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Braasch, 70, from
Portland, Oregon, was snorkeling with a companion at the
Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station, the museum
said in a statement. He was documenting the effect of climate
change on the reef.
The cause of death was not immediately clear. Queensland police
had been notified and were investigating, the museum added.
A Nikon "Legend Behind the Lens" photographer, Braasch was an
active climate change campaigner and had received many major
awards and citations for his work.
The Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site, is the world's
largest living ecosystem, with thousands of multi-colored coral
reefs stretching over 2,000 km (1,200 miles) off the northeast
coast of Australia.
Parts of the reef face permanent destruction if the current El
Nino, one of the strongest weather patterns in two decades, does
not ease this month, scientists say.
(Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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