Are you looking for an Indo-Pacific adventure to Micronesia, want to dive the warm waters of the Caribbean, or aim to explore the emerald green waters of British Columbia? Join REEF to take a Dive Vacation That Counts! We still have a few spaces remaining on the following 2016 REEF Trips:

We are kicking off March with REEF's third annual Month of Membership Madness. We have tons of great benefits this month for new members and for those who help us reach our goal of 500 new members in March. So help us spread the word - get your friends and family to join REEF today.

During recent months, there have been many reports of non-native indo-pacific and Red Sea fishes including the lionfish, which have been sighted in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.  The number of lionfish observed indicates that some are surviving the winter water temperatures and expanding their range. Recreational divers and snorkelers are a valuable source of information for tracking fish species including exotic fish because they are looking, taking notice of rare things, and often know what does not belong.

As part of REEF's continuing work on non-native species, particulary the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish, a multi-agency technical workshop was hosted by REEF, NOAA and the USGS to develop early detection and rapid response plans for Southeast Florida.  Over 20 different state, federal and organizational offices were represented at the 2-day workshop, which was held June 18th and 19th in Marathon, Florida.

We are looking for passionate ocean enthusiasts to join us later this year on a REEF Trip. There are still a few spaces left on the following trips in 2016:

Curacao Lionfish Research Trip, August 20 - 27 - led by REEF Director of Special Projects, Lad Akins, and REEF Board of Trustee Member, Peter Hughes. Learn all about the lionfish invasion while diving and helping with research. Visit the trip page for details.

Join us on June 7-8, 2025, as we celebrate World Ocean Day and the grand opening of the Ocean Exploration Center at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida! This exciting milestone marks a new chapter for marine conservation and education in the Florida Keys and beyond.

We are honored to release the 2010 REEF Annual Report. The report is posted online at www.REEF.org/reef_files/annual2010.pdf.

Earlier this month, for World Oceans Day, the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation celebrated by pledging to match contributions to REEF dollar for dollar, up to $30,000! Our campaign to raise funds for protecting Nassau Grouper, controlling invasive Lionfish, and inspiring citizen science through the Volunteer Fish Survey Project is off to a great start. But we still need your help to reach our goal in the next 30 days. If you haven't yet had a chance, please contribute today.

Field Surveys – Eighteen REEF members joined Drs. Christy and Brice Semmens earlier this month on a Field Survey to the Sea of Cortez aboard the Rocio del Mar live-aboard. The team conducted over 300 surveys in 20 locations around the Midriff Islands, many of which were new to the REEF database. It was a great trip, with 130 species of fish found, beautiful topside scenery, and pods of sperm and pilot whales!

This week’s arrival of the other interns has brought new energy into the office and the house as well. It’s great to have others that are sharing the same experience, and by no doubt we are going accomplish so much as us four interns to work together. Handling matters at the office has become daily routine. I am anxiously looking forward to doing some more fish surveys, but the weather has plans to keep me dry, at least for now. So, for the time I have fully processed 12 lionfish dissections and found that I am dynamite at extracting lionfish otoliths. 

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