SeaKeepers South Pacific Runs First Floating Classroom in Australia

On July 31st, 2026, SeaKeepers South Pacific hosted its first-ever Floating Classroom in Australia as part of the Great Barrier Reef Festival in Airlie Beach. The classroom was run by Haley Davis, SeaKeepers’ Data Scientist and the event marked an exciting milestone for the expansion of SeaKeepers’ education program and provided participants with the opportunity to experience the Whitsundays’ marine environment while learning about the importance of the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding seagrass ecosystems.

The Floating Classroom was made possible through the generous support of Whisper Cruises, who donated the use of their vessel for the day. As the only fully electric tour boat operating in the Whitsundays, Whisper Cruises provided the ideal platform for an environmentally conscious learning experience. The vessel’s quiet electric motors allowed participants to observe wildlife with minimal disturbance while exploring the waters around Airlie Beach.

Throughout the excursion, participants learned about the ecological importance of coral reefs and seagrass meadows, the species that depend on these habitats, and the conservation challenges they face. Using SeaKeepers’ EarthEcho Water Challenge kits, the group also carried out water quality testing, gaining hands-on experience measuring environmental conditions and discussing how water quality influences the health of local marine ecosystems.