Researchers on Australia's Antarctic icebreaker say some of the sea creatures they have been collecting could be new to science.

The RSV Nuyina is partway through a 60-day voyage to the edge of the icy continent — it's first mission dedicated solely to marine science.

The expedition is primarily focused on understanding the impact that warmer waters are having on the Denman Glacier, the fastest melting glacier in East Antarctica.

But the research teams are also collecting and analysing some of the unique biodiversity found in the Southern Ocean.

These include sea spiders "as big as your hand", sea stars "that grow to the size of a dinner plate" and octopus species endemic to the region, according to Professor Jan Strugnell, from James Cook University.

The specimens also include numerous "sea pigs", which are a type of sea cucumber already known to science, as well as small crustaceans that live on the sea floor, known as isopods.

"[We've collected] a really large diversity of a broad suite of marine life, and likely some new species to science," said Professor Strugnell, who is also part of the Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future research program.

A specially designed wet well on the vessel has also allowed researchers to capture tiny fragile creatures without damaging or destroying them.

One of them is a "sea butterfly", a type of sea snail that appears to flutter as it swims through the water.

The creature subsequently laid eggs in one of the ship's aquariums, providing researchers the chance to document pteropod egg development for the first time.

"The team is super excited about having the little creature and observing it and looking after it, so that it tells all the secrets that have been hidden until now," Dr Laura Herraiz Borreguero, from the CSIRO and Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP), said.

Close encounter with jade iceberg

The Nuyina left Hobart at the start of March, carrying 60 scientists from four Australian research organisations.

During its almost 4,000-kilometre journey, the research vessel has endured huge swells and gale force winds.

But on a calm day near the Shackleton ice shelf, scientists were able to observe the unusual sight of a jade-coloured iceberg.

Professor Delphine Lannuzel said while the snow and pure ice in most icebergs gave them a white and blue colour, it's hypothesised that jade icebergs get their green tone from high iron content.

"So those iron oxides are absorbing those blue lights, and that sort of makes that jade iceberg look [like] the colour that it is," Professor Lannuzel, from UTAS and the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, said.

"[The theory] hasn't been really tested yet, so we are hoping to do that one day."

'The system is changing'

Being close to the edge of the ice shelf has enabled seawater samples to be collected near the "tongue" of the Denman Glacier, which scientists say has retreated 5 kilometres over two decades.

The samples allow teams to analyse water temperature, salinity, oxygen levels and trace metals at different depths.

"For us to really understand how much heat enters the ice shelf, we need to be as close as possible to understand these processes and properties of the ocean," Dr Laura Herraiz Borreguero said.

The early results of the research had been surprising on two levels, she said.

"And at the same time, we've seen cooler waters that we were expecting at depth, and warmer waters within the midst of the water column, which could explain why we're seeing so little sea ice this season."

She said the voyage highlighted how critical it was for scientists to get access to the Antarctic region.

"The system is changing," she said.

"And it is really important that we observe the change so that we keep on challenging those climate models we rely on for our mitigation and adaptation strategies."

The ship will remain off the coast of Antarctica for about three more weeks, before returning to Hobart in early May.

My name is Patrick. I am 15 years old. I love to bush walk, swim and spell.

Sometimes, asking questions is fun.

I use a letter board to communicate because I am non-speaking. Non-speaking means I can't talk. I am autistic and have apraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorder.

I spell words by pointing to a letter board, held by a communication and regulation partner.

They hold the letter board because I have motor planning differences and struggle to regulate my body and use purposeful motor movements.

My body has a mind of its own, and I am not always in control of my arms. I sometimes point to the wrong letter because my arms don't work together with my brain.

They call this proprioception, where a person doesn't understand where their body is in time and space.

I need a communication and regulation partner to help me by training my arm and finger and ocular eye movements.

I appreciate them, because everyone thinks spelling is easy, but it involves a complex approach that requires age-based curriculum and a series of activities to teach my motor planning.

I spell non-speaking and not non-verbal, because non-verbal means without words, and I am not without words.

I have plenty to spell, and I am intelligent. I use the word spell instead of write because I can't hold a pencil and write to communicate.

'It doesn't define me'

Terminology is important to me because I am autistic and don't have autism.

It's my identity, but it doesn't define me. When people use the correct terminology, I feel awesome and valued.

The medical model of disability sees people as broken and need fixing.

I prefer the social model of disability because people don't need fixing, they need to be accommodated and included.

Everyone is different and needs to be involved. In decisions in their own life.

Society needs to cater for our needs and adjust what they do and accommodate our individual needs, wants and dreams.

When I went to school, I was treated poorly.

Teachers treated me like a baby and like I don't understand anything. They asked me if I was intellectually challenged and if I could do anything.

I want autistic, non-speakers to have opportunities. We have human rights like neurotypical people and deserve to be treated fairly.

You can change the world by presuming competence and believing in someone and providing them with opportunities.

I wish people saw me as a person who was intelligent and able to achieve anything.

I am going to change my life, but you could change many by asking us to be your friend.

My dream is to become famous and to ask autism organisations to include autistic non-speakers in decision-making about policies and procedures in their organisation.

I plan on going to university to study disability advocacy and also becoming the world's first autistic non-speaking hiking guide.

You can change the world once you give people who are non-speaking an opportunity to be included.

Patrick shared his experience with BTN High for World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which promotes understanding of people on the autism spectrum.

He recently took part in Teen Parliament, in which South Australian high school students shared a big idea they have for the state's future.