Students enjoy the opportunity to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. The reef around Konomie Island is fringing reef and displays a diversity of fish as well as soft and hard corals.
Students are briefed on how to get ready for snorkelling and safety when snorkelling. Students’ first snorkel is always a beach snorkel, where students learn snorkelling skills such as how to breath through their snorkel and use their fins. If visiting staff program a second snorkel, this is from our boat, “Gundoo Spirit” where students take a boat ride to a nearby reef and jump off the boat into the water.
Snorkel sites are chosen depending on the weather. For safety for this activity it is required that a visiting adult becomes a ‘spotter’ and stays out of the water and looks out for the students. In the water, as well as a KIEEC staff member leading the snorkel, there is generally at least one other visiting adult in the water with the students to offer support and encouragement. Snorkelling is often combined with manta towing, especially with younger students.
Snorkelling links with a range of outcomes including Science and Health and Physical Education. Visiting teachers are requested to identify the outcomes in their program and student discussions are conducted prior to and following the snorkel regarding these outcomes.
Find more information about Queensland curriculum on the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA) website.