July is here, and so is the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) — a fun, worldwide celebration of fishwatching and citizen science. Every July, divers and snorkelers around the globe jump in to learn about marine diversity and conduct fish surveys as part of REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Whether you're a seasoned surveyor or picking up a slate for the first time, there's a way for you to take part.
Ways to get involved:
Meet our July Fish of the Month, the Cherubfish, Centropyge argi — a pocket-sized stunner that proves the best things really do come in small packages. Also known as the Pygmy Angelfish, this is the smallest angelfish in the tropical Western Atlantic, and one of the most beloved by divers lucky enough to spot one.
Mark your calendars: REEF Fest returns to Key Largo, Florida, October 15-18, 2026, and registration is officially open!
Please join us in welcoming Dylan Sanchez to the REEF team as our new Outreach Coordinator, based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo.
We're excited to share that REEF has been chosen as one of the first host organizations for Claude Corps, a new national fellowship program from Anthropic that places early-career talent within mission-driven nonprofits.
Claude Corps Fellows Will Support REEF’s Conservation Research and Citizen Science Initiatives
Meet our June Fish of the Month, the Blue Tang, Acanthurus coeruleus — a Caribbean reef icon with one of the most dramatic color changes in the tropical Western Atlantic. The juvenile pictured above is a vivid lemon yellow; the adult it will grow into is deep blue. Same fish, two completely different looks.
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2026 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and more at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo and in the field. 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 Will, Nevaeh, Navya, and Jay. Here’s some more about them:
One year ago, on June 7–8, 2025, we opened the doors to the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. Timed to World Oceans Day, the grand opening marked the start of a new chapter for REEF. The Ocean Exploration Center is a free, public space designed to spark curiosity about the ocean, advance citizen science, and equip visitors of all ages to become stewards of our blue planet. Twelve months in, we’re looking back on what the Center has made possible and thanking the community that made it real.
