This week aboard the sailing vessel Cat Ppalu will focus on data gathering and observational behavior in and around Eleuthra (weather permitting). The trip will be led by REEF Director of Special Projects Lad Akins and will have a maximum of 12 participants. During the week of diving, we'll tag and track lionfish as well as collect specimens for researchers in the Bahamas and in the US. We'll also conduct new activity observations to determine when and how lionfish are most active.
As part of a current REEF training project in the Pacific Northwest that is funded by The Russell Family Foundation, regional REEF instructor, Janna Nichols, has organized free training sessions around the region in order to enlist new divers into the Volunteer Survey Project. The TRFF project also includes funding for periodic boat dives that are open to active REEF surveyors in order to provide opportunities and incentive for existing REEF surveyors to stay involved and increase their surveyor skill level.
Pacific Northwest diver and REEF surveyor, Nick Brown, recently discovered the invasive tunicate, Ciona savignyi, during a dive in the San Juan Islands in Washington. This was the first record of the unwanted species in the San Juans. Nick learned about the invasive tunicate, and two other species that are monitored by REEF surveyors in the Pacific Northwest, during a recent REEF training seminar taught by Janna Nichols. Volunteer divers are serving an important role in the early detection and removal of invasive tunicates in the Pacific Northwest.
World-renowned authors/photographers, Anna and Ned DeLaoch will be giving presentation about reef fish and creature identification, their behaviors, and underwater environmental concerns as well as contests and fishy gifts. The participates will also learn how to do a REEF fish survey and about REEF programs.
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Please call REEF HQ, 305-852-0030 or reefhq@reef.org to inquire about this trip.
8 Days/7 Nights - $457, includes double occupancy accommodations at Safari Inn and 5 days of 2-tank AM dives. $614 Single Occupancy, $157 Non-Diver Double Occupancy
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