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.
Join us for a Halloween-themed marine life presentation featuring some of the spookiest creatures in the sea! This family-friendly presentation is free and open to the public. Following the presentation, certified divers have the opportunity to join a 1-tank night dive.
Free Presentation: 5pm at History of Diving Museum (82990 Overseas Hwy. in Islamorada)
Boo! Here to get you in the Halloween spirit is our spooky October Fish of the Month, the Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus!
This month's featured Conservation Challenge is Gear on the Go! If you have some REEF swag in your closet, this is the perfect challenge for you. Whether it's a t-shirt, hat, visor, rash guard, beanie, or even a mask strap with the REEF logo, we'd love to see how you represent REEF when you're out and about! To complete this challenge, email a photo of you in your REEF gear to conservationchallenge@REEF.org. You may even be featured on our social media in the future!
KEY LARGO, FLA. – Last week, 18 teams of scuba divers took to the water and collected 919 invasive lionfish during the 2022 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival, hosted by Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). Teams fished from sunrise to sunset on Friday, Sept. 9 and Saturday, Sept. 10. The event concluded on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Postcard Inn Resort & Marina in Islamorada, with an outdoor festival featuring lionfish tastings, cooking and dissection demos, games, interactive booths, and live music.
Calling all divers looking to escape from winter: there are still a few spaces available on the REEF Field Survey Trip to Belize on January 21-28, 2023. This is a great opportunity to dive the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world! Enjoy calm seas and warm, clear water on this weeklong liveaboard trip to document the fish species we find in Belize. We'll hunt for endemics like the Social Wrasse and the White-lined Toadfish, while encountering reef sharks, turtles, and more!
We're wrapping up a busy and rewarding summer season for the REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program! We hosted virtual, in person, and field-based programs for ocean lovers of all ages. Through the REEF Oceans for All initiative, we aim to foster opportunities for everyone to build connections with the ocean, regardless of zip code. Oceans for All supports scholarships, programming, and outreach activities to provide immersive, hands-on learning and exploration. Click here for more information about Oceans for All.
It's finally here: our biggest REEF Lionfish Derby of the year, the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival, is taking place this weekend! This is our 13th annual REEF Lionfish Derby hosted in the Florida Keys. Participants will take to the to hunt lionfish from sunrise to sunset this Friday and Saturday. Eighteen teams are competing in this year's derby, and we can't wait to see how many invasive lionfish they collect! The derby weekend will conclude on Sunday with a lionfish festival at the picturesque Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada, Florida.
REEF Fest 2022 is coming up on October 13-16, and we hope you'll come celebrate with us in Key Largo! Explore the coral reefs and mangroves of the Florida Keys and learn about ocean life on a dive, snorkel, or kayak trip at REEF Fest.