REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs inspire people to make a difference and protect the oceans. We teach learners of all ages about marine biology, ecology, citizen science, and invasive species. To connect even more people with ocean conservation, REEF has partnered with several arts and humanities organizations to create programs and events that highlight connections between science and the arts.
Registration is open for the fifth annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K! This event brings people together in the spirit of health, community, and conservation. From June 8-15, 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.
Every year on the last Friday in April, REEF celebrates Give BIG for the Oceans. This single-day giving event is a way for the REEF community to come together to celebrate and support ocean conservation. Our fourth annual Give BIG for the Oceans is coming up on April 26, and all donations made on this day will be MATCHED up to $30,000! A special thank you to the Pelton Charitable Foundation and two anonymous REEF members for providing these matching funds. Be sure to mark April 26 on your calendar to be sure that you can take advantage of this incredible match opportunity.
Are you interested in teaching fish ID to others, but aren't sure where to begin? Check out REEF's marine life identification curricula, which is available for 15 different areas! These instructor-led courses include everything you need to teach divers and snorkelers about some of the most commonly encountered species in a given region. Dive shops, clubs, and instructors can use this resource to introduce divers and snorkelers to citizen science and marine life identification.
Our April Fish of the Month is the Monkeyface Prickleback, Cebidichthys violaceus!
Survey Regions: Monkeyface Prickleback are found from southern Oregon to central California, and are present but rarely seen in southern California. These areas are part of REEF's PAC region. Click here to see a REEF database distribution report for this species.
REEF Field Survey Trips are eco-vacations led by marine life experts. Each trip features daily dives and fish ID classes for both beginners and experienced surveyors. This May, we're excited to head to the beautiful island of St. Lucia for diving, fish surveys, and fun! During our week at Anse Chastanet Resort, we'll enjoy beautiful ocean and mountain views. The entire region is a protected marine area and beach diving is easily accessible, in addition to our daily boat dives with onsite operator Scuba St. Lucia.
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.
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.
Our partners at the Cayman Islands Department of Environment (DoE) recently used REEF data to evaluate Scalloped Hammerhead shark populations in the Cayman Islands, and their findings could mean good news for the future of hammerhead sharks in the area! The Scalloped Hammerhead is a critically endangered shark species with a decreasing global population. They are normally seen in large schools in the Pacific Ocean, but this is a rare sighting in the Atlantic Ocean, and schools of Scalloped Hammerheads have not been observed in the Cayman Islands for decades.