Solving the mysteries of our underwater planet.

WHEN Nic Dos Santos dives into the ocean he travels to another planet.

It is when Nic is sitting on the ocean floor, enjoying the view, all his good ideas come to life.

Ultra Coral Australia Managing Director and Founder Nic Dos Santos checking on corals at their Sarina headquarters.

As the Managing Director and Founder of Ultra Coral Australia, Nic believes there are many mysteries about coral that we are yet to discover.

And like any great mystery, Nic wants to find answers.

“The ocean is a mysterious place and because of that there is a lot we don’t know. And what we are going to be sharing in the next couple of years it going to keep everyone’s eyes focused on coral for years to come.

Ultra Coral Australia is a company based just south of Sarina and are passionate about ensuring the long-term health of the Great Barrier Reef and corals everywhere.  Part of their vision is to provide their industry with a 100% aquacultured source of premium corals.

“We are a few things and the first is we are a wild coral collection company where we collect wild coral from the ocean, and we are hold it here and farm it. From there we look after the coral and improve the health and then we ship it to aquariums and shops around the world”.

Nic said they also research coral and farm it onsite in their state- of -the -art tanks in their sheds surrounded by lush rolling hills, a world away from the deep blue.

Part of their dream is to continue to do this work, but also to start tourism and educational tours.

Nic said when he started building Ultra Coral Australia years ago that there was no research specific to corals native to the waters of The Whitsundays, in particular for aquarium corals.

“I had this idea because of some concern I had for some of the species of coral we collect, and they are not being replaced naturally, so I started asking questions as to why that was.

Nic said this industry is so new, that we are yet to know how fast 90% of the coral grows.

“This is the cool part where we get to partake in certain species and working out how to spawn, how fast it can grow and sharing that data with the world, so we can better everyone’s reefs around the world.”

In the next five years Ultra Coral Australia hope to have created the world’s biggest sea bank (A depository that holds coral as a way to preserve it for the future).  also hope to share more knowledge through underwater videos, educational talks and tourist tours.

Nic continued to say that in the future, they are looking for more opportunities to farm corals and to then restore them back into the ocean.

“Most people have been to a pet store and have looked at the marine fish and coral in a shop and most people don’t even bat an eyelid of where it came from.”

Nic said all of the corals that are shipped and purchased from Ultra Coral Australia are going to people’s homes all over the world.  Part of what Ultra Coral wants to achieve is make those home aquariums custodians of the world’s coral.

“What we want to do is to make sure we invigorate tourism operators and business in the Mackay region to get really excited but to put Sarina on the map. This region is the gateway to the Central Queensland reef and the Whitsundays. “

Nic said Ultra Coral Australia is in the perfect location.

“There is so much more reef here and the further out it is untouched. There is enough here in the region to keep us here for the rest of our lives.”

Nic has never been afraid to do anything at all. In fact, the fun part for him is putting his neck out and seeing what is out there.

“A family friend was a fish collector and me being a curious kid, I wasn’t afraid to jump someone’s fence. I jumped the fence and looked at all the tanks in his garage and have not looked back since.  Every time I go away from the ocean, I get drawn back to it. It is something I love. I am so grateful to have a set of eyes to see coral. 

“The ocean is my inspiration.  If you like new things the ocean is the place to be.”

For more information on Ultra Coral visit: https://ultracoralaustralia.com/