George the Queensland Grouper

“That’s George,” said the words on the dive slate. Mal our guide grins and points at the massive shape hanging under the hull. The fish has to be three metres long and we can only guess how heavy. We look back at the slate - 350kg! Mal had anticipated our thoughts.

George the Queensland groper, lives underneath the Fantasea Reef Sleep barge in the channel that runs like a river through the Hardy Reef system. The current is reasonably strong but we move closer, noting tiny yellow trevally hovering around George’s mouth and suckerfish or remoras underneath. No doubt they are quite safe as a fish that size would be looking for much bigger game.

Our dive started about a kilometre up current from the Reef Sleep Platform. We drifted along the wall at an easy half knot pace, stopping to enjoy the fish schools and coral formations.

Occasionally a giant trevally or Spanish mackerel cruises in and investigates us, then vanishes back into the blue. Yellow tails flash in the light as a school of blue fusiliers move across the coral. Between the corals, colourful giant clams reveal their blue, green or brown mantles, each with its own pattern.

Near the top of the reef colourful clownfish flit in and out of their host sea anemones, threatening any intruder that gets too close, including us. The mooring ropes of the Reef Sleep barge appear, surrounded by even more fish such as trevally, Maori wrasse and surgeonfish.

Even the barge itself is alive with life, sea fans and soft corals extended into the current in pinks and yellows. Bright red cock’s comb oysters and yellow corals fill the gaps.

Later we watch the fish schools from the other side of the glass but this time stay dry inside the underwater observation chamber. Just before sunset, George appears near the side window, still accompanied by his entourage of tiny yellow trevally. Over the next hour or so we watch the giant fish drifting outside the glass. Perhaps he can see us too, but his expressionless eyes give no clue to his feelings.

Groper like George have become rare and only in the protected green zones of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are they safe from trophy hunting fishermen. Two smaller Queensland groper appear further out, obviously respecting George’s territory and size.
See Tourism Queensland for more info.