The researchers 'flying' and getting barrels on the reef for science

After 40 years, dragging a scientist underwater is still perfect for monitoring the Great Barrier Reef. (Supplied: AIMS)

Daniela Ceccarelli is clinging to a rope with her hands above her head as she whizzes through the water, trying to count as many fish and coral as she can.

Every two minutes, the boat towing her pauses so Dr Ceccarelli can jot down her observations with a waterproof pencil on waterproof paper.

Then she's off again, soaring underwater in a research method known as a "manta tow".

Daniela Ceccarelli on a manta tow trip, which she says is a highlight of her job. (Supplied: AIMS)

The manta tows are designed to provide a quick broadscale check of reef health, tracking bleaching, coral cover, crown-of-thorns starfish or even the number of coral trout.

"We do tow in rough weather sometimes, so it can be fun to get a barrel while you're on a manta tow."

Dr Ceccarelli has had a fish-eye view of hundreds of different areas that make up the Great Barrier Reef.

She has seen its sheltered sides, the sandy lagoons and the steep-walled reef front.

Manta tows like this have been carried out on the reef for 40 years. (Supplied: AIMS)

Sometimes, she is surrounded by dolphins, whales or false killer whales.

And once, in a bizarre incident, she watched an octopus punch a fish.

These unusual counting trips form a vital part of the Australian Institute of Marine Science's (AIMS) long-term monitoring program of the reef, with the group marking 40 years of data collection.

The dataset includes information from manta tows on 490 parts of the Great Barrier Reef.

The team performs the monitoring process in all sorts of weather, including these rough seas in 2008. (Supplied: AIMS)

The monitoring program also includes detailed scuba surveys identifying the size and number of species.

Dr Ceccarelli has completed about 3,000 of these manta tows in five years and said the monitoring program was "legendary" among educators as the "gold standard of coral reef management".

The public database has details down to the results of each manta tow.

The data from every single manta tow is included in an online database tracking the reef's health. (Supplied: AIMS: Michelle Jonker)

Dr Ceccarelli said she was regularly asked how the reef was doing, and now people can see for themselves.

"You can drill down to each part of the reef and see how it's faring."

The program began after the second crown-of-thorns outbreak on the reef.

Team lead Mike Emslie said the monitoring was considered novel at the time.

Mike Emslie says the monitoring program has proven its w