A Call to the Cruising Community to Protect the Great Barrier Reef
Ocean Crusaders is proud to announce the official launch of Island Guardians 2026, a flagship program uniting the cruising community, ocean lovers, and environmental stewards for a mission that truly matters: cleaning and protecting the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Our first two volunteer flotilla events are now live :
Keppel’s / Pearl Bay Clean Up – April 10-16: https://www.facebook.com/events/1559521355272242
‘Oroton’ Percy’s & Digby Island Clean up – April 23-29: https://www.facebook.com/events/1998044210752868
We’re inviting cruisers, yachties, adventurers, and coastal caretakers to join us in making 2026 the biggest year yet for marine conservation.
Why Island Guardians?
The islands of the Great Barrier Reef are among the most stunning and fragile environments on Earth. Powerful weather systems, marine debris, ocean currents, and increasing human pressure all contribute to the accumulation of waste in places where wildlife should thrive unimpacted.
Island Guardians turns the cruising lifestyle into a force for good—transforming voyages into conservation missions and creating a community of cruisers who leave every island in better condition than they found it.
Whether you’re a liveaboard, seasonal cruiser, professional skipper, or weekend sailor, your vessel becomes a tool for change and your presence makes a measurable impact.
What the Program Involves
Each Island Guardians event is structured to be safe, enjoyable, meaningful, and community?driven, combining:
- On?Island Clean?Ups – Removing plastics, nets, and debris from beaches, mangroves, and shorelines that are otherwise unreachable without boats.
- Citizen Science & Ecological Monitoring – Documenting debris types, and environmental condition to support long?term data for Reef protection partners.
- Community & Camaraderie – Shared anchorages, sunset raft?ups, briefings, sundowners, and the kind of friendships that only form at sea.
- Adventure with Purpose – Cruising to remote and beautiful parts of the Reef while knowing your presence is helping restore them.
Be Part of the 2026 Cruising Flotilla
Island Guardians 2026 will feature multiple flotilla?style events throughout the year, enabling boats to join for one event or for the entire series. Each event is fully coordinated by Ocean Crusaders, including:
- Clean?up equipment & collection bags
- Debris pickup and disposal logistics
- Support vessel coordination
- Safety planning
- Post?event reporting so you can see the impact you helped achieve
All you need is a seaworthy boat and the desire to help protect the Reef.
How to Get Involved
Visit our program page to explore the mission and upcoming events:
www.oceancrusaders.org/island-guardians
Register for our first two events directly through Facebook:
- Event One: https://www.facebook.com/events/1559521355272242
- Event Two: https://www.facebook.com/events/1998044210752868
Or simply reach out to us through the Ocean Crusaders website to express interest in joining the flotilla.
A Message to the Cruising Community
You already know the magic of the Great Barrier Reef — the coral, the anchorages, the wildlife, the sunsets, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.
Now you can help protect the very places that give us those unforgettable moments.
By joining Island Guardians 2026, you’re not just cruising —
you’re safeguarding one of the world’s greatest natural treasures.
Together, we can ensure these islands remain pristine for generations of cruisers, ocean lovers, and wildlife to come.
Sponsor a Flotilla
Sponsoring an Island Guardians flotilla is a powerful way for your brand to make a real, visible difference to the Great Barrier Reef while connecting with a passionate and growing community of ocean lovers.
As a sponsor, you’re not just funding an event — you’re enabling large?scale environmental restoration across remote islands that can only be reached by boat. You’ll help remove tonnes of debris, support citizen?science work, and directly protect habitats that the world cares deeply about.
Your brand will be aligned with positive impact, adventure, and community action. Each flotilla brings together sailors, families, tourism operators, and recreational boaters who value sustainability — creating authentic visibility and long?lasting goodwill.
In short:
You’re helping save the Reef, strengthening your brand, and joining a movement that’s only getting bigger every year.
Contact Ocean Crusaders today – ian@oceancrusaders.org 0412 932 808
See our 2025 trial event on Shaw & Thomas Islands