Seventeen dedicated REEF surveyors recently visited the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada for a week of diving and fish surveying. The results from the trip were recently processed into REEF's database, adding to the survey count for the largest marine life sightings database in the world. Altogether, the group conducted 181 surveys at 15 sites and recorded 208 different species. Several of the reports were new records for the area, including the Greenbanded Goby, Bridled Burrfish, Striped Grunt, Red Banner Blenny, Goldline Blenny, Molly Miller, Bantam Bass, and Bluelip Hamlet!
We are thrilled to be celebrating a quarter-century of citizen science success by recognizing the 25th anniversary of our cornerstone program, the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. In the summer of 1993, a small group of pioneering conservationists took a slate on a dive in the Florida Keys, and initiated what would eventually become the world's largest marine life sightings database.
The most comprehensive tax law changes in more than 30 years occurred in 2018 and may have important implications on your charitable giving. We know these laws can sometimes be confusing, so we have outlined some important details for you below.
Estate and Gift Tax
REEF Fest is less than two months away! Please join us for a four-day celebration of marine conservation that includes snorkel and dive charters, ocean-themed seminars, and social gatherings with friends. Diving and snorkeling trips are offered on the mornings of Friday, Sept 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. There is no need to call a dive shop to participate in REEF Fest diving or snorkel trips. Instead, visit the REEF Fest Diving webpage to register online.
REEF’s 2018 Lionfish Derby Series presented by Whole Foods Market® is in full swing, and we are excited to share that so far, derby participants have already removed more than 1,770 lionfish from Florida's coastal waters this year! Thank you to everyone who has participated in this effort to combat invasive species. With the Palm Beach Derby happening this weekend at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, we will add even more lionfish to the current total.
Smaller and less developed than Grand Cayman, the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are the perfect spots to do plenty of diving. The first five days will be spent diving at Cayman Brac Beach Resort, followed by another five days diving Little Cayman's famous walls and reefs. Both resorts are well known for providing a high level of service.
Home to eight of the most species-rich sites in REEF’s Tropical Western Atlantic database, the reefs of Bonaire are legendary among underwater naturalists and REEF surveyors. In fact, this destination is so popular with our surveyors that we are offering two trips here in 2019! Participants may join both back-to-back weeks of the trip, or choose to sign up for either the boat diving or shore diving focused week.