Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars (marine life ID webinars) and other online programs here.
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
This month we highlight Dana Kowalsick, a REEF member who lives in Bonaire. She is a Level 5 Surveyor in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) survey region, where she has conducted more than 100 REEF surveys! In addition, last year she was one of the most active surveyors in the TWA region! We are proud to feature Dana this month and are thankful that she is part of REEF!
We are excited to welcome Carolyn Corley to the REEF staff team as an Education Coordinator. You may recognize Carolyn, as she served as a REEF Marine Conservation Fellow for Education & Outreach from August 2023 to June 2024. During the summer of 2023, she participated in the REEF Marine Conservation Internship program as the 2023 Dr. Jamie L. King REEF Marine Conservation Intern through Our World Underwater Scholarship Society. Carolyn graduated in May 2023 from the University of San Diego with a B.S.
Dive into citizen science this summer by joining in the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC)! Every July, divers and snorkelers are invited to participate in this initiative to learn about marine life and conduct REEF surveys as part of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Individuals and groups can organize their own GAFC events, from survey dives to fish ID classes. Some even add to the fun by offering prizes, hosting socials, and more!
In October 2022, a group of REEF surveyors found and photographed the rare, endemic Fork-bar Blenny, Starksia y-lineata, during a REEF Field Survey Trip to Grand Cayman. Trip leader and REEF Education Manager Madalyn "Moose" Mussey initially found the fish while diving at Sunset House. She also captured the first live photograph of the species, pictured above.
This week, hundreds of ocean lovers from all over the world are getting active in support of marine conservation by participating in the fifth annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K. The 5K kicked off on World Ocean Day on June 8, and continues through June 15. Participants can choose their favorite exercise - walking, running, hiking, biking, swimming, or even paddling. If you haven't registered, it's not too late to join in! You can complete your 5K at your own pace this week, and participate from anywhere in the world.
As summer approaches, we are gearing up to host two of our biggest annual conservation events later this year. We hope you can join us in the Florida Keys for one or both of these events. Whether you're a diver, snorkeler, or land-based ocean lover, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Spring has been a rewarding and productive season for the REEF Campus-based Ocean Explorers Education team! From traveling to the Florida panhandle to lend a hand with measuring fish at the world's largest lionfish derby, to attending a conservation-based music festival on the beach in south Florida, we have been spreading the word about REEF’s programs far and wide. Here are some recent education and outreach highlights.
REEF Field Survey Trips are eco-vacations led by marine life experts. Each trip features daily dives and fish ID classes for both beginners and experienced surveyors. Escape the winter and join us next February for a Field Survey Trip to Belize! Located on Ambergris Caye, SunBreeze Hotel is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. The hotel faces the famous Belize Barrier Reef, which has three of Western Hemisphere’s four coral atolls and the second-largest continuous coral reef in the world.
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars (marine life ID webinars) and other online programs here.
Fishinar: Masters of Camouflage
Tuesday, June 18 8pm ET
Click here to register.
Join REEF volunteer and Fish Geek Extraordinaire Jonathan Lavan for a trip around the world to marvel at the clever disguises of some hidden marine creatures.