Alicia has loved all things ocean since she was five years old, when she received a book on marine sea creatures for Christmas. She fell in love with learning about marine life and has wanted to be a Marine Biologist ever since! Alicia went on to study Marine Biology at Deakin University in Warrnambool, braving the chilly Southern Ocean waters, but it was a study abroad exchange to Hawaii that she really fell in love with tropical environments, especially the importance of coral reef systems. Alicia completed her Honours in Marine Science at Murdoch University in Perth, and from her research she found how important marine interpretation and education was for the general public.

Alicia has been working on the Great Barrier Reef for Quicksilver Cruises since 2019, and she really enjoys talking to the various visitors that come to the reef. She finds that no matter how far or wide people have travelled, people really do want to learn more about the health and state of the reef and she takes great pride and joy in educating and informing everyone that passes through her tour on the importance of the reef, and how they can make a difference.

Master Reef Guide | Skipper | Experience Co. | Tropical North Queensland (Cohort 4)

Master Reef Guide David has worked extensively on the Great Barrier Reef, throughout South East Asia, Indonesia, Papa New Guinea and the South Pacific. For the past 12 years his passion and interest for these magnificent ecosystems have never weakened.

As a Dive Instructor and Captain onboard Experience Co. he loves sharing his knowledge with guests and has the knack of being able to intrigue visitors with some of the most interesting critters that inhabit the reefs.

Master Reef Guide | Marine Biologist | Quicksilver Group | Tropical North Queensland (Cohort 1)

Master Reef Guide Glen is a natural ambassador for the Great Barrier Reef and has worked for Quicksilver as a Marine Biologist since 1989. With an extensive educational and professional background, Glen has also travelled extensively around the world to gain a perspective of human impact on tropical marine ecosystems.

Glen's work aims to conserve coral reefs on a global scale by examining sustainable uses for coral reef systems and promoting the adoption of these alternatives through education. He is passionate about coral reefs and rainforests and chooses to live in Far North Queensland with his wife and two children.

“You can dive on a World Heritage coral reef in the morning, splash about under a waterfall in a World Heritage rainforest in the afternoon and still be home in time for dinner and a movie”.

Hayley fell in love with the Great Barrier Reef at the young age of seven. Her first visit to the Great Barrier Reef was on board Quicksilver Cruise’s in Port Douglas.  This sparked overwhelming emotions leaving her with an unforgettable ‘mermaid like’ buzz. Growing up the feeling never left; inspiring Hayley to complete a Masters Degree in Marine Biology and become a published scientist.

Hayley has worked on the Great Barrier Reef as a researcher and surveyor for the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Great Barrier Reef Park Authority and James Cook University. Since 2019, she has combined her love of performing and the Reef to become a full-time mermaid with Quicksilver Cruises, travelling to Quicksilver’s Pontoon and Low Isles off Port Douglas.

“Every day, I am still amazed by the Reefs natural beauty. Every day, I am still curious to learn more. The mermaid-buzz never disappears when your office is the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. It is an incredible honour to become a Master Reef Guide and be surrounded by the ultimate brain trust for the Great Barrier Reef! Being a Master Reef Guide with Quicksilver will allow me to continue to share my passion and curiosity for the Reef, furthermore inspire and educate a wide demographic of people.”

Master Reef Guide | Marine Biologist | Snorkel Guide | Wavelength Cruises | Tropical North Queensland (Cohort 1)

Master Reef Guide Kasey has always been intrigued by the diverse ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef. Her combined passions for spending time in the big blue, experiencing the Reef, science communication and photographing the Reef’s diversity, led her to Cairns. She now works for Wavelength Cruises in Port Douglas.

After completing a Master Degree in Marine Biology and Ecology, Kasey has spent many years volunteering for a variety of reef-based projects in Papua New Guinea, Orpheus Island and Lizard Island. Kasey has a keen interest in the reef bio acoustics and herbivorous fish.

“Working for Wavelength has not only satisfied my hopes to spend time on the Great Barrier Reef, but has also taught me to engage and educate audiences on the reef and its health. I hope to continue my aspirations and further my skills in science communication and fostering positive environmental attitudes and actions as a Master Reef Guide.”

Master Reef Guide Markus grew up in Germany and discovered his fascination for tropical coral reefs during his first SCUBA dive in Brazil. This inspired him to study Marine Biology in Australia and he has since found himself at home in Port Douglas. He followed his passion of capturing and sharing the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef while working as an underwater photographer on Quicksilver vessels for over three years. Since 2021, Markus has been engaging with reef visitors on guided snorkel tours and during marine biology presentations aboard Wavelength Reef Cruises on daily trips to Opal Reef.

Master Reef Guide Richard was born in Sydney and became infatuated with the Great Barrier Reef on a family holiday to Linderman Island in 1978. Adventure driven, he was an Officer in the Australian Army for nine years.

Richard has a wealth of diving and life experience, first learning to dive in 1985, and became a Dive Instructor when he left the Australian Defence Force in 1995. He has worked as a Dive Instructor in Sydney, Airlie Beach, Townsville and now Cairns.

Richard’s passion for the Great Barrier Reef is reflected in his drive to better educate divers to respect and protect the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Master Reef Guide | Skipper | Dive Instructor | Experience Co. Calypso Reef Cruises | Tropical North Queensland (From: Great Britain)(Cohort 3)

Master Reef Guide Sam Herridge has a love for the water that goes back to his childhood days, and was supercharged when he first visited the Great Barrier Reef for the first time in 2015.

Since then he has developed as a dive professional, travelling around the Indo- Pacific region in Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand before returning to his roots on the Great Barrier Reef to stay!

“This is the first time in a long time that I have finally felt as though I have met people who really care about the same things as I do and that I am no longer alone in trying to put forward my beliefs about the world and particularly the ocean. I am proud to represent something that I believe in so strongly and am more motivated to do so.”

Tahn Miller – Master Reef Guide | Dive Instructor | Wavelength Reef Cruises | Far North (Cohort 5)

Tahn’s story starts in a small coastal town in New South Wales called Crescent Head, and then later Hat Head, Kempsey.

Like many children from Kempsey, Christmas meant a caravan holiday to the beach. Sometimes for a week; other times, if we were lucky, three weeks. It was an age of wonder and discovery!

Fast forward 20 years and Tahn is on the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, just about to do his first scuba dive in open water. “I remember my anticipation; I see the same look in the faces of the guests on the outward journey.  As soon as I put my face underwater, my life was completely changed, my world view shifted, and I was that little boy again looking for hiding invertebrates and gifts of other unknown things.”

That week changed Tahn’s entire life, he has never since left the Great Barrier Reef...in fact, and he did not even catch his return flight.  That was 10 years ago and he continues his work on the Great Barrier Reef to this day.

“The Great Barrier Reef is such a spectacular place and I absolutely love to see people connecting to it just like I did on my first day. It reminds me daily of just how lucky we are to be able to walk and swim on this Earth.”