Last Friday, April 30, was REEF's first Give BIG for the Oceans event. On this day, the REEF community came together to show support for marine conservation. As a result, our members set a REEF record for most funds raised in a single day. More than 100 people donated during Give BIG for the Oceans, allowing us to exceed our fundraising goal! We are so grateful to our members for their incredibly generous support. Thank you for helping to make our first ever Give BIG for the a Oceans a BIG success!
Fourteen teams of divers persevered through windy conditions to bring in 494 invasive lionfish during the 2021 REEF Earth Day “Locals” Lionfish Derby. Teams were permitted to fish in Monroe County waters from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, April 24. More than $2,500 in cash and prizes was awarded to teams who brought in the most, largest, and smallest lionfish.
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up over the next several weeks:
Fishy Hour: Tropical Western Atlantic Fish Jeopardy
Tuesday, May 18 at 8pm EDT
Hang out with your fellow fish geeks as we play a Jeopardy-style trivia game about Tropical Western Atlantic fishes, hosted by the always entertaining Christy and Brice Semmens.
Register here.
Introducing our May 2021 Fish of the Month, the Bluebanded Goby (Lythrypnus dalli)!
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 REEF member David Meyer. David has conducted more than 450 REEF surveys, from the Tropical Western Atlantic, Hawaii, and Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. After living in Bermuda for many years, he now lives in Morocco and submitted some of the first REEF surveys from Cyprus!
April is both Earth Month and Citizen Science Month. Join us all month for an Earth Day Quest - a fun way to explore REEF's marine conservation programs and the ways you can get involved! On the self-led journey, you’ll get the chance to share your REEF stories with friends, expand your fish ID skills, go on a REEF website scavenger hunt, and more!
Click here to start your Earth Day Quest. It's free to join, and everyone who registers through the Earth Day Quest webpage will receive a small surprise in the mail!
When you're ready to start planning your next trip, consider joining a REEF Field Survey Trip for a fun and meaningful dive vacation. Below are our upcoming trips, including some with space remaining later this year, as well as our newly released 2022 schedule, and a sneak peek of 2023. REEF Trips are led by marine life experts, and include diving, seminars about fish identification, and plenty of fun with friends. Not a scuba diver? No problem. Snorkelers are welcome on REEF Trips.
Registration is open for the second annual Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K! From June 7-13, 2021, we're encouraging ocean enthusiasts everywhere to get moving in the name of conservation. You can choose to run, walk, hike, bike, or even swim, completing the 5K (3.1 miles) in one day or throughout the week. No matter how you participate, it’s a great way to get active in your community while making your miles count. Last year, nearly 500 people joined in our first ever 5K, and we're planning for an even bigger event this year.
REEF Ocean Explorers Summer Camp will immerse children into an ocean of learning and fun! Explorers will learn about the underwater world and all of its amazing creatures during a week filled with creative activities and adventures. Each camp session runs Monday - Friday, 9 am - 3 pm. All sessions will be hosted at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo.
2021 Ocean Explorers Camp sessions include:
• June 14-18 (ages 8-10)
• June 28-July 2 (ages 11-13)
• June 12-16 (ages 8-10)
REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: Island Ventures in Key Largo. REEF Conservation Partners are active organizations and dive shops committed to protecting marine environments worldwide. As valued REEF ambassadors, they serve as centers for marine conservation actions, outreach, and education. You can view the full listing of Conservation Partners or register your organization as a REEF Conservation Partner here.