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TRAVELING WITH PURPOSE

As a marine biologist and wildlife ecologist, I am dedicated to conserving some of the Earth’s most breathtaking natural habitats: our oceans and waterways, along with the remarkable creatures that inhabit them. I am driven by a genuine passion and admiration for the animals I encounter and study, coupled with a deep sense of responsibility towards the underwater world and its surrounding environments. This commitment motivates me to conduct all of my expeditions while prioritizing the well-being of cetaceans, other marine life, reefs, ecosystems, and the communities we visit.

MISSION

I A.S.P.I.R.E to make a positive impact on the marine environments, their inhabitants, and the local communities I visit, striving towards a sustainable future.

A D V O C A T E
Advocate for responsible tourism practices by all actors involved in marine tourism, leading through example by following a strict code of conduct when diving, snorkeling, and swimming with marine life
S U P P O R T

Support the effective management of marine resources and conservation strategies

P R O M O T E

Promote awareness to address issues such as climate change and ocean acidification

I N S P I R E

Inspire the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives, e.g., reusable water bottles versus single-use plastics, to reduce pollution and habitat destruction

R E S P E C T

Respect the connections that destination communities have with the oceans around them and encourage their collective action towards a more sustainable future for marine life

E D U C A T E

Educate – Sharing knowledge and conducting research are essential for understanding marine ecosystems and developing innovative solutions for their preservation

AFFILIATIONS

Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd (Scuba Expeditions and Marine Encounters) is guided by the world’s leading experts and advocates of marine animal welfare and works closely with marine conservation and citizen science groups. Citizen science is the practice of active participation and collaboration by the public in scientific research to advance knowledge and contribute to conservation. This participatory approach empowers individuals to share and contribute to various data monitoring and collection initiatives. Groups we support include:

 

Ghostnets Australia

For more than two decades, the Ghostnets Australia program (part of the OceanEarth Foundation) has been addressing ghost net issues. Ghost nets are abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nets (ALDFG—collectively known as ghost nets or ghost gear) that are devastating marine life by indiscriminately trapping, entangling, and drowning countless species, including marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. Encompassing both local community endeavours and international partnerships, the Ghostnets Australia program is dedicated to evolving strategies and progression towards a ghost net-free ocean.

Grey Nurse Sharks Watch Australia

The east coast population of Grey Nurse Sharks is listed as critically endangered. The west coast population is listed as vulnerable (Source: DCCEEW). This government project (also partnering with other organisations) involves research and monitoring whereby recreational divers collect data and photographs of grey nurse sharks when diving in their own time or during scheduled surveys (volunteers undertaking underwater surveys must be qualified divers).

Grey Nurse Sharks Watch Australia is also affiliated with Spot a Shark.

Happywhale

A citizen science group whose mission is to increase global understanding and care for marine environments through creating high-quality conservation science and education. The dataset is an identification resource for marine mammals and is used for research and conservation purposes.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

This ecologically sustainable tourism operator is committed to safeguarding and enriching Lady Elliot Island, the Great Barrier Reef, and adjacent communities. Their vision is for the island to remain an untouched coral cay within a green zone in the southern World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, whose inhabitants include birds and marine creatures. Their mission is to ensure preservation while providing economically and ecologically viable opportunities for visitors to experience it without compromising the island’s long-term sustainability.

Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) 

MWSRP is a charity that carries out whale shark research and fosters community-focused conservation initiatives in the Maldives.

Maldives Manta Conservation Programme (MMCP)

The MMCP is a Maldives-registered charity and the Manta Trust’s flagship research project. It’s one of the largest and longest-standing manta ray conservation groups in the world.

Manta Trust

This organisation envisions a sustainable future for the oceans, where manta rays and their relatives thrive in healthy, diverse marine ecosystems. Their multi-disciplinary approach to conservation involves research, education, and collaboration, which utilises a team of researchers, scientists, conservationists, educators, and media experts, all working together to share and promote knowledge and expertise.

OceanEarth Foundation

Based in Australia and working across Australia, the Coral Triangle, and the Pacific, this registered charity is working towards a future where people and nature thrive by unlocking new and innovative thinking, collaborations, and enabling community-led action on the ground. Their mission is being delivered through five strategic programs, one of which is GhostNets Australia (GNA).

Project Manta Australia

This research group is based at the University of Queensland, Australia. They aim to address the gaps in our knowledge of manta rays (connectivity and movement between populations within Australia and neighbouring regions; estimate population size; understand key biological and environmental drivers of population dynamics) and aid their conservation. Such drivers include competition between manta rays and other species, availability of food, and predators.

To achieve this, Project Manta brings together scientists, industry partners, and the public in their ‘Citizen Science’ photo-ID data collection program. Using photo identification and videos to track individual animals based on their unique body patterns, they aim to establish baseline data on manta rays. These photos are integrated into a database that includes pictures of all recorded manta rays around the Australian coastline.

Tongan Fluke Collective (TFC)

TFC collects valuable data on humpback whales, such as population data, migration and movements, relationships, age, and site fidelity, which can be used to better protect the whales in the future.

PLAYING YOUR PART IN RESPONSIBLE ENCOUNTERS AND CONSERVATION

As with all wild animals, human interaction (including touching and feeding) can pose significant risks to the animal in question but also to the human participant. Wild animals are just that, unpredictable and defensive of their territory and families, as we are.

 

D.A.R.E. to Dive (How to Be a Responsible Ocean Explorer)

Distance

Distance – When diving, snorkeling, swimming, or viewing animals in the wild, ensure to have distance so it won’t disturb their natural behaviour. Even in a controlled scenario, don’t approach them, allow them to come near you. Don’t touch them, as this may remove protective coatings on their skin and make them prone to infection and disease.

Avoid

Avoid buying souvenirs that are made from wildlife products or other threatened natural materials (e.g., turtle shells and coral). Often these products support unsustainable practices such as poaching and are illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Respect

Respect marine animals by reducing noise when entering the water, staying calm, and being patient. Protect your surroundings, like coral reefs, by not touching them or removing anything from them as a ‘souvenir.’ With approximately 9 million scuba divers and 27 million snorkelers worldwide, it’s never just taking one small piece of coral.

Education

Education is imperative in making better choices. Learning about responsible marine tourism empowers you to advocate for sustainable marine environments. On all of our trips, we offer you, a presentation to ensure education on a range of topics: Humpback Whales, Turtles, Manta Rays, Sharks, and Coral Reef Ecology.

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