Page 88 - Port Douglas Magazine 44

Q& A

WITH MASTER REEF GUIDE
TAHN MILLER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY John Edmonson

Where are you originally from and what’s your earliest memory of What is your favourite marine species and why?
loving the sea? Hands down the dwarf minke whale. My most unforgettable encounter
I was born in Kempsey, a town on the mid-north coast of New South was a one-on-one experience out at the edge of the reef, over the deep
Wales. drop-off, more than a kilometre from the nearest boat or person.
Like so many Aussie families in the 1980s, my parents’ idea of a holiday This incredible 8-metre dwarf minke whale came in close for a
was heading to the beach - fishing, 4WD adventures, and what we better look and its passes were exhilarating. It circled me slowly, so
called “beach missions”. We’d pack a picnic, find somewhere new, and inquisitively, and with such trust. Just me and this gentle giant, out in
stay a while. I have vivid memories of exploring tidal pools around the the blue, it was nothing like I ever expected when I boarded that flight
headlands and wandering through the mangroves of back creeks and to Far North Queensland.
estuaries. When I landed my first job on Poseidon, I had no idea I’d be leading
I’ve got to give full credit to my parents. They worked hard to make people into the water to swim with whales. But it became one of the
those trips happen, and those early adventures played a huge role in most extraordinary parts of my work. It’s just incredible to be eye to
shaping my love for the ocean and ultimately the direction of my career. eye with these amazing creatures as they come in to have a look at us
humans.
What inspired your journey into marine biology? Who are your Over the past 15 years, I’ve been lucky enough to swim with 44 different
marine role models? dwarf minke whales, sometimes one or two at a time. The most I’ve
I’ve always believed that the most expert and insightful watermen seen together was four adults and a calf. It’s a privilege I’ll never take
are the ones who live it: Fishermen, surfers, divers, snorkellers, and for granted.
beachcombers. These are the people who spend time on Country,
observing the tides and learning from the rhythm of the seasons. What has been one of your favourite personal experiences on the
Some of my earliest memories of the ocean are from Crescent Head, a reef?
little surf town, and later as a teenager I called Lennox Head, just south One of my most memorable moments was filming the incredibly rare
of Byron Bay, home. juvenile oarfish at Opal Reef, a moment that went viral, with the footage
Growing up, I had so many heroes from Lord Robert Baden-Powell to reaching more than 100 million views worldwide after the press release.
Sir David Attenborough, Malcolm Douglas, Ben Cropp, Les Hiddins, What made you want to become an accredited Master Reef Guide
Rex Hunt, and of course, Steve Irwin. I dreamed of a life filled with
adventure, just like their’s. and how do you see your role? How has the training helped your
interaction with visitors?
What made you move/identify Port Douglas as a great place to live Being nominated as a Master Reef Guide isn’t necessarily about being
and work? the most knowledgeable marine biologist to ever dive the reef, but rather
I originally came to Port Douglas for a wedding. I was best man for about keeping people safe and the ability to pass on knowledge through
oral tradition and helping others form a deep, lasting connection to the
friends I’d met while working in the Snowy Mountains, and they chose Great Barrier Reef.
to tie the knot at Rex Smeal Park, right down at Little Cove.
After a week here, I was seriously feeling the laid-back vibes and could Being a Master Reef Guide is about trust, safety and candour and
having the integral ability to impart honest intellectual knowledge to
sense there were some great job opportunities around. I decided to stick guests who travel with high standard tourism operators. My High
around a little longer to check out the reef, so I booked a scuba diving Standard Tourism Operator (HTO) is Wavelength Reef Cruises, the
course and after three days underwater I was completely hooked. best around in my very biased opinion.
That very first dive changed my life. My entire perspective shifted. I
couldn’t believe the reef looked exactly like the documentaries I’d
watched as a kid, the ones made by my childhood heroes. The more
time I spent down there, the more magical it became.