You’re invited to REEF’s Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival! This year’s event is taking place on Sept. 9-12, 2021, and features two full days of lionfish hunting, followed by a family-friendly festival hosted at Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada. Click here for all the details.
All are invited to join us for REEF Fest 2021 on October 14-17 in Key Largo, Florida! REEF Fest is the perfect opportunity to experience the underwater world of the Florida Keys by diving, snorkeling, or kayaking. You can join REEF staff and marine life experts on the mornings of Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16, as we explore diverse ocean habitats like coral reefs and mangrove trails.
Earlier this spring, we hosted our first Field Survey Trip of 2021. Sixteen REEF surveyors traveled to the remote Caribbean island of Guanaja, part of the Bay Islands of Honduras, to enjoy a week of diving and fish surveying at Villa on Dunbar Rock, an amazing resort with 360-degree views of the ocean. The results from the trip were recently processed into REEF's database, adding to the survey count for the largest marine life sightings database in the world. Altogether, the group conducted 236 surveys at 16 sites and recorded 228 different species.
This summer, we’re celebrating all the ways we are making a difference for the oceans together, through citizen science, education, and research. REEF’s work is only possible with support from ocean stewards like you. We are thankful that for many years, three amazing foundations have provided matching funds to support REEF’s conservation programs. They are continuing their tradition of generosity this summer - now through August 8, all donations up to $70,000 will be matched! This means your contribution will go twice as far for marine conservation.
REEF Fest 2021 registration is now open! We hope you will join us for our annual four-day celebration of marine conservation on October 14-17 in beautiful Key Largo, Florida. REEF Fest 2021 features a fantastic lineup of ocean seminars and educational workshops, fun evening social events with plenty of food and drinks, and opportunities for diving, snorkeling, and kayaking. Most REEF Fest events are free to attend, but pre-registration is requested. For complete event details and registration, please visit www.REEF.org/REEFfest.
You're invited to join in REEF’s 2021 Underwater Photography Contest! The 2021 contest features five categories: fish portrait, macro, invertebrates, REEF themed, and reefscape/habitat. Participants may submit up to three photos in each category.
Introducing our June 2021 Fish of the Month, the Greater Soapfish, Rypticus saponaceus!
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up over the next several weeks:
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, June 10 at 8pm EDT
Into the Blue Book Club brings together readers who love the ocean. At this meeting, we will be discussing our June book selection, Into the Planet by legendary cave diver Jill Heinerth. Jill is also attending the meeting for a Q&A!
Register here.
We recently welcomed our Summer 2021 Marine Conservation Interns to REEF. They will support the REEF team by assisting with events, education and outreach programs, and daily operations around the REEF Campus. This semester’s interns bring a unique set of skills and interests to REEF. They include:
There's still time to register for the second annual Fish Out of Water Virutal 5K, coming up on June 7-13, 2021. If you haven't registered yet, click here to do so now. Be sure to sign up soon - early bird registration rates end on May 10! When you sign up, you will choose to join one of five Fish Teams. Each fish is a popular species found in REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project regions.