Biosearch Monitoring

Successful restoration project at Agincourt reef

Coral Nurseries - Moore Reef

Drupella snail intervention

Conservation
Comprehensive Initiatives
  • Advanced Waste Management: The Group implements extensive reduce, reuse, recycle programs across all operations to minimise landfill waste and prevent plastics from entering the ocean. Our vessels follow stringent permit and operational guidelines to manage on-board waste and our land based operations such as our engineering facilities, catering, office and dive school locations all implement a range of waste management practices promoting sustainability. Green Island Resort has also received multiple prestigious sustainability awards and an Eco-Biz 3-Star rating for its exemplary energy, water, and waste management program.
  • Renewable & Greener Energy Adoption: Quicksilver utilises supplementary solar power across various facilities, including the Pro Dive Cairns training centre, Port Douglas Dive Centre, and significantly at Green Island Resort. We have invested in new, greener engine technology and engine refits for select catamarans in our fleet with next generation Rolls Royce mtu series 2000 engines. These are certified for renewable fuels like HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) which will deliver up to a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions. Until this HVO fuel is readily available for our fleet, all vessels are operated with maximum efficiency, undergoing annual refits for peak mechanical condition and reduced emissions, and our eco-friendly coaches exceed Australian fuel efficiency and emissions standards.
  • Eco-Accreditation & Certifications: Quicksilver holds the highest eco-certification in Australia as an Advanced Eco-accredited operator (since 1997, earning a place in Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame). We have held Climate Action Innovator status since 2008, proactively undertaking adaptations and emissions reduction strategies verified by regular carbon footprint audits. Our ECO-certified products are approved by the Global SustainableTourism Council (GSTC), adhering to international sustainability standards. All our tourism products are recognised as High Standard Operators (HSO) by the Reef Authority, reflecting our commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, which grants us long-term (20-year) operational permits.

Organic fertiliser from a Food Digester

Solar arrays on Green Island

Marine Biologist Snorkel Tours

Interpretation, Underwater Observatory

Onboard Presentations

Interpretation
Connecting Tourists to Conservation
  • Interpretation Experts: Interpretation is central to the Quicksilver experience, acting as the crucial facilitator of information that directly links our sustainability, conservation, and research efforts with the tourist. Every member of the crew play their part to deliver an unforgettable experience for the visitor.
  • Expert Guides for Deeper Engagement: The dedicated Reef Biosearch team delivers the majority of this information in an entertaining and engaging way and guests gain direct access to marine biologists for personalised questions and simplified explanations. Quicksilver also boasts one of the largest teams of highly trained and passionate Master Reef Guides. These individuals provide expert interpretation that significantly enhance guests’ understanding and foster a deeper emotional connection to the reef.
  • Showcasing Conservation in Action: Our Interpretation program not only covers the biology and ecology of the reef, but also clearly explains the sustainability management practices designed to minimise impacts and reduce our carbon footprint. Interpretation also highlights specific conservation projects, such as intervention programs (e.g., coral nurture or MARS initiatives) or predator control efforts, allowing guests to see firsthand the proactive efforts undertaken to enhance reef resilience and support its recovery.
  • Accessible and interactive Activities: To ensure all visitors can experience the reef, Quicksilver offers a diverserange of activities that promotes an inclusive interpretive experience. Each location offers a range of activitiesled by our interpretation teams and include semi-submersible tours, underwater observatories, and glass-bottomboat excursions. Marine biologists from the Reef Biosearch team also provide detailed interpretive presentationsonboard vessels and at pontoon locations, and lead guided snorkel tours and land based activities.