Meet Mike Atkinson — former military pilot turned solo adventurer, survival expert, and filmmaker. In one of the boldest voyages ever attempted, Mike hand-carved a dugout canoe and sailed it 1,500 kilometres up the Great Barrier Reef — from Townsville to the Torres Strait — using only traditional, handmade fishing and hunting tools. No engine. No GPS. No esky.

Surviving on stingray, dried kangaroo, and sheer determination, Mike faced crocodiles, storms, and solitude — all in a quest to reconnect with nature and spotlight the urgent need to protect the Reef and honour Indigenous knowledge.

This is more than a survival story — it’s a challenge to all of us to rethink how modern life is pulling us away from what truly matters. What Mike discovered out there will both shock and inspire you.

FOLLOW MIKE

• Mike's Website: outbackmike.com
• Mike's Insta: instagram.com/outback_mike

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PROTECT THE REEF - SIGN THESE PETITIONS NOW!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Tide: Join your local climate action group!

CONTACT US

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.com
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
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Whale and manta ray season has arrived on the Great Barrier Reef - and so have the awe-inspiring encounters! Divers and snorkellers are reporting unforgettable moments with these gentle giants, and in this special bonus episode of Word on the Reef, Master Reef Guide Tahn Miller joins host Tanya Murphy once again to spill their top insider tips on how you can experience the magic too.

This is Part 3 of our fan-favourite series, "Top 8 Animals to See on the Great Barrier Reef – and Where to Find Them", which began back in Season 1, Episode 13. If you haven’t heard the first two episodes yet, don't forget to check those out too!

Yes, it’s been a while since Part 2 - but we promise, this finale is worth the wait. In this jam-packed episode, we finally reveal the top three most iconic animals to see on the Reef - and our insider secrets on where, when, and how to find them. If you’re planning a Reef adventure, you won't want to miss this episode!

Thumbnail image by Tahn Miller

• Tahn Miller Instagram
• Wavelength Reef Cruises

Support the show

PROTECT THE REEF - SIGN THESE PETITIONS NOW!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Tide: Join your local climate action group!

CONTACT US

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.com
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

Welcome to the ocean -- where your genitals are on your face, males give birth, and gender is more of a suggestion than a rule. You can snooze in a bubble of your own vomit or switch sexes overnight without anyone batting a fin. What a world!

This week we’re joined by Mike Scotland - marine biologist, underwater photographer, and editor of DiveLog Magazine. With 50 years of diving, thousands of dives, and two books under his weight belt (Marine Biology in the Wild and Diving With Sharks), Mike’s here to tell us why humans have more in common with flatworms than we’d like to admit -- and how to keep your spines clean if you’re a sea urchin. Dive in!

Thumbnail Image: Gold-speckled flatform (Thysanozoon nigropapillosum)

Support the show

PROTECT THE REEF - SIGN THESE PETITIONS NOW!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Tide: Join your local climate action group!

CONTACT US

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.com
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram