April is Citizen Science Month, a time to celebrate the power of community-driven science. Studies have shown that citizen science has a high impact on scientific research, and REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project is a great example. Divers and snorkelers like you collect critical data that supports marine research and conservation. Every survey you submit helps make a difference! Citizen Science Month is organized by SciStarter, an organization dedicated to connecting people and science.
Looking for a dive trip to learn more about marine life? Join us on a REEF Field Survey Trip! Destinations with open spaces include:
Jamaica - March 14-21, 2026
Cayman Brac - April 4-11, 2026
Fiji - April 18-28, 2026
St. Eustatius - May 9-16. 2026
Cuba - June 27-July 4, 2026
Tubbataha, Philippines - June 28-July 8, 2026
Looking for meaningful gifts this holiday season? With REEF’s Shop to Support program, your purchases can help protect oceans and fuel citizen science. By shopping through REEF’s online store or supporting partner businesses, you can give gifts that give back.
Wondering how to fix a mistake on your REEF survey? It depends on whether you’ve hit the SUBMIT button.
If your survey is still listed under “Surveys In Progress” (after the address confirmation screen), you can edit it yourself. Before submitting, we suggest reviewing your photos and confirming all IDs.
If you’ve already submitted your survey, no problem! Email us with the 7-digit survey number and details about what needs to be added, changed, or deleted, and we'll be happy to get it updated for you.
Ever recognize a fish instantly, without knowing how? That intuitive sense is called GISS or Jizz - short for “general impression of size and shape.” Originating from WWII aircraft spotting and later adopted by naturalists, it describes the instinctive recognition of a species through its overall look and behavior. The term "jizz” first appeared in an Irish natural history column in 1921, and is likely derived from the German word gestalt, meaning a complete shape or form. It's often used in birdwatching.
On average, more than 1,000 REEF surveys are submitted each month by volunteer divers worldwide, adding to the world’s most comprehensive marine fish biodiversity database. Since January 2024, 22,665 surveys have been submitted by 1,226 REEF volunteer surveyors.
In 2025, we’ve received several exciting new data requests from researchers using REEF data for important studies, including:
• North Carolina State University: studying South Atlantic marine life.
• Simon Fraser University: tracking Spiny Pink Sea Star trends in British Columbia.
At REEF, every survey you submit adds vital data to marine conservation, and we love celebrating your contributions! As you reach key milestones in the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, you’ll receive recognition along the way:
• 100 Surveys: Congrats email and printable certificate.
• 500 Surveys - Juvenile Golden Hamlet: Mailed certificate, webpage listing, and social media shoutout.
Meet our June Fish of the Month, the Blue Tang, Acanthurus coeruleus — a Caribbean reef icon with one of the most dramatic color changes in the tropical Western Atlantic. The juvenile pictured above is a vivid lemon yellow; the adult it will grow into is deep blue. Same fish, two completely different looks.
We are excited to welcome our Summer 2026 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and more at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo and in the field. Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. Please join us in welcoming Will, Nevaeh, Navya, and Jay. Here’s some more about them:
One year ago, on June 7–8, 2025, we opened the doors to the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. Timed to World Oceans Day, the grand opening marked the start of a new chapter for REEF. The Ocean Exploration Center is a free, public space designed to spark curiosity about the ocean, advance citizen science, and equip visitors of all ages to become stewards of our blue planet. Twelve months in, we’re looking back on what the Center has made possible and thanking the community that made it real.