The Aquatic Reserve

Unique Marine life

The Long Reef marine life is unique due to its exposure to all four points of the compass. It includes two main rocky shores. The northern rocky reef area is protected from southerly swells by the prominent eastern headland, whilst the larger eastern platform is more exposed.

It has a wide variety of habitats, including sheltered boulder fields and surf-exposed ledges. Marine organisms found here have adapted to deal with large amounts of exposure to sun and little exposure to water.

The intertidal region is the area above the low tide mark. In this area there are a variety of organisms that are able to withstand immersion in water during high tide and in rock pools as well as exposure to the air, extreme temperatures and saline conditions during low tide.