Four Days of Free Ocean Seminars, Community Celebrations, and Florida Keys Adventures Bring Together Participants from Across the Country and Strong Support from Local Businesses

Key Largo, Fla. – (Oct. 19, 2026) – Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) welcomed more than 200 participants to REEF Fest 2026, held Oct. 15–18 in Key Largo, Florida. Divers, snorkelers, and ocean lovers traveled from across the United States to join local residents for four days of free ocean conservation seminars, social gatherings, and opportunities to explore the marine life of the Florida Keys.

A Florida Keys tradition since 2015, REEF Fest once again centered on REEF’s Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. This year’s event also saw a strong turnout from local businesses, with Keys dive operators, restaurants, and hospitality partners supporting the festival as REEF Fest Experience and Hospitality Partners, sponsors, and silent auction donors.

“We are so grateful to everyone who joined us for REEF Fest 2026. Seeing more than 200 people come together, from first-time visitors to longtime REEF members and our neighbors here in the Keys, is a powerful reminder of how many people care about protecting the ocean. We also want to thank the local businesses who made this year possible. Their support shows what a community can do when it comes together for the ocean.”

– Jill Kuehnert, Campus Director, Reef Environmental Education Foundation

Ocean Seminars

Free seminars on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, brought scientists, naturalists, and conservation experts to the Center. Presenters included:

  • Aisha Rickli-Rahman, Conservation Biologist, on how forensic science is used to investigate wildlife crime and protect marine and aquatic animals.
  • Jennifer Rehage, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Institute of Water and Environment at Florida International University, on the diverse fish communities of the Everglades and South Florida.
  • Kai Lopez, Coral Reef Scientist with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, on the reef fishes of the Florida Keys and the niches they occupy.
  • REEF scientists, who shared updates from REEF’s citizen science and marine conservation programs. During the panel, REEF revealed that its SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Length Estimates) project will launch to the public in early 2027. Divers interested in getting involved can sign up for workshops, laser caliper loans, and the launch waitlist at www.REEF.org/SMILE/Join.

Seminars were also livestreamed on REEF’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, and recordings are available at www.REEF.org/REEFfest/seminars.

Celebrations and Community

The festival opened Thursday, Oct. 15, with a Welcome Reception at the REEF Campus, followed by a Happy Hour Social on Friday. On Saturday evening, guests gathered bayside for REEF’s For the Love of the Sea Celebration, featuring dinner, local craft beer, wine, signature cocktails, and a silent auction benefiting REEF’s marine conservation programs. The weekend wrapped up Sunday, Oct. 18, with hands-on conservation tours at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Mote Coral Nursery.

Exploring the Florida Keys

Throughout the weekend, many participants dove and snorkeled with REEF Fest Experience Partners, from reef tours to fish survey dives, contributing to the Florida Keys economy while experiencing its underwater habitats firsthand. Highlights included lionfish removal dives with Conch Republic Divers, fish identification classes with Amoray Dive Resort, and a clean-up dive with Keys Dive that removed more than 100 pounds of trash. A full list of partners is available at www.REEF.org/REEFfest/experiences.

REEF thanks its sponsors, volunteers, experience partners, speakers, and everyone who joined REEF Fest 2026. Special thanks to First Horizon Foundation and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council for their ongoing and longtime support of REEF Fest. Save the date for REEF Fest 2027, Oct. 14–17, and stay up to date at www.REEF.org/REEFfest.