Our annual summer match is underway, and there's no better time to take action to support marine conservation. Now through August 8, all donations are doubled, up to $70,000. We are very thankful to the Meyer Foundation, the Henry Foundation, and the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation for their generosity in providing these matching funds. Please consider making a donation today to make twice the impact. You can give online at www.REEF.org/donate, send a check, or call our office at 305-852-0030 to donate over the phone.
On June 6-12, more than 600 people from 42 states and seven countries participated in the third annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K by running, walking, biking, hiking, swimming, paddling, and more. Together, we collectively completed more than 3,000 kilometers (over 1,870 miles!) and celebrated World Oceans Day in the process.
This month, we're daring you to complete TWO Conservation Challenges: the Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) Challenge and the Citizen Science Story Challenge. An annual event, July's Great Annual Fish Count celebrates fish surveying all month long! To complete the GAFC Challenge, submit a survey in the month of July or attend a Great Annual Fish Count event. You can check out GAFC events near you at www.REEF.org/gafc.
It's never too soon to start making your dive travel plans, and we have plenty of excellent REEF Trip destinations on our 2023 schedule. Trips in the winter and spring have been highly requested, and we're excited to have several great Caribbean options. Visit the links below to learn more about each trip, and when you're ready to book, email trips@REEF.org. Spaces are filling up fast, don’t miss your chance to Take a Dive Vacation That Counts in 2023.
Summer is the perfect season for our July Fish of the Month, the Lemon Goby, Vomerogobius flavus!
Survey Regions: The Lemon Goby is found in The Bahamas and northwestern Caribbean, part of the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) survey region. Click here to view the REEF database report for this species.
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
Join Scuba St. Lucia this July for their Great Annual Fish Count Celebration, hosted by Carmen Toanchina! Every July, divers and snorkelers worldwide join to learn about marine life and conduct fish surveys as a part of REEF's ongoing Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Scuba St. Lucia, a REEF Conservation Partner, will be teaching fish ID classes and leading REEF survey dives all month long.
Fish ID Classes are FREE to all registered Scuba St. Lucia guests!
Contact Carmen Toanchina at 1-758-459-7755 to set up a class and REEF survey dive.
Join us at Wynwood Brewing Company for a fun night of ocean-themed trivia! A portion of proceeds from this event go towards REEF marine conservation programs.
Located in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Wynwood Brewing Company is Miami's frst craft production brewery. Learn more at their website: www.wynwoodbrewing.com.
This Great Annual Fish Count, join REEF and Rainbow Reef on Women's Dive Day for a free fish ID class, followed by two REEF survey snorkel/dives. Let's hear it for women citizen scientists!
Morning check-in for class at REEF Interpretive Center (98300 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037) at 9:15am, break by 11am, sub lunch at 12pm at Rainbow Reef (100 Ocean Drive location), and check-in for the survey snorkel/dives at Rainbow Reef at 12:45pm.
Price: $90 for two-tank dive/$60 for snorkel trip (lunch is included).