Immerse yourself in an engaging and hands-on citizen science experience this summer by joining in one of our new REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs. Led by our education staff, these programs feature multi-disciplinary activities and lessons in biology, ecology, conservation, and more.
Ocean Explorers Field Survey Trip - Guanacaste, Costa Rica: July 23-30, 2022
The archived video recording is available for everyone, whether you're a REEF member or not: click here to watch, or if you're logged into your REEF account, you'll see the video below.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the second-largest reef system in the world, and home to many different fish species. Throughout the week you will dive at Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef. Sheer walls like Painted Wall, Half Moon Caye Wall, and Quebrada are adorned with huge crimson gorgonians and wandering, lilac rope sponges.
The best way to get through a chilly winter? Book a dive vacation to a tropical island! Space is still available on the REEF Field Survey Trip to St. Lucia on May 7-14. We'll stay at the amazing Anse Chatanet Resort, an environmentally-conscious, luxury property with plenty of amenities and delicious food. The onsite dive operator, Scuba St. Lucia, is a REEF Conservation Partner. The entire resort is surrounded by a protected marine area, and easily accessible beach diving is available at the house reef. When not diving or snorkeling, guests can enjoy sea kayaking, jungle biking, and yoga.
A new year is here, and plans are in the works for our annual REEF events:
REEF Fest 2022 - October 13-16 in Key Largo, Florida: Don't miss this four-day celebration of marine conservation! Events include diving, snorkeling, ocean-themed seminars, and socials. We are confirming details for this year's event. For now, please save the date and keep an eye on www.REEF.org/REEFfest for more information.
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
Into the Blue Book Club Meeting
Thursday, January 13, 8pm EST
Click here to register.
We will be discussing Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone by Juli Berwald. Juli will be joining our virtual book club meeting for a Q&A session. Whether you have finished the book or not, all are welcome to attend.
Introducing the REEF Conservation Challenge: a brand new way to dive into citizen science, meet other fish enthusiasts, and have fun learning about ocean life and REEF programs. It's easy and free to participate. Earn exclusive, collective stickers by completing conservation-oriented challenges, like attending a Fishinar or conducting a REEF survey. This month, we’re highlighting the Volunteer Fish Survey Project challenge.
Grouper Moon season is here! REEF scientists, partners from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Oregon State University, and volunteers are gearing up for the annual field effort of the Grouper Moon Project, a collaborative research effort with the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (CIDOE). 2022 will be the 20th year of this important project, which studies one of the largest and last known spawning aggregations of Nassau Grouper in the Caribbean. During winter full moons, thousands of grouper gather in one location for 7-10 days to spawn.
We are excited to welcome Alexa "Lex" Bryant to the REEF Team as Conservation Science Associate. Lex joined the staff at the beginning of 2022 and is based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo. She grew up outside of Boston, where she started her marine science journey. She was certified to dive when she was 14, exploring the New England waters. Around the same time, she started working aboard the F/V Erica Lee II out of Newburyport, MA, and spent her summers teaching marine science. Lex eventually worked her way up to First Mate and started her commercial fishing career.
