http://www.pacificexplorers.org/index.html

REEF volunteer Gerald Winkel talks about how to make your dives count for something. More details on the Pacific Explorers website listed above.

Attempt a 2 hour, 100 Fish ID dive, or do 2 tanks or snorkel on Alligator Ledge.  Alligator Ledge has a high diversity of fish species and a huge abundance of each species.  You have to push the fish out of the way to see the reef :)  This is a shallow reef in 12-28 ft of water.

GOLIATH GROUPER AGGREGATION DIVES

2 Deep Drift Dives (60-100 ft) to see Goliath Grouper Aggregation.  These are advanced dives as seas can be rough, the current can be strong, you must be able to descend quickly & follow the guide carrying the diver down flag.  Nitrox is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for both dives as is DIVING WITH A COMPUTER

BLUE HERON BRIDGE SHORE DIVE at PHIL FOSTER STATE PARK, RIVIERA BEACH FL

Road trip to Blue Heron Bridge for a Shore Dive to find unusual critters: batfish, fly gurnards, sea horses, frogfish, jawfish.....

This is a 1 tank 90-120 minute shallow shore dive (<25 ft).

ENTER WATER 60-90 MINUTES BEFORE SLACK HIGH TIDE (5:58 pm on 9/19)

Water & beach are closed at SUNSET; so you must be out by 7:20 pm.

Carlos & I will be at BHB by 4 pm to give an orientation.  We will enter the water by 4:30 pm.

Fish ID lecture focusing on blennies found in the Florida Keys: their habitats, diet, reproduction & cool facts; along with basic & advanced Fish ID reviews to help you correctly identify them while diving.  

Fish ID lecture focusing on parrotfish: their habitats, diet, reproduction & cool facts; along with basic & advanced Fish ID reviews to help you correctly identify them while diving.  

Visit: www.100fishid.com - Fish ID Tab to see the most common fish.  Put your cursor on the fish to show the family & species name  ( www.100fishid.com/#!gallery/c1pwt )

Fish ID lecture focusing on wrasses: their habitats, diet, reproduction & cool facts; along with basic & advanced Fish ID reviews to help you correctly identify the different species.  

Visit: www.100fishid.com - Fish ID Tab to see the most common fish.  Put your cursor on the fish to show the family & species name  (www.100fishid.com/#!gallery/c1pwt)

Images and text by Erin Spencer

Check out some of the photos from our third day on the Lionfish Control Study in Curacao! After a two tank dive in the morning (where we collected 176 lionfish), the team celebrated with a Ceviche Party at Kura Hulanda Lodge. The event was attended by trip participants, local lionfish enthusiasts, and Lodge visitors alike. 

 

Check back daily for lionfish removal counts!

Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), are working together to raise awareness about coral reef conservation in the Florida Keys. For the first time ever, the marine conservation groups will host a special event, “Coral In and Lionfish Out,” to engage the public and raise funds for coral restoration and lionfish removal efforts in the Florida Keys.

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