Congratulations to REEF surveyor Herb Gruenhagen, 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 in contribution to the Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
Herb completed his very first REEF survey on July 15, 2001, at La Jolla Canyon in California. In 2007, he began teaching REEF Fish and Invertebrate/Algae ID classes, and has been doing so ever since. Over the years, Herb has introduced over 500 new surveyors to the world of marine life identification and citizen science. Herb conducted his milestone 1000th survey at his favorite dive site, Gorgonian Garden at La Jolla Shores. Nestled in the La Jolla Submarine Canyon, this deep spot is home to vibrant purple and red gorgonians, juvenile Wolf-eels, Cabezon, a variety of rockfish species, shrimps, and dozens of colorful nudibranchs. Herb is a Level 5 surveyor in the PAC (Pacific US and Canada) region, which is where he has conducted all of his surveys. His favorite fish are the Giant Kelpfish and Vermilion Rockfish, along with invertebrates like the Opalescent Nudibranch and Spanish Shawl. He plans to continue teaching REEF classes and conducting surveys for as long as he can.
Congratulations, Herb! Your dedication to marine conservation and citizen science makes a lasting impact. Click here to read more about the Golden Hamlet Club.