We recently said a fond farewell to Madalyn “Moose” Mussey, who served as REEF Education Manager for the Ocean Explorers Program for the past five years. Moose started at REEF as a Marine Conservation Intern during the Spring 2019 semester. Following this, she served as Lead Intern for the Invasive Species Program, and joined the staff in November 2019.
There are just a couple spots left on our upcoming REEF Trip to the Maldives, coming up on January 12-22, 2025. Maldives liveaboard diving is a must-do for every avid scuba diver! This trip will follow a southern itinerary including South Ari, South Male, Vaavu, and Meemu atolls, perfect for fish enthusiasts. Made up of nearly 1,200 islands, the inner and outer reefs of the atoll are a haven for wildlife like Whale Sharks, mantas, and more!
We're gearing up to host the 15th annual REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on August 15-18! A Lionfish Derby is a competition where teams of divers and snorkelers compete to collect as many invasive lionfish as possible. REEF Lionfish Derbies educate the public about invasive species, gather important scientific information on lionfish populations, and help to develop a consumer market for invasive lionfish.
We recently opened registration for our annual REEF Fest celebration in Key Largo, FL, and we hope you can join us! There are plenty of exciting activities planned, including diving, snorkeling, kayaking, ocean seminars, socials, and a nature tour. A highlight of the weekend is the Saturday evening celebration, For the Love of the Sea. The event will take place on the evening of Oct. 19, at a beautiful waterfront location overlooking Florida Bay.
We have just added two new exciting destinations to our 2025 REEF Field Survey Trip schedule! Check out the info below for details.
Exciting news - our annual summer fundraising match is underway! All throughout the month of July, all gifts are doubled, dollar for dollar, up to $70,000! Will you support our citizen science, education, and research programs by making a gift today? You can make a donation securely online at www.REEF.org/donate. You can also donate over the phone by calling (305) 852-0030, or mail your donation to to P.O. Box 370246, Key Largo, FL 33037.
Our July Fish of the Month is the European Parrotfish, Sparisoma cretense!
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!