REEF Fishinars are fun, live, interactive webinars, open to anyone who wants to learn about ocean life. We hope you can join one of our upcoming sessions!
Unique Fish of the Cayman Islands: Join REEF’s Director of Science, Christy Semmens, on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 8pm Eastern to learn more about some of the unique and interesting fish that you can find while diving in the Cayman Islands.
We’re excited to introduce our Fall 2019 Marine Conservation Interns. These individuals will support the REEF team in mission-oriented tasks and daily office operations at REEF Headquarters, as well as play an integral role in our annual four-day event REEF Fest, as well as the Upper Keys Lionfish Derby and Festival and other education and outreach opportunities throughout the semester. They will also have the chance to scuba dive, conduct fish surveys, and volunteer with environmental organizations in South Florida and the Florida Keys.
We are happy to share the results of our first underwater photography contest! Thank you to everyone who voted and a special thanks to all of the members who submitted photos! We had more than 120 entries from all over the world, showcasing some incredible marine life. More than 2,500 votes decided the "popular vote" winners in each of the six categories - Fish Portrait, Macro, Invertebrate, Invasive Species, REEF Surveyors, and Environment/Reefscape/Habitat. Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you to everyone for your participation.
There is less than a month left in our annual summer fundraising campaign, and that means there is less than a month left to have your donation matched! Thanks to the generosity of three longtime supporters, all donations made this summer will be matched dollar for dollar up to $70,000! We are so thankful to everyone who has already contributed to our summer fundraising campaign, enabling us to continue our marine conservation work.
Each spring, REEF hosts REEF by the Sea, held the first full weekend in March (alternating between San Diego and South Florida). These events feature seminars and program updates, silent auctions, opportunities for diving, and a chance to mingle with REEF staff, other REEF partners and friends, and our Board of Trustees. Sustainers will be invited to REEF by the Sea in California on March 6-8, 2020, to enjoy food, drinks, special presentations by scientists and prominent figures in marine science, and networking with other REEF members.
We hope you can join us in Key Largo for REEF Fest 2019 sponsored by Capital Bank Foundation, on Oct. 17-20! REEF Fest is an annual four-day celebration to acknowledge the success of marine conservation and education initiatives in the Florida Keys. Events include educational ocean-themed seminars, social gatherings, diving, and eco-adventures alongside some of the most prestigious names in diving and marine conservation. All REEF Fest events are open to the public, but pre-registration is requested.
This month, REEF is proud to highlight one of our outstanding Conservation Partners: Blue Planet Scuba in Washington, D.C. 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. Read on to find out how you can get involved with these centers of conservation action!
For the first three weeks in July, REEF’s Invasive Species Program Manager, Dr. Alli Candelmo, and Lead Intern for the Invasive Species Program, Madalyn “Moose” Mussey, have spent almost every day underwater conducting lionfish research. With the help of Forever Young Charter Company, Tony Young, Jeff Leonia, REEF staff, and volunteers, REEF has been assessing lionfish densities in deep water habitats off Islamorada, FL. Along with habitat surveys, the team has deployed a hydrophone (which records underwater sounds including fish sounds) in a site with high densities of lionfish.
Join REEF’s upcoming Field Survey Trip that will include diving around both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, with some of the best diving conditions that the Caribbean has to offer! The Cayman Islands are known for outstanding visibility and few currents, making this an excellent destination for divers of all ages and abilities. This unique itinerary will give participants the chance to explore the two sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are renowned for beautiful coral reefs and amazing wall diving.
Thank you to all the REEF members who submitted such amazing photos to our underwater photography contest! We received many excellent submissions from all over the world, representing many of our survey regions. Public voting is now open! You can vote for your favorite image in each of the six categories here. Voting will end at 11:59pm EST on August 12. The winning photos and photographers will be featured in REEF’s July 2020 - December 2021 calendar. Please encourage your friends and family to vote.
