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, REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: COJO Diving, located in Lincoln, New Brunswick, Canada. REEF Conservation Partners are active organizations and dive shops dedicated to protecting marine environments. As valued REEF ambassadors, they teach fish ID classes, host survey dives, organize volunteer events and more.
Are your gills drying out in self-quarantine? Grab your laptop, tablet, or even a smartphone and join us for our next Fishinar, Fishes of Guanaja, on Thursday, April 16 at 8:00pm EDT! Instructor Janna Nichols will teach you tricks to identify the fishes of deep walls and tranquil gardens of Guanaja, located in the Bay Islands of Honduras - part of our Tropical Western Atlantic survey region. Fishinars are free webinars that will teach you the finer points of fish ID.
Last year, REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project began collecting data in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, and this year we are looking forward to our inagural Field Survey Trip to the Red Sea. The calm, clear waters of the Red Sea are known to be a kaleidoscope of colorful fish and soft coral life. Our first Field Survey Trip to this area will focus on diving in the southern Red Sea's coral gardens, walls, and lagoons, including sites like St. John's and Fury Shoal.
Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, meet March's Fish of the Month, the Horseshoe-tailed Dottyback (Pseudochromis tapeinosoma)!
Over nearly three decades, REEF has welcomed more than 150 young adults to the REEF Campus to spend a semester immersed in marine conservation projects. This month, we highlight former Marine Conservation Intern Catie Alves. Read on to hear about Catie's time at REEF, and how her internship with REEF helped to shape her career.
When were you a REEF intern?
Summer and Fall 2013
REEF Ocean Explorers Summer Camp will immerse campers into an ocean of learning and fun! Explorers will be exposed to the natural world of the Florida Keys and all of its amazing creatures during a week filled with creative activities and adventures. Each week of camp will include snorkeling, kayaking, science-based activities, special visits, and other outdoor adventures!
Camp sessions are Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm. Four days of each week are hosted at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and one day is hosted at Island Dolphin Care, both located in Key Largo, Florida.
Exploring new dive sites has always fascinated me. Even if it’s a site that I’ve dived a hundred times, the idea of finding something new always intrigues me. Since joining REEF, I have also become interested in fish identification and it has completely changed how I explore a new site. Now I think, “what species of fish could I find diving here?” I always have an eye out for new potential dives sites or places I could find a species of fish I have never seen. I think this mindset fits well with the “explore” and “discover” parts of REEF’s tagline - “Explore. Discover.
There are just two spaces remaining on our Field Survey Trip to Indonesia, coming up on April 10-21, 2020 and led by Christy Pattengill Semmens, Ph.D. We are excited to experience some of the most exotic and sought-after dive destinations in Indonesia on this one-way Banda Sea crossing trip from Sorong to Maumere. We'll be covering a lot of distance during this unique trip, and that means lots of places to explore! Locations we anticipate diving during this trip include Misool, Fiabacet, Boo, West Seram, Ring of Fire, Wetar and Alor.
During my first week at REEF as a Marine Conservation Intern, I gained a plethora of fish identification knowledge. My previous dive experience has been in the Pacific Ocean, so I had not seen most Tropical Western Atlantic fish underwater before. To practice, I constantly reviewed presentations and underwater photographs. I was eager to get in the water and put my identification skills to the test! I recently had the opportunity to get out on the water in Key Largo, alongside three other REEF interns: Riley, Amelia, and Stacey.