“Seeing coral bleach feels like grieving a friend” - Tanya Murphy’s mission to protect the Reef
VOICES OF THE REEF
Some people visit the Great Barrier Reef once and never forget it. Others, like Tanya Murphy, dedicate their lives to protecting it.
Tanya is the GBR community campaigner at the Australian Marine Conservation Society.
She’s also the creator and co-host of Word on the Reef, a podcast and community radio show that blends marine science with adventure, storytelling, and hope.
Her mission? To make reef science accessible, immersive, and inspiring.
It was during her first dive at age 21 when Tanya fell head over heels in love with the reef.
“As I descended on my first training dive, I suddenly found myself surrounded by this surreal underwater world bursting with colour and life - it felt like another planet,” she recalled.
“That moment changed my life.”
Tanya became a scuba instructor and spent over a decade guiding visitors through the Reef’s beauty.
Emotional toll
But alongside the wonder, she also watched it change, especially due to the impacts of bleaching events and water pollution.
“It’s still an incredible ecosystem, but I’ve seen it shift. That contrast between what it was and what it's becoming is what drives my passion for protecting it.”
The grief of seeing the Reef degrade is something many divers feel.
A recent Divers for Climate poll found that 91 per cent of divers have personally observed climate impacts, with many reporting emotional distress.
“Seeing sites that were once healthy and thriving now bleaching is like grieving a friend,” Tanya said. “That sense of loss is real, and it’s something many divers carry deeply.”
That sense of loss has only deepened with the release of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s latest Summer Snapshot.
It confirms that 2024-25 is the sixth mass bleaching event in nine years, and the second back-to-back event after 2016-17.
“I’ve surfaced from dives with tears in my eyes,” Tanya said. “But I’ve learned to take that pain and turn it into purpose, through storytelling, community-building and advocacy.”
Word on the Reef
That’s where Word on the Reef comes in. Co-hosted by Tanya and fellow dive instructor Brett, the podcast and radio show shares real stories, connects communities, and inspires action.
Each episode features voices from across the Reef community - Traditional Owners, scientists, tourism operators, artists - all working in their own way to protect this natural wonder.
“Not everyone gets the chance to visit the Reef,” Tanya said. “But through storytelling and passionate conversations, we can make people feel connected to it, no matter where they are. We want to make science feel human, relatable, and real.”
A conversation with Gooreng Gooreng Traditional Owner Malachi Johnson left a lasting impression on Tanya.
“He said, ‘The Reef is our nervous system. Once we destroy that, it’s critical damage for our body. Because we are all one.’ That gave me goosebumps,” Tanya said.
“It reminded me that the Reef isn’t separate from us, it’s part of who we are.”
That message of connection flows through every episode. Tanya believes that by fostering understanding and emotional connection, people are more likely to care, and act.
“People can’t protect what they don’t understand,” she said. “But when they hear these stories, they realise they can be part of the solution. Whether it’s voting, volunteering, or just starting a conversation, it all matters.”
So what keeps her hopeful?
“The people,” she said. “I’ve met so many incredible scientists, Traditional Owners, artists, kids - all doing their part to protect the Reef.
“Nature is resilient, and so are we. When we work together, we can create powerful change. That gives me hope every single day.”
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