Michelle Barry, a scuba diving instructor based in Cairns, Australia joins host Tim Sweeney to discuss the beauty and diversity you can experience on a visit to the Great Barrier Reef, the immersive sensory experience of diving, and the importance of reef conservation. Hear what it's like to have a massive bull shark swim meters beneath you from a woman who has spent a great deal of her life underwater. A Master Reef Guide with Pure Snorkeling, Michelle also shares her journey from growing up in New Hampshire in the US to learning to dive in San Diego to moving to Queensland, Australia to do what she loves in one of the most premier places on earth to do it. The conversation also touches on the health of the reef, the impact of climate change, and the role of tourism in conservation efforts.

Chapters

01:10
Exploring the Great Barrier Reef

02:26
Meet Michelle Barry: Scuba Diving Expert

03:33
Journey to Becoming a Dive Instructor

06:13
Life Underwater: Diving Experience

08:57
Cairns: The Gateway to Adventure

09:42
The Job of a Dive Instructor

12:34
Understanding the Great Barrier Reef

18:10
The Immersive Experience of Diving

21:15
Health of the Great Barrier Reef

24:32
Personal Connection to the Reef

27:51
The Dynamics of Reef Predators

43:05
Shark Species of the Great Barrier Reef

50:10
Conservation Efforts and Eco-Tourism

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Long Distance Lounge podcast is produced by Twin Thieves Media

For more information, visit TwinThievesMedia.com

Follow Tim Sweeney on Instagram at @tesweens

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