Welcome to the Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from July, August and September 2025.

Golden Hamlet Award

Congratulations to Herb Gruenhagen for completing 1000 REEF surveys and thus joining the Golden Hamlet Club. Herb lives in San Diego, where he does most of his surveys in the Pacific ocean. See this article for more details about his path to Golden Hamlet.

Juvenile Hamlet Award

The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club member:

  • Gail Roberts

Read more about the Juvenile Hamlet award and others who have achieved it.

100 Survey Milestone

This is a new award for REEF members who have conducted 100+ surveys. Congratulations to those who have earned this award within the last three months!

  • Linda Bilsing
  • Donna Goodale 
  • Sarah Weaver 
  • Naide Figueira Henriques
  • Kevin Culp
  • Olivia Bidenot

Experience Level Advancements

REEF Experience Levels are a way for divers and snorkelers to measure their fish ID knowledge along with their surveying experience. Experience Levels are achieved by submitting a certain number of surveys and passing a fish ID test. For more info, visit www.REEF.org/experiencelevels. Let's hear it for these REEF members who have advanced an Experience Level! We had 134 achievements this past quarter!

All listed below are Level 2 unless otherwise noted.

California (CAL)

Rosie Arathoon - Level 5
Eloi Agnus - Level 3
Erick Posada
Matt Watkins
Romina Ruiz

Central Indo-Pacific (CIP)

Carmen Toanchina - Level 5
Carol Cline - Level 3
Holly Myers - Levels 2 and 3
Steve Hatten - Levels 2 and 3
Barbara Carichner
Catarina Dinis
Gregg Cline
Joma Dix
Mariette Brommelcamp
Megan Applegate
Michele Chambers
Rebecca Bartow
Rianne Poesse
Sheri Van Dijk
Tiffini Ayala

Eastern Atlantic & Mediterranean (EAM)

Deb Hebblewhite
Kevin Abbott
Mariette Brommelcamp

Hawaii (HAW)

Guy Pinneo
Jon Menton

Indian Ocean / Red Sea (IORS)

Christina Ewerhardy - Level 3
Ahmad Arfaj
Balog Katalin (Boglárka Balog)
Flóra Mátrahegyi
Maha Alghamdi
Yussri Mahrous

Pacific Northwest (PNW)

Phillip Jacobson

South Atlantic States (SAS)

Stacey Henderson

South Pacific (SOP)

Dan Scoggin
Danielle Klose
Heidi Dunn 

Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP)

Janet Camp - Level 4
Amaya Sturge
Anna Mitchell
Carol Hull
Constance Gramlich
Greg Jensen
Judy Wagner
Max de Liedekerke
Mindy Gould

Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA)

Kathy Benjamin - Level 5
Anne Coles - Level 3
John Bychok - Level 3
Adam Schneider
Ally Brawner
Amanda Archer
Amy Walton
Anastasia Szymanski
Andrea Loren Mannoia
Angelina Russotti
Aniela Thompson
Annie Johnson
Arash Nikzad
Ashlyn Lixey
Braden Brask
Camille Beeding
Carina Hosford
Cassandra Steffensen
Cecilia Platt
Christine Plentyhoops
Claudia Sanchez
Connor Larson
Dani Backman
Dirk Sikora
Donna Schechter
Dylan Olson
Eleanor Flynn
Elizabeth McParland
Ellie Bosacoma
Emilie Tremblay
Erin Timms
Evangelina Paredes
Ferdinand van Stekelenburg 
Francesca Wood
Geneva Swann
Grace Brady
Hannah Pariano
Hannelore Buckenmeyer
Hayden Faricelli
Helen Sonnemans
Hunter King
Isabelle Corlette
Izzy Avalos
Jack Cademartori
Jackie Inzunza
Jackie Powers
Jacqueline Lashmanova
James Wales
Jamiya Borden
Jennier Dukhan
Jennifer Himes
Jordan Brown-Denny
Julieta Garcia Meilan
Katarina Lukic
Katie Lee
Kaylee Stealer
Kim Sicheneder
Kristine Kwong
Laura Miani
Leela Prodhan
Leo Al-Baho
Liam Herbert-Miller
Lily Jaktupat-Schneider
Linda Sawade
Lisa Johnson
Lisa McIntyre
Luke Lebel
Lyla Mannoia
Lynnsey Goyarts
Madalyn Sanchez
Madison Hof
Maeve Power
Mannat Sahni
Megan Diehl
Mia Navarrete
Olivia Johnson
Paige McNamee
Patti Gallagher
Rachel Day
Ryan Gardner
Samantha Coppedge
Samuel Masullo
Sarah Bender
Sarah Fadelici
Spencer Neissen
Stephen Kos
Sue Slavec
Sydney Logan
Tatianna Guillen
Teresa Burchette
Trey Maranto
Tyler Humphries
Veda Keshavamurthy
Vivienne Airhart