Author: Amy Lee, Communications Manager
Netflix’s reality competition show All the Sharks has made waves not only with viewers around the world, but also in the ocean conservation community, and REEF was at the heart of the excitement.
The six-part series follows four teams of shark experts as they visit some of the world’s most biodiverse waters to find and photograph as many shark species as possible. Along the way, they dive deep into shark science, compete for a grand prize of $50,000, and highlight the importance of protecting sharks and rays.
We are thrilled to share that Team Shark Docs, led by REEF members and marine scientists Dr. Chris Malinowski and Dr. Brendan Talwar, emerged as the winners! Chris and Brendan selected REEF and Ocean First Institute as the two non-profit beneficiaries of the $50,000 prize, resulting in a $25,000 donation to each organization in support of ongoing ocean conservation work.
As longtime supporters, Brendan and Chris used REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project database during the competition to inform their dive planning and maximize their chances of shark encounters. Their knowledge of REEF's marine life database, and their personal ties to the organization, made their victory even more meaningful. Here's what they had to say about their experience:
“We competed on All the Sharks to help bring the largest possible diversity of sharks and conservation messaging to screens all over the world, and we couldn't be happier with the result. Seeing the show's poster in Netflix's top ten list in countries across the globe felt like an extraordinary win for the whole production team, including all of the contestants who competed for the grand prize. Not only did we get to go on an adventure of a lifetime and dive in some of the most biodiverse and shark abundant places on earth, for the two of us, bringing that grand prize home to two non-profits close to our hearts was icing on the cake.
We donated half of the $50,000 prize to REEF – an organization that has been a part of our lives since the beginning of our careers. As undergraduates, we each learned REEF survey techniques in the Caribbean (and also Australia for Chris) and later went on to do REEF surveys and use REEF survey data in our own research. Not to mention, our bookshelves are stocked with Reef Fish Identification and Behavior books by REEF co-founders Ned DeLoach and Paul Humann. Having now contributed to every part of the process – donating funds, collecting data as citizen scientists, and using the powerful REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project to publish on and learn more about the status of Goliath Grouper and shark populations – we are more excited than ever to continue supporting REEF and collaborating in the years to come. Few organizations achieve so much with such a small, but powerful team.”
We are deeply grateful to Chris and Brendan for their generous support, and are proud to be part of a global effort to elevate shark conservation through science, education, and action.
All the Sharks is streaming now on Netflix. Be sure to check it out and watch the Shark Docs in action! To learn more about their work, visit www.sharkdocs.org.
Author: Rose Kelly, Education Coordinator
Have you checked out REEF’s new Science Discovery Classroom? This purpose-built education space inside the Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo invites guests of all ages to explore marine science in a fun and welcoming environment. Designed to spark curiosity from the moment you step inside, the Science Discovery Classroom features a floor-to-ceiling reef scene on glass panels, offering a stunning backdrop and a glimpse of the learning and discovery happening within. Colorful walls filled with reef fish set the tone, while a large TV with underwater video footage showcases fish species from all over the world.
At the heart of the classroom are sleek whiteboard tables that feature a rotating lineup of interactive games and activities created for a wide range of ages and experience levels. Each activity includes clear learning goals, making it easy for guests to learn while they play. These hands-on experiences encourage exploration using tools and resources that many guests may not have access to at home or in a traditional classroom. Activities include:
• Examining ocean samples using microscopes
• Creating fish-themed arts and crafts to bring marine life to life
• Sorting and investigating everyday items to learn about marine debris and ocean stewardship
The Science Discovery Classroom is also where REEF hosts engaging education programs throughout the year, including fish identification sessions, invasive lionfish dissections, and more. Whether you’re a curious first-time visitor or a returning ocean enthusiast, the classroom offers fresh ways to connect with the underwater world and deepen your understanding of marine ecosystems. Guests leave with new knowledge, a stronger connection to the ocean, and inspiration to dive deeper into conservation. We invite you to visit the Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo and experience the Science Discovery Classroom for yourself! Visit www.REEF.org/oec for more info.
Author: Amy Lee, Communications Manager
There’s a lot happening at REEF this season, and the Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo is the place to be for ocean-inspired learning, community gatherings, and conservation-focused fun. Here's an overview of what's coming up this spring.
REEF Fish & Friends: Monthly Seminar Series
Join us for REEF Fish & Friends, our free monthly seminar series featuring ocean-themed presentations from guest speakers. Seminars are hosted at Ocean Exploration Center are also live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Upcoming Fish & Friends Seminars include:
• January 13: Be the Predator: Clean Lionfish Off our Reefs, presented by Tim Robinson, Zookeeper Managing Partner & PADI Master Instructor
• February 10: Hogfish Ecology in the Dry Tortugas, presented by Danielle Morley, Research Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Check out this page to see all upcoming Fish & Friends presentations.
Ocean After Hours: Tuesdays, 6-8 pm
Looking for a fun way to spend a Tuesday evening? Ocean After Hours takes place every Tuesday at the Ocean Exploration Center. Each week brings something new, including hands-on activities, games, workshops, trivia nights, storytelling, and science. Upcoming Ocean After Hours programs include:
• January 20: Ocean with David Attenborough Film Screening
Hosted in partnership with the Upper Keys Rotary Club. Light refreshments in the garden at 5:30 PM; film begins at 6:00 PM.
• January 27: Grouper Moon Art Class
Learn about REEF’s work to protect endangered Nassau Grouper, then create your own Nassau Grouper painting in a guided workshop.
• February 3: The Ocean Inspires Artist Reception with Sonata Mosaics
Celebrate the unveiling of a new community art installation at the Ocean Exploration Center. Sponsored by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts.
17th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival: April 23-27, 2026
This family-friendly event will feature booths from artisans and environmental organizations, lionfish scoring, science and art activities, cooking demos, food trucks and drinks, free lionfish tastings, and the derby awards ceremony! The Festival is free and open to all ages. For more info, visit www.REEF.org/lionfishfestival.
Whether you’re dropping in for an evening program, tuning into Fish & Friends online, or bringing the whole family to the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival, we hope you’ll join us at the Ocean Exploration Center this season!
Author: Noa Parks, Citizen Science Coordinator
Congratulations to REEF surveyor Marta Zahalak, who recently joined the Golden Hamlet Club! This distinguished group is made up of highly dedicated volunteers who have conducted 1,000 or more REEF surveys through the Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
Marta did her first REEF survey in 2012 in St. Kitts. Since then, she has become an avid citizen scientist, conducting marine life surveys in regions all over the world including the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA), Hawaii (HAW), South Pacific (SOP), Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), and the Indian Ocean and Red Sea (IORS). She conducted her 1,000th survey while snorkeling on a REEF Field Survey Trip in Curacao in November 2025.
Congratulations and thank you, Marta! Your dedication to marine conservation and citizen science makes a lasting impact. Click here to read more about the Golden Hamlet Club.
Author: Amy Lee, Communications Manager
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
This month we highlight Vicki Dixon, a REEF member who lives in Texas. She has been a member since 2000, and has conducted more than 260 REEF surveys in regions including the Central Indo-Pacific (CIP), Indian Ocean & Red Sea (IORS), Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA), and Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). We're thankful to call Vicki a REEF member! Read on to learn more about her.
When and how did you first volunteer with REEF or become a REEF member?
I have been a member of REEF since 2000. My family was on a trip to Roatan and entered a fish ID contest at CoCo View Resort. Not to brag, but we won and received a fish ID CD and t-shirts. Guess you could say I was hooked.
If you have been on a REEF Field Survey Trip, where and what was your trip highlight?
I have been on 2 REEF Trips: Palau (2022) and Yap (2025). In Palau, observing the spawning behavior of numerous grouper and Bumphead Parrotfish was memorable. Seeing Mandarinfish feeding in the coral during the day was another highlight.
What inspires you to complete REEF surveys?
Being a retired environmental biologist, I enjoy observing and learning more about what I am seeing. Completing REEF surveys fulfills my need to continue to pursue my interests while providing useful data that can be used to monitor ocean fish populations. The survey forms are a great template and learning tool.
What is your favorite part about being a REEF member?
As a REEF member, I enjoy the accessibility to information on fish species and interaction with like-minded divers. The REEF Field Survey Trips are fun and a great way to learn from more experienced surveyors. The volunteers and staff at REEF are always very responsive and helpful.
Where is your favorite place to dive or survey?
The closet ocean diving for us is the Caribbean, and we have dived the most often in Cozumel. We have been diving in Cozumel since 1986 and it always delivers good diving. Our dive guides have become friends which makes our trips even more fun.
What is the most fascinating fish encounter you’ve experienced?
Last year in Tubbataha, we were fortunate to encounter a whale shark in open water. It swam to us. Being within arm’s length and looking into the eye of such an enormous creature was a thrill and a gift.
What is your favorite fish or marine invertebrate & why?
The Splendid Toadfish, endemic to Cozumel, is a bit of an obsession. They are always fun to try and find and photograph. Maybe it is their brilliant yellow and turquoise colors, or the way they flutter their pectoral fins when coming out to investigate that makes them so fascinating.
Is there a fish (or marine invertebrate) you haven’t seen yet diving, but would like to?
Seeing a Mola mola (Ocean Sunfish) is on my bucket list.
Author: Noa Parks, Citizen Science Coordinator
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars and other online programs, as well as 200+ recorded Fishinars here.
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, January 15, 8pm ET
Click here to register.
REEF Into the Blue Book Club brings together readers who love the ocean. At this meeting, we will discuss our latest book selection, Bleeding Sea by K.A. Kirtland. Everyone is invited to join, and reading the book is not a requirement for attending the meeting.
Fishinar: Tropical Pacific Cardinalfishes
Thursday, February 18, 8pm ET
Click here to register.
Join us to learn how to identify some of the common cardinalfish species found in the Pacific.
Author: Stacey Henderson, Field Survey Trips Program Manager
A new year is here, and spaces are filling quickly on our 2026 Field Survey Trips! Limited space is available on the REEF Field Survey Trip to St. Eustatius on May 9-16. Also known as Statia, the diving on this beautiful Caribbean island features stunning walls, wrecks, patch reefs, and rocky outcroppings filled with plenty of fish species! To learn more about what makes diving in Statia amazing, check out this short video from our host dive operator Scubaqua.
REEF Field Survey Trips are eco-vacations led by marine life experts. Each trip features daily dives and fish ID classes for both beginners and experienced surveyors. To book your space on a REEF Trip, email trips@REEF.org. We hope to "sea" you underwater soon!
Check out some of our upcoming trips, including:
Jamaica: March 14-21, 2026 -- More information here.
Cayman Brac: April 4-11, 2026 -- More information here.
Fiji: April 18-28, 2026 -- More information here.
St. Eustatius: May 9-16, 2026 -- More information here.
Cuba: June 27-July 4, 2026 -- More information here.
Tubbataha, Philippines: June 28-July 8, 2026 -- More information here.
Bonaire: July 11-18, 2026 -- More information here.
Tobago: August 1-8, 2026 -- More information here.
Photo courtesy Scubaqua.
Author: Janna Nichols, Citizen Science Program Manager
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 October, November and December 2025.
Golden Hamlet Award
Congratulations to Marta Zahalak who has completed 1000+ REEF surveys! Click here to read more about Marta's path to the Golden Hamlet Club.
Juvenile Hamlet Award
The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club members:
- Kathy Doane
- Leslie Kopietz
- Lorne Curran
Click here to read more about the Juvenile Hamlet award.
100 Survey Milestone
Congratulations to those who have earned this award within the last three months:
- Olivia Bidinot
- Kevin Culp
- Mark Barnby
- Kacey Carleton
- Barb Garii
- Danielle Klose
- Matt Zimmerman
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 the REEF members who have advanced an Experience Level!
All listed below are Level 2 unless otherwise noted.
California (CAL)
- Arjun Junghare
- Chris Hughes
- Rachel Backman
- Richard Obert
- Roger Jaccaud
- Susy Horowitz
Central Indo-Pacific (CIP)
- Carol Cline - Level 3
- Donna Goodale - Level 3
- Holly Myers - Levels 2 and 3
- Naomi Wooten - Levels 2 and 3
- Steven Hatten - Levels 2 and 3
- Adam Wood
- Ann Johnson
- Carol Risdall
- David Fink
- Emery Risdall
- Gregg Cline
- John Hernandez
- Joma Dix
- Mead Krowka
- Shelly Laughlin
Indian Ocean / Red Sea (IORS)
- Vicki Dixon - Levels 2 and 3
- Bashaer Algethami
- Ahmed Shawli
- Bassem Saleh
- Basel Kuwaiti
- Arwa Hassan
Pacific Northwest (PNW)
- Jennifer Olson - Levels 2 and 3
- Zarrin Chua - Levels 2 and 3
- Jim Minor
- Moira Chen
Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP)
- Peter Leahy - Levels 3 and 4
Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA)
- Ed Benjamin - Level 5
- Megan Applegate - Level 4
- Alan Stewart - Level 3
- Arash Nikzad - Level 3
- Carol Hull - Level 3
- Lionel Charles - Level 3
- Megan Applegate - Level 3
- Noa ter Avest - Level 3
- Susan Fuchs - Level 3
- Susan Slavec - Level 3
- Alyssa Castro
- Annie Gilbert
- Bill Reid
- Bonnie Barillo
- C.E. O' Brien
- Carol Hull
- Eala Sloan
- Gilang Arifin
- Gregory Garlisch
- Haize Garcia
- Harrison Gaunt
- Jason Sargeant
- Julia DeChaves
- Kardelen Kala
- Linda Reid
- Loic Delfosse
- Lucy Short
- Lynette Linn
- Maca Perkins
- Megan Applegate
- Morgan Lyons
- Natalie Baker
- Nicole Barrueta
- Rachel Bohannon
- Rachel Lesan
- Samantha Shea
- Sammy Brown
- Scott Salmon
- Sebastian Gemberling
- Stacie Strombom
- Tavin Miller
- Thais Schmidt
- Violet Apodaca
- Weston Raynak
Author: The REEF Team
Introducing our January Fish of the Month, the Clown Triggerfish, Balistoides conspicillum!
Survey Regions: They are found in the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, throughout several of REEF's survey regions including the South Pacific (SOP), Central Indo-Pacific (CIP), and Indian Ocean & Red Sea (IORS). Check out these links to view sightings reports for this species in the REEF database: SOP, CIP, and IORS.
Size: They grow to about 20 in/50 cm in length.
Identifying Features: Clown Triggerfish are black with distinctive, large white spots on the lower half of their body. They have orange lips, a pale band across the snout, and yellow areas with dark markings along the back.
Fun Facts: Clown Triggerfish (and other triggerfish species) wedge themselves into holes and crevices on the reef when threatened, staying in place by "locking" their first dorsal spine upright. They also do this at night when they shelter within the reef.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for our next Fish of the Month.
Photo by Carol Cox.
