REEF's fourth Field Survey to Fiji is sure to be a fantastic 10 days of diving, camaraderie, surveying, and fun! Central Fiji is known as a hotspot for diving, due to a combination of unique characteristics, including nutrient-rich runoff, deep-ocean upwelling, tidal and wind-driven currents and numerous barrier islands to offer protection. The South Pacific is a highly diverse region with massive schools of pelagics such as Bigeye Trevally, Scad, and Barracuda; Gray Reef and Whitetip Reef Sharks, and unusual creatures like the Leaf Scorpionfish and Hairy Ghost Pipefish.
REEF continues to expand the Volunteer Fish Survey Project throughout the Central Indo-Pacific (CIP) reigon with our first-ever Field Survey to Thailand! Known as the "Land of Smiles", Thailand is only 8 degrees north of the Equator and is home to some of the most species-rich waters and reefs in the world. Our special 10-day charter aboard the Thailand Aggressor is not available during any other time of year. The boat will follow its North Andaman Sea itinerary, with chances to dive sites in areas such as the famous Richelieu Rock and Similan Islands.
REEF's first Field Survey to the Philippines was in April 2016, and we loved the area so much we have decided to return! Surveyors on our 2016 trip recorded an astounding 885 species throughout the two-week trip, including some previously unidentified fish! REEF surveyors joining the second Field Survey to the Philippines will be treated to an educational adventure led by REEF Board of Trustees members, Ned and Anna DeLoach, who are known for their engaging stories and talks on fish behavior.
Aloha! From wrasses to butterflyfish, discover the many endemic marine species of Hawaii while diving the volcanic underwater reef topography around the Big Island, including favorite sites such as Au Au Crater, Amphitheater, and Turtle Pinnacle. A fantastic backdrop of lava flows will provide a picturesque landscape for surface intervals aboard the comfortable Kona Aggressor II liveaboard.
REEF scientists and volunteers are heading down to the Cayman Islands next week for another season of the Grouper Moon Project (www.REEF.org/groupermoonproject), a collaborative research effort with the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (CIDOE). In its 16th year, this important project focuses on one of the largest (and one of just a few) known spawning aggregations of Nassau Grouper, an endangered Caribbean reef fish. Over 4,000 grouper will amass in one location for 7-10 days following the full moon.
In December, we described ways REEF is working to inspire people around the world to cherish and protect our marine resources. We hope you were inspired to make a contribution so we can continue this critical work. If you haven’t already given, please donate online at www.REEF.org/donate, mail your donation to REEF at PO Box 370246, Key Largo, FL 33037, or call us at 305-852-0030.
REEF members are at the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. Over 50,000 divers, snorkelers, students, and armchair naturalists stand behind our mission.
To celebrate our sustaining donors and most active volunteer surveyors, we annually host REEF by the Sea. This year's special event will be held this March at Mango Manor, Paul Humann’s home in South Florida. This invitation-only event includes a special day of engaging presentations, socials, meals, and fun. We will celebrate pool-side and enjoy exploring Paul's award winning gardens in between exciting presentations by REEF staff and beautiful slide shows by renowned photographers. We are also organizing an opportunity to dive at the famous Blue Heron Bridge the day before.
A new publication in the scientific journal Coral Reefs was recently issued based on science conducted as part of REEF's Grouper Moon Project. The paper, titled "Hydroacoustics for the discovery and quantification of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus stratus) spawning aggregations", summarizes results from work conducted during the 2014 Grouper Moon Project field season in the Cayman Islands.