Project Reefresh: Reef Restoration in Action at Bait Reef

Around 65 kilometres northeast of Airlie Beach, Bait Reef is one of the closest outer Great Barrier Reef locations to the Whitsundays and the destination for Explore's Full Day Snorkel and Dive tours. Departing Hamilton Island Marina and Airlie Beach (Shute Harbour), guests cruise for around two hours before arriving at this remarkable part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

For most visitors, Bait Reef is about experiencing the extraordinary diversity of the reef up close, from the coral formations of the Steppingstones to the chance of seeing some of the reef's most iconic marine life in its natural environment.

Bait Reef also offers something less expected. It is a place where guests can see reef restoration up close.

What Is Project Reefresh?

Project Reefresh: Bait Reef Rehabilitation is a reef restoration trial led by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. It is funded mainly through the Queensland Government's Reef Trails program, with support from Mars Sustainable Solutions, the Coral Nurture Program and other research and industry partners.

The project set out to improve coral cover on a damaged section of Bait Reef while creating a site for ongoing research into restoration techniques. The restoration site sits beside the Stepping Stones.

Why Bait Reef?

In 2017, Cyclone Debbie stripped much of the Stepping Stones site of its coral. Years later, large fields of coral rubble remain visible, a lasting reminder of the scale and intensity of the event.

Loose rubble shifts with waves and currents, which makes it hard for new coral to take hold. Without help, recovery in areas like this can be slow.

From Coral Rubble to New Growth

Installation began in October 2021. The restoration team collected around 4,000 live coral fragments from more than 30 species, sourced from less-impacted areas of the Bait Reef complex.

These fragments, known as "corals of opportunity", were pieces of coral and small colonies that had broken off and were lying loose on the seabed. Left where they were, many were unlikely to survive.

The team attached around 15 fragments to each of 200 MARRS (Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System) reef stars, hexagonal metal frames that give loose rubble a stable base.

The restoration area covers two sections of around 500 square metres each, with monitoring running for five years through to 2026. This lets researchers track how transplanted corals establish, grow and interact with the surrounding reef over time.

Bleaching and Replanting

Restoration is rarely a straight line. In early 2022, water temperatures at Bait Reef stayed above 28°C for three months, and by mid-year around 30% of the coral on the reef stars had died from bleaching. By February 2023, losses had passed 50%.

In August and September 2023, divers returned and replanted around 800 to 850 fresh coral fragments across 150 reef stars. Twenty stars were tagged so researchers could track their progress closely.

What You Can See Today

The restoration site sits in five to nine metres of water, within reach of both snorkellers and divers. The reef stars have become home to hard and soft corals and algae and provide habitat for a variety of marine life.

Guests can see the coral rubble fields left by Cyclone Debbie right beside new growth on the restoration structures, the damage and the recovery in a single view.

Explore's crew choose two snorkel and dive locations at Bait Reef each day based on conditions, so the restoration site is not visited on every trip.

A Living Example of Reef Recovery

The Great Barrier Reef has evolved alongside natural disturbances such as cyclones, storms and shifts in ocean conditions. These events can cause significant damage, but healthy reef ecosystems also show a strong capacity to recover. Restoration projects like Project Reefresh can complement that natural resilience by helping coral establish in areas where recovery would otherwise be slower.

For Explore's crew and guests, a day at Bait Reef is also an opportunity to understand the pressures facing coral reefs and to see practical conservation work taking place in the water.

The coral rubble around the Stepping Stones tells the story of a reef hit hard by a powerful natural event. The coral growing on the reef stars tells another story, one of recovery, research and resilience.

Help Protect the Reef on Your Visit

Every guest can play a part. Look but never touch the coral or the reef stars, keep your fins clear of the reef and choose reef-safe sunscreen.

Explore also takes part in the Reef Authority's Eye on the Reef program, with trained crew recording reef health and marine life at the sites they visit. Find out more about Explore's environmental commitment.

See It for Yourself

With Explore at Bait Reef, reef restoration is not something you simply hear about. It is something you can see growing beneath the surface.

Book Full Day Snorkel tour to Bait Reef, or if you are a certified diver, Full Day Dive tour. You can also browse all Great Barrier Reef cruises from Hamilton Island.