Photo by Janna Nichols

Invertebrates and Algae Monitoring

In temperate (colder) water regions REEF asks surveyors to also monitor a select regional list of invertebrates and algae. This is in addition to monitoring all fish that are seen during a survey.

  • PNW: Pacific Northwest & Alaska
  • CAL: California
  • NE: Northeast US & Eastern Canada
  • SAS: South Atlantic States
  • EAM: Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean

In these regions, surveyors have the option to conduct a Fish Only (FO) survey, an Invertebrates Only (IO) survey, or both Fish and Invertebrates (FI) survey.

Fish of the Month: November 2026

Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula). Photo by Ken Marks.

Meet our November Fish of the Month, the Flame Angelfish, Centropyge loricula, a living ember of the Pacific reef. With shorter days settling in, this little fish brings a welcome burst of color: a brilliant red-orange body banded in black and tipped with electric blue.

A Community Hub for Conservation: REEF Hosts "Building with Claude"

This October, REEF’s Ocean Exploration Center brought the community together for a day of building tools. On Saturday, October 3, REEF hosted Building with Claude: AI for Ocean Conservation in the Florida Keys, a day that paired six Florida Keys nonprofits with volunteer AI builders who drove down from Miami. Every organization left with practical ideas, and several with working prototypes.

Faces of REEF: Nicole Duran

Meet Nicole Duran, REEF’s Campus Operations Assistant, who joined the REEF team in October 2026. Based at REEF’s Key Largo Campus, Nicole supports the day-to-day administrative and operational work that keeps REEF’s ocean conservation programs running smoothly, including shipping and store support, back-office processing, and facilities coordination.

“I’m so excited to work with a purpose, protecting our reefs and using my creativity to support such a great foundation with an amazing team!”

REEF Fest 2026 - A Celebration of the Ocean Recap

REEF Fest 2026 is a wrap, and what a weekend it was! From October 15–18, divers, snorkelers, scientists, and ocean lovers from near and far gathered in Key Largo for four days of seminars, socials, diving, and celebration. To everyone who joined us, whether in person or online, thank you. You are what makes REEF Fest so special, and together we celebrated not just marine conservation, but the collective impact of the entire REEF community.

VFSP Newsletter- Commonly Mis-Identified Fish- TWA Edition

 

The Error Checking team processes your surveys and as you may know- emails you asking for a photo or description about a possible questionable sighting. This two-step process ensures our database accuracy. Here are some common corrections the team comes across:

Remora- Sharksucker-Whitefin Sharksucker

ID tips for Sea Turtles

Since 2001, REEF has been counting sea turtles on surveys per a partnership with Seaturtle.org. It’s always fun to see these reptilian friends underwater. Sometimes close up and sometimes in the distance, they can be easy to identify or pose a real challenge. Hopefully, these tips will help if you see one close up munching on sponges or as a shadowy shape off in the distance on your safety stop. The most commonly seen sea turtles reported are:

Congratulations Golden Hamlet Awardees

REEF is excited to announce not one, but two recent Golden Hamlet Club members: Karen Bogart and Sue Manning.

Karen has done surveys in TWA, SOP, and CIP. She is an expert in TWA and amateur in the others. “Although I am going to try to get a higher level in CIP since we are going to the Red Sea and Maldives next year.” Nothing is stopping her as she wants to then achieve Ultra Golden Hamlet status. Karen lives in Roatan and loves to share REEF with other divers.

New Golden Hamlet Member: Callie Mack

Congratulations to REEF surveyor Callie Mack, who recently joined the Golden Hamlet Club! This notable group of highly dedicated volunteers have submitted 1,000 or more REEF surveys in contribution to the Volunteer Fish Survey Project.

Only a few spaces left! : Socorro/Clarion and Solomon Islands

We have just a few spaces remaining on Field Survey Trips to some of the world's best dive destinations. From the incredible biodiversity of the Solomon Islands to the spectacular pelagic megafauna of Socorro, these unforgettable journeys offer something for every diver. Both liveaboards are renowned, highly experienced operators with a long-standing history of supporting our Field Survey Trips. Their expert crews, intimate knowledge of their destinations, and commitment to incredible diving make them the perfect match for these extraordinary trips.

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