Showing no signs of slowing down , David Attenborough , has teamed up with Tourism Australia to make a three-part documentary aimed at drawing tourists to the Great Barrier Reef . Nearly 60 years after the wildlife presenter 's first visit to the continent , the collaboration was announced at the Destination Australia Conference in Sydney , this week . 'The most exciting natural history experience of my life was the first time I dived on a coral reef [ in 1957 ] . Being on the Reef is a revelatory , thrilling and unbeatable experience and with this project we 're going to be able to share it with millions , ' Attenborough said . David Attenborough returned to Australia filming a documentary about the world 's largest coral reef system . The popular naturalist spent three weeks filming on and around the Reef and aboard one of the world 's most advanced research vessels equipped with the latest technology . Tourism Australia Managing Director , John O'Sullivan said : 'It 's wonderful to welcome David back to the Reef where he will , once again , bring to life the many amazing stories of this magnificent natural wonder in his own unique and inimitable way . 'David Attenborough is one of the world 's greatest presenters of natural history content , and the Great Barrier Reef is arguably the world 's most recognised natural wonder . We could n't ask for a better match . ' Knotted fan coral and soft coral in the Great Barrier Reef , Pacific Ocean , Queensland , Australia . Attenborough spent three weeks on the Reef , on a research vessel equipped with cutting-edge technology . Attenborough said diving here in 1957 was the most exciting natural history experience of his life . The Great Barrier Reef already attracts more than 1.9 million visitors each year , and 90 per cent of the economic contribution in the region is derived from tourism . 'We already know from our consumer research that Australia 's biggest competitive strength is its world class nature , something which is extremely highly regarded from all our key target markets and very much a core part of our global tourism offering , ' Mr O'Sullivan continued . The research also revealed that aquatic and coastal experiences were amongst the most popular tourist activities , specifically to Australia where the Great Barrier Reef ranked highly in appeal amongst international visitors . An aerial shot of Whitehaven Beach , Whitsunday Island , Great Barrier Reef , Queensland , Australia . Six of the world 's seven species of marine turtle live in Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area . 'The Great Barrier Reef is a huge part of our destination appeal , with consumers in the UK , US , Singapore and Japan actually ranking it as their number one most appealing Australian attraction . 'It 's vital that we continue to show the world why our aquatic and coastal experience are so unique , and this film will undoubtedly help tell that story to a truly global audience in an authentic and engaging way , ' Mr O'Sullivan said . The Reef is at risk of becoming severely damaged due to the dumping of dredge waste in the World Heritage-listed waters , a report commissioned by conservation group WWF said last month . Divers on coral cliff admire the marine life , left ; Reef fish including sea goldies swim among the coral . Reef from above : Aquatic experiences are amongst the greatest drivers of international visitor demand . In January , the Australian government ordered a ban on dumping dredge spoil in the marine park as part of a push to stop the United Nations declaring the site in danger . Conservationists say dumping waste in reef waters damages it by smothering corals and sea grasses and exposing them to poisons and high levels of nutrients . The report said port expansions within reef waters , which it noted could see 1.8 billion cubic feet of the ocean floor dug up , would have 'devastating impacts ' on the natural wonder . The Great Barrier Reef is already popular , and often ranks as number one most appealing Australian attraction . The report prepared by the consultancy Dalberg Global Development Advisors said there was no need for coal port expansions along Queensland state 's coast -where the reef is located - as the capacity at existing terminals was unused one-third of the time . 'These coal port expansions could increase the total coal port capacity of the region from 267 to 637 million tonnes per year ' , the report added . Australian authorities are very protective over the Reef . Last year , Foreign Minister , Julie Bishop , sent US President Barack Obama the 'facts ' after he expressed fears it would not be there for future generations . It 's hoped that combining technology with science will help audiences understand more about the Reef . Obama voiced his worries that climate change threatened the natural wonder in a speech during the G20 summit in Brisbane . But Bishop said there was 'an issue ' with his position and that he may have have overlooked Australia 's commitment to preserving the coral structure which teems with marine life . She said the federal and state governments spent Aus $ 180 million ( £105 million ) a year preserving the reef . 'Australia knows better than anyone the importance of preserving the Great Barrier Reef , ' the minister told Sky News .
Tourism Australia announced collaboration with the TV legend this week . Documentary designed to draw visitors to world 's largest coral reef system . Presenter spent three weeks filming the series , expected to air in 2016 .