Three Keppel Bay locals have been selected to ensure a world-class representation of the Reef, its values and the management in place to protect those values. Meet our Master Reef Guides…
Recognised as three of the world’s leading advocates, interpreters and storytellers, Sam and Lyndsay Appleton from Keppel Dive and Max Allen Jnr from Freedom Fast Cats have trained with national experts who are leaders in science, management and history in a bid to boost tourism and educate more visitors about the World Heritage Area of Great Keppel Island and the Capricorn Coast.
Sam Appleton – Master Reef Guide | Skipper | Dive Instructor | Owner | Keppel Dive | Keppel Islands
Master Reef Guide Sam Appleton was raised around snorkelling and enjoying the Keppel Islands. Throughout his career, he has worked for many High Standard Tourism Operators in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, working as far North as Lizard Island through to the Southern Great Barrier Reef where he is today. He also spent time as a Rescue Crew Officer for Queensland Government Air Rescue, so you know you are in safe hands when around Sam.
Returning to the Keppel Islands, he realised the region needed interpretive guided Reef tours. Keppel Dive was then born, where Sam and his wife Lyndsay run the only PADI dive resort on the Capricorn Coast and the only dive centre on Great Keppel Island.
Lyndsay Appleton – Master Reef Guide | Skipper | Dive Instructor | Owner | Keppel Dive | Keppel Islands
Master Reef Guide Lyndsay Appleton started working in the tourism industry 15 years ago on day boats out of Port Douglas, where she fell in love with the Great Barrier Reef.
Aside from her passion for the Reef, Lyndsay is also a Critical Care Flight Paramedic with Queensland Ambulance, working on the Capricorn Rescue Helicopter.
With a focus on maximising visitor experiences when they visit our special part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Lyndsay from Keppel Dive has joined husband Sam to become a double force when if comes to making a difference in preserving and protecting our underwater paradise.
Max Allen Junior – Master Reef Guide | Skipper | Owner | Freedom Fast Cats | Southern Great Barrier Reef
Master Reef Guide Max has Island living and boats are in the Max’s blood, the history of maritime tourism in the Allen family dates back to 1950 when Lew Allen established the first resort on Quoin Island – off the shores of Gladstone. Fast forward 70 years and the family still work showcasing the beauty of islands and the surrounding waters through ‘Freedom Fast Cat’s’ which has been operating since 1999. Freedom Fast Cats offers ferry transfers as well as a wide range of cruises to the Keppel bay Islands.
