The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most spectacular living networks on our planet. Seeing it for yourself will leave you speechless. So be curious. Look beneath the surface. Marvel at the intricate details of our natural world.
Now more than ever, the simplicity of getting outside and experiencing nature is important to us all. It's these freedoms and connections that help us realise what it truly means to be alive. And it forces us to comprehend the impact we, as humans, are having on the world around us. Learning and understanding of its connectedness to us is the number one driver for innovative and creative change.
Early in 2020, we spent a week with marine biologist, Johnny Gaskell, who leads a team pioneering a reef restoration program in the Whitsunday Region - a mountainous archipelago made up of 74, mostly uninhabited, islands inside the Great Barrier Reef.
Alongside him, Australian marine biologist, Laura Wells, and South African surfer, Frank Solomon, explored the mind-blowing beauty of the Whitsundays and learned of the environmental challenges this region faces. Johnny is a big advocate for people learning firsthand and encourages everyone to jump in the water; he believes curiosity gets people invested and motivates them to be a part of reef protection. Seeing the restoration of the reef firsthand juxtaposed with the impact that plastics and pollution have on what seems a paradise, might just be the catalyst for change.
Director / Producer: Jam Hassan
DP: Andy Gough
AC / Drone Op / Human Weight Belt: Charlie Slessar
Sound Recordist / Sound Mix / Design: Brendan Muller
Project Director: Kieran Burke
Editor: Braden Trotter
Project Director: Kieran Burke
Creative Director: Matt Pike
Project Manager: Cory Roberts
Colourist: Fergus Rotherham
Production Coordinator: Tom Cole
Designer: Jye Kwong
Boat: Ocean Rafting, Airlie Beach
Special thanks to Steph the team at Hamilton Island for making everything run super smooth for us.