Join REEF Conservation Partner, Friends of Saltwater State Park, for a fun and family-friendly Earth Day Celebration.
Activities include a REEF survey dive or snorkel, beach walks, hikes, creek restoration, child-friendly crafts, and more!
Dive/snorkel check-in time: 9am
Divers and snorkelers sign-up by emailing Michael Delles at Friends.Saltwater.StatePark@gmail.com
See flyer below for more information.
Join us for a free fish ID class, held every Thursday from 11am-12pm at the John Pennekamp State Park Visitor Center. This engaging class will teach you how to identify various fishes that you'll see while snorkeling or diving in the Florida Keys!
Address:
John Pennekamp State Park Visitor Center
102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
This paper provides a review of the 28 dwarfgobies (genus Eviota) known to occur in Fiji, including descriptions of five new species. One of these new species, Eyre's Dwarfgoby, was initially discovered and documented by REEF surveyor, Janet Eyre. This was the first of several new species that Janet's keen eyes and strong natural history sense has generated. The paper provides an illustrated key to the dwarfgoby species known to occur in Fiji, and each species is represented by a diagnosis or a description, range, habitat descriptions, and photographs.
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.
