Port Noarlunga Reef (400 metres and 1.6 km long) established in 1994, is the prevailing feature of the Port Noarlunga Aquatic Reserve. The Port Noarlunga Reef is made up of prominent rocky reef with sandy marine, muddy estuarine and samphire flats, home to more than 200 species of marine plants and animals [Gov,11]. The Aquatic Reserve was established in 1971 to conserve the plant and animal species located within the reef and protect the exploitation of the habitats situated in the lower part of the Onkaparinga River [Gov, 09]. This reef is a rock pile that runs over the shore for 1.5 km and provides an assortment of estuarine and marine habitats. The main part of the reef stretches for a few hundred metres to both the sides of the jetty with a gap in the middle because the Port Noarlunga reef was originally 2 reefs made up of gravelly sand with a space through the middle and this area is nicknamed as the Gap. Aquatic life is abundant and organisms can be spotted during the night. [Nev, 08]. The aquatic reserve consists of many heterotrophs and autotrophs within the different zones of the reef. At the top of the reef is the algal mussel community. The inside edge is dominated by brown algae, but species such as sponges and hydroids also reside in various regions. The ecosystem of the reef starts with the producers, which are the algae, kelp and plankton. These producers then make available energy for the marine organisms to take in for every-day use. These primary consumers are then eaten by the marine carnivore organisms for their energy. The characteristics of the environment play a huge role in order for the ecosystem to survive [Cre, 06].
One of the withstanding features of the Port Noarlunga Reef is the Underwater Trail, funded by the Commonwealth Bank to increase awareness to the community of the Aquatic Reserves. The institution of the underwater trail represented the first marine education trail in SA which provides major education on marine ecosystems beneath the reef and simultaneously provides understanding to protect the marine ecosystems [Gov, 11].
