From walls adorned with spectacular corals, wrecks that are home to a diverse array of marine life, or shallow reefs teeming with tropical fish species, the dive sites of Grand Cayman will delight REEF surveyors. Weather permitting, one 3-tank dive trip will be offered during the week, and participants may also take advantage of the unlimited shore diving directly in front of Sunset House. While Grand Cayman has more than 365 dive sites, this destination also has plenty of activities to enjoy during surface intervals or to entertain non-divers, including Stingray City, Pedro St.
Experience some of the most exotic and sought-after dive destinations in Indonesia on this one-way Banda Sea crossing trip from Sorong to Maumere. Starting in south Raja Ampat including Misool, you will be immersed in an amazing array of marine life on this 12-night adventure throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Locations we anticipate diving include Misool, Fiabacet, Boo, West Seram, Ring of Fire, Wetar and Alor. The trip will end with some fabulous muck diving in Maumere.
This is REEF's first trip to the little-known paradise of St. Eustatius, or Statia. Diving in St. Eustatius consists of a variety of diverse habitats including walls, wrecks, patch reefs and rocky outcroppings. Because large-scale tourism has not yet arrived in Statia, it's rare to encounter other divers on the same site and the reefs tend to be in great condition. Healthy reefs and abundant fish life await surveyors, who will love Scubaqua's safety-oriented approach to diving. Free nitrox is included in this package for those who are certified.
Learn about important marine conservation projects at the upcoming meeting of the Key Deer Protection Alliance in Big Pine Key, FL. Dr. Caroly Shumway, REEF Executive Director, will present "Marine Life, Citizen Science, and Connections."
The study used almost 11,000 REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project surveys collected between California and Alaska between 2006 and 2017 to evaluate the massive decline of the Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides). The authors documented a precipitous decline in the important species, primarily linked to the devastating sea star wasting disease epidemic that was wide-spread along the US and Canadian west coast starting in 2013, as well as warming ocean temperatures. In many places, the Sunflower Sea Stars have failed to return.
There's still time left to contribute to our winter fundraising campaign! As a special gift to donors who give at least $250, we will send you a limited-edition print of a Golden Hamlet (pictured), photographed in the Cayman Islands by REEF Co-Founder Paul Humann. We are so grateful to those who have already supported us this winter. Your generosity makes everything we do possible! To donate now, visit www.REEF.org/donate.
Join one of REEF's valued Conservation Partners, CoCo View Resort in Roatan, Honduras for Wednesday Night Fishinars! This week, "Roatan Top 25" will start at 7:30pm in the CoCo View Clubhouse. Join this fun, informal presentation to learn about the most abundant species you'll find exploring the waters of Roatan. These viewings are free and open to all CoCo View guests.
Join one of REEF's valued Conservation Partners, CoCo View Resort in Roatan, Honduras for Wednesday Night Fishinars! This week, "What You Might Be Missing" will start at 7:30pm in the CoCo View Clubhouse. Join this fun, informal presentation to learn about the sneaky, camoflauge experts of the sea you might be missing. These viewings are free and open to all CoCo View guests.
In July 2018, REEF celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. This REEF program is widely considered to be one of the most impactful citizen science initiatives of its kind. With over 11 million data records from 14,000+ locations worldwide, it is the largest marine fish sightings database. The survey data have been used in a wide array of scientific studies, and serve an important source of information for government agencies charged with protecting ocean resources. As a REEF member, you make this monumental citizen science program possible!
Join one of REEF's valued Conservation Partners, CoCo View Resort in Roatan, Honduras for Wednesday Night Fishinars! This week, "Caribbean Cryptics 2" will start at 7:30pm in the CoCo View Clubhouse. Join this fun, informal presentation to learn about how to find the most elusive species you may come across while diving. These viewings are free and open to all CoCo View guests.