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 April, May and June 2026.
100 Survey Milestone
Congratulations to those who have reached this milestone within the last three months:
Danielle Nielsen
Lionel Charles
Carol Risdall
Francis Malinosky-Rummell
Mariette Brommelcamp
Morgan Lyons
Paul Terkelsen
Experience Level Advancements
Achieving logging 1,000 REEF Surveys is no small feat. REEF Member Lynn Fulks of San Diego County, just completed her 1,000 th survey dive at Atlantis Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines diving with the Water Planet Images group she joins every year. Lynn's journey to REEF and her Golden Status started in 2006. Lynn was inspired in by Golden Hamlet Linda Ridley in Bonaire, living aboard their sailing catamaran Blue Marine. Linda taught Lynn and husband Todd the REEF ID courses and pushed her all the way to Level 5 in the TWA Region.
July is right around the corner, which means it is almost time for the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC)! This annual event is a time meant to celebrate and amplify the power of citizen science, and we hope you all will join in on the fun!
We’re excited to introduce a new addition to the REEF store: Latex Rubber Tubing for Survey Pencil Attachment. Designed as a colorful, practical way to secure a pencil to a survey slate, each 17-inch piece of tubing comes with three beads for attachment, and is recommended for use with a golf pencil or thin mechanical pencil. It is available in a range of colors and priced at $2.99. A photo tutorial on how to set up your plate, pencil and tubing is located on the purchase page.
Ever struggled with trying to decide which habitat to mark on your survey? You are not alone. It can sometimes be a tricky decision. Did you know that with all survey regions combined there are a total of 29 habitat options? Don’t worry, you don’t need to know all of them, but, if you happen to survey in a certain region, you may not know about other habitat types.
In the first 6 months of 2026, 4,937 surveys have been submitted by 446 REEF volunteer surveyors! Not only are these efforts adding to the world’s most comprehensive marine fish biodiversity database, but they also support important conservation and research objectives.
So far this year, we’ve received several exciting new data requests from researchers using REEF data for important studies, including:
Thanks to a newer feature on the REEF website, now you can track the status of your surveys! First, log into your REEF account. Under "My Survey Log" you can see the status of your surveys. There are four categories:
REEF member Peter Leahy has been conducting REEF surveys since 1994. Since then, he has contributed more than 5,000 surveys to the REEF database. He enjoys accessing the database and sharing how anyone can use this resource to gain their own insights. Last year, Peter went to Costa Rica - a destination where he had never surveyed before - and wanted to know what fish he would be likely to see.
Check out his tips on navigating the REEF database before your next dive trip!
See the Volunteer Fish Survey Project come to life in the new REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo, Florida! Admission to the Center is free, and all are welcome.
We invite you to visit and check out the interactive exhibits showcasing power of citizen science and how fish surveys make a difference. Here's what you can dive in and discover:
Every July, REEF hosts a monthlong celebration inviting divers and snorkelers around the world to get in the water and submit surveys. Whether you're a seasoned surveyor or just getting started, the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) is the perfect time to dive into surveying.
