The REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project enables divers and snorkelers to collect and report information on marine fish populations, plus invertebrate and algae species in temperate areas. Participants can measure their fish ID knowledge along with their surveying experience through REEF Experience Levels, which are categorized from beginner to expert. Experience Levels are achieved by submitting a certain number of surveys and passing a fish ID test.
The start of November means that the holiday season is fast approaching. We're looking forward to kicking off this joyous time of year with Giving Tuesday on November 28. Giving Tuesday is a day for people to come together and make a meaningful impact for a better future.
We had such a blast last month at REEF Fest in Key Largo! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual marine conservation celebration. Check out the REEF Fest 2023 photo album to see all the fun we had, including diving, snorkeling, kayaking, seminars, socials, and even nature tours. We had a fantastic lineup of seminar speakers this year, several of whom traveled great distances to be part of REEF Fest.
The REEF team is preparing to attend the annual DEMA (Dive Equipment and Marketing Association) Show in New Orleans, LA on November 14-17, 2023. DEMA Show is the largest trade-only event in the world for businesses and organizations involved in scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure/dive travel industries. Each year, the show attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals worldwide. We're excited to have an opportunity to spread awareness of our marine conservation and education programs, network with our partners, and make new connections.
The tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans are known as biodiversity hotspots and home to some of the world's most breathtaking dive destinations. We've planned some incredible trips to the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the coming years, including two brand new trips for 2026 that we recently added to our schedule. Check out the info and links below to learn more about these new trips, plus some other amazing Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean trips that we have planned in 2024, 2025, and 2026! REEF Trips to these regions tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to act quickly to secure your space!
REEF online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what's coming up this month:
Meet our November Fish of the Month, the Palette Surgeonfish, Paracanthurus hepatus!
Education is an essential part of marine conservation, and REEF is committed to making ocean education accessible and fun for as many people as possible. Through the REEF Oceans for All initiative, we aim to create opportunities for equity-deserving individuals and groups to build their own unique connections with the ocean. Oceans for All supports scholarships, programming, and outreach activities to provide immersive, hands-on learning and exploration.
The votes are in, and we're excited to share the results of the 2023 Discover the Sea Photography Contest! We had an incredible response to this year's contest, with more than 500 photos submitted and over 6,500 votes, making this a very competitive and successful year! First, second, and third place winners were selected for each photo category, including Fish Portrait, Macro, Invertebrate, REEF Surveyor, and Habitat/Seascape/Environment. Click here to view all the winning photos.
REEF Fest is nearly here, and we couldn't be more excited for our annual marine conservation celebration happening next week (Oct. 19-22) in Key Largo! If you're planning to attend, we look forward to seeing you there. If you haven't yet registered, you can still make plans to join us for ocean presentations, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and fun evening socials. Check out all the details and register for REEF Fest at www.REEF.org/REEFfest.