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.
Race Week is June 7–13, 2026, and registration closes June 15 — or as soon as shirt supplies run out, whichever comes first. If you’ve been meaning to sign up, this is the moment.
Mark your calendar! We have two upcoming Fishinars, REEF’s free online fish ID webinars, both led by REEF’s Field Survey Trips Program Manager and fish enthusiast Stacey Henderson. Whether you’re prepping for your next dive trip or just curious about life beneath the surface, these sessions are a great way to sharpen your ID skills from anywhere.
Thanks to the efforts of many REEF members and our funding partners, the SMILE (Size Matters: Innovative Lengths Estimates) Project has made progress in advancing conservation technology for fisheries science and management. Size data is a crucial component of fish population monitoring to understand trends in population size, growth, age and reproductive potential, and fishing pressure. Collecting these data is often resource-limited for fisheries managers, leading to a data gap for management and conservation.
Our group of 20 participants had an incredible 9 days on our Field Survey Trip to Misool Eco Resort, in Indonesia. From close encounters of the Manta kind to vibrant schools of fish, we only scratched the surface of what this unique place had to offer. We dove deep pinnacles, shallow coastal slopes, and mangrove lagoons, finding an abundance of different species. We found species such as the Denise Pygmy Seahorse, Squarespot Anthias, Banded Archerfish, and 3 shark species: Blacktip, Tasseled Wobbegong, and Epaulette Shark.
Join us for a FREE marine life education class at the Trans World Radio (TWR) Bonaire Headquarters on Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 pm AST!
We will continue on from last month's session with Wrasses Part 2!
What to Expect:
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Amoray Dive Center for a FREE fish ID class, followed by a fish survey dive/snorkel as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
The educator will join the participants on the boat to provide marine life expertise, distribute survey supplies, and answer questions!
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Key Dives for a FREE fish ID class, followed by a fish survey dive/snorkel as part of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project.
The educator will join the participants on the boat to provide marine life expertise, distribute survey supplies, and answer questions!
Key Largo, Fla. – (April 27, 2026) – The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) closed out its 17th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival with a record-breaking total of 2,480 invasive lionfish removed from South Florida reefs over two days of competition.