Beware Reef is the ‘Great Barrier Reef’ of Victoria

Beware Reef is a conservation area off Victoria’s far east Gippsland coast, known in the diving community but not much beyond that. It has been dubbed the “Great Barrier Reef’ of Victoria because of the diverse fish, mammal, coral and shark species found here (including Great Whites). The reef is exposed and is a landing ground for fur seals. Due to funding, Parks Victoria doesn’t do much to check in on the reef. So a volunteer group “Friends of Beware Reef” has formed of four male divers who regularly go out and survey marine life for the University of Tasmania reef project, remove spiny sea urchins (a pest), plant acoustic devices for Great White Shark studies and also report any illegal fishing that’s happening.