We are excited to share that we've just added some new trips to our Field Survey Trip schedule for 2026, as well as a trip in 2028! Read on for the details.
Jamaica - March 14-21, 2026 - Click here for details.
Enjoy warm Jamaican hospitality and a stunning beachfront setting. The calm, protected reefs of Negril attract divers from all over the world.
Looking for a fun and educational way to dive into ocean learning this summer? REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs are now being hosted in our brand-new Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo, and we’re excited to welcome learners of all ages!
The Ocean Exploration Center features immersive exhibits, learning stations, and a state-of-the-art classroom, all designed to spark curiosity about marine life and ocean conservation. It’s the perfect place for school groups, scout troops, families, and travelers to explore the wonders of the sea.
REEF is thrilled to invite you to the grand opening celebration of the new REEF Ocean Exploration Center for Marine Conservation, taking place this weekend, June 7-8. This exciting, family-friendly event is free and open to the public, and it marks a major milestone in REEF’s mission to connect people with ocean conservation.
Whether you’re a long-time REEF member or a first-time visitor, the grand opening celebration offers a chance to check out the all-new Ocean Exploration Center and experience the wonders of the underwater world, no wetsuit needed!
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2025 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and more at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. Please join us in welcoming Camille, Ashley, Imogen, and Daisy (pictured from L-R). Here's a bit more about them:
Lace up those running shoes - the Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K is right around the corner, happening June 8-14, and there are just a few days left to register! Visit www.REEF.org/5K to see all the details and register now!
We are thrilled to welcome two exceptional REEF surveyors, Brice Semmens and Laurie Fulton, as the newest members of the Golden Hamlet Club! This prestigious group honors REEF volunteers who have conducted 1,000 or more REEF surveys as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project. This remarkable milestone reflects a deep commitment to marine conservation and citizen science.
Introducing our June Fish of the Month, the Striped Surgeonfish, Acanthurus lineatus!
We just wrapped up hosting the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby and Arts Festival, and now our education team is ready to dive in to a busy season of Ocean Explorers Education programs. While some of the lionfish caught during the derby are immediately prepared into delicious, fresh lionfish ceviche for derby attendees, we also save some lionfish to use during REEF's invasive species-focused education programs throughout the year.
Last weekend, 13 teams of scuba divers took to the water and collected 1,618 invasive lionfish during the 2025 REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival. Teams fished from sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26. The derby weekend concluded on Sunday, April 27 at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, with a festival celebrating the intersection of art, science, and marine conservation. The festival included lionfish scoring, cooking and dissection demos, plus numerous educational activities, games, and vendor booths.
If you missed our recent REEF Field Survey Trip to Fiji, you're in luck because we are headed back next year, on April 18-28, 2026. We had an incredible time this year on the lovely NAI’A liveaboard. Fiji is known as a hotspot for diving, 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 Ornate Ghost Pipefish.
