We just released our 2026 Field Survey Trip schedule, so be sure to take a look at all of the new exciting destinations we have in store! Click here to see our new 2026 trips.
If you are looking to take a trip this year, we have a few spaces still available, including a male shared space on the Nevis trip and a female shared space in Yap, with additional openings on our Canary Islands and Curacao trips. See links for these trips and more below.
Welcome to the Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from January, February and March 2025.
Juvenile Hamlet Award
The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club members:
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to experience a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program? Students, travel programs, or other groups can join us at the REEF Campus in Key Largo to learn all about the ocean, marine life, conservation, and how to make a difference! Read on to see what a day with REEF might be like for a 16-year old student visiting the Florida Keys to participate in a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program:
We are excited to share that registration is open for the sixth annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K! This event brings people together in the spirit of health, community, and conservation. From June 8-14, you can join in by getting active in celebration of World Ocean Day! You can choose your favorite activity: run, walk, hike, bike, swim, or even paddle! You can complete your 5K at your own pace and participate from anywhere in the world. For all the details and registration, visit www.REEF.org/5K.
REEF celebrates Give BIG for the Oceans each year in April. This single-day giving event is a way for the REEF community to come together to celebrate and support ocean conservation. Give BIG for the Oceans 2025 is coming up on Friday, April 18. All donations made during Give BIG for the Oceans 2025 will be MATCHED up to $20,000! We're so thankful to the Pelton Charitable Foundation and an anonymous supporter for providing these matching funds. Be sure to mark April 18 on your calendar because you don't want to miss this incredible matching opportunity.
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.
This month we highlight Nan Schmidt, a REEF member who lives in Arizona. She joined REEF in 2022, and since then she has conducted more than 100 surveys and achieved Expert Level status in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) survey region. We're so thankful to have a dedicated member like Nan!
Has it been awhile since your last survey? Or maybe you’re just curious about REEF’s Volunteer Fish Survey Project and want to know how it works?
Join Jackie Myers for a mini-review of South Puget Sound fish and invertebrates including a brief tutorial on how to enter survey results in the REEF database.
Everyone is welcome, whether new or experienced.
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars and other online programs here.
Introducing our April Fish of the Month, the Broom-tail Wrasse, Cheilinus lunulatus!
Survey Regions: The Broom-tail Wrasse is found in REEF's Indian Ocean & Red Sea (IORS) survey region. It is found throughout the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, and western Indian Ocean. Click here to see a distribution for this species in the REEF database.
