Orpheus Island Research Station

The dry lab, entirely air conditioned, and wet lab, with separate air-conditioned culture rooms, are both stocked with basic scientific equipment. The wet lab and outdoor tank areas are supplied with continuous aeration and running seawater, both raw and filtered.

A variety of aquaria, raceways, and tanks up to 8000 L capacity are available.

There is a well-equipped workshop for servicing or field fabrication of equipment. Maintenance and boating staff provide technical support.

The station provides a dive compressor, tanks, and weights. Medical oxygen is kept on site and recompression facilities are available in both Townsville and Cairns. Five-metre aluminium work boats with 25 or 30 hp outboards are suitable for most work in the vicinity of Orpheus. Two six-metre centre console dory style boats with 50hp outboards are also available for use. The 9 m catamaran Challenger III provides rapid access to sites further afield. Other vessels are available for special purposes.

Weather rarely restricts access to sites on the leeward western side of Orpheus and nearby islands. During the southeast trades from March to November sea conditions sometimes limit access to the windward side and offshore reefs.

Three major marine science institutions, James Cook University , the Australian Institute of Marine Science , and the Great Barrier Reef Marine P ark Authority , are based in nearby Townsville. Thus, a wealth of scientific resources including specialist expertise, libraries, laboratory facilities, collections, and technical support is close at hand. Loans of equipment not stocked at the station can often be arranged.