Meet our October Fish of the Month, the Red-lipped Batfish, Ogcocephalus darwini!
Survey Regions: Red-lipped Batfish are found in the Galapagos Islands, part of REEF's Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) survey region. Originally thought to be endemic to the Galapagos, they have also been recorded south off the coast of Peru. Click here to view a sightings report for this species.
This year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP). We are amazed and in awe of how the program has grown, and are so grateful to the over 17,000 volunteers who have conducted surveys through the years. The first surveys were conducted in July 1993 in Key Largo, FL. Since then, the VFSP has been expanded to waters around the world and has been modified to include invertebrates and algae in colder temperate waters. The database is approaching 300,000 surveys!
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. Divers, snorkelers, and families are all welcome. If you're looking for a Caribbean getaway this spring, the upcoming REEF Field Survey Trip to Utila offers an amazing chance to dive the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world! Although it's the smallest of the three Bay Islands of Honduras, Utila has over 100 dive sites, including wrecks, huge drop-offs, and seamounts.
Enjoy the Best of the Philippines on the 10-night transition charter as the Philippines Aggressor makes its way from Tubbataha to Visayas as the seasons change. Tubbataha sits in the Sulu Sea and is in the middle of the Coral Triangle between Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The Tubbataha Reefs National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visayas is home to some of the best scuba diving the Philippines offers. From soft coral-covered walls to black sand dives to Thresher sharks, huge schools of Sardines, Turtles, schools of Jacks, and Whale sharks.
Welcome to Citizen Science Corner, our quarterly feature to celebrate those who recently reached a milestone in our Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Here are achievements from July, August and September 2023:
Juvenile Hamlet Award
The Juvenile Hamlet Award is for individuals who have conducted 500+ REEF surveys. Congratulations to our latest Juvenile Hamlet Club members, Marilyn and Robert Bentley! Read more about the Juvenile Hamlet award and others who have achieved it.
Enjoy the Rocio Del Mar's world class experince diving in the Sea of Cortez. There is a reason they get so many return customers. The Sea of Cortez is incredibly diverse with a vast array of blennies, jawfish, rays, massive schools of fish, seahorses, frogfish, Mexican Horn Sharks, and the list goes on and on. They have a large population of sea lions and a lot of whale activity on this particular trip, consistently seeing Pilot, Fin, and Sperm Whales. The Rocio del Mar is a family-owned liveaboard and a longtime partner of REEF.
Derby sets record for most lionfish caught during a Florida Keys derby, and most lionfish harvested by a single team
We're wrapping up a busy and rewarding summer season for the REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program! We hosted virtual, in person, and field-based programs for ocean lovers of all ages, from inter-generational programs designed for grandparents and their grandchildren to learn about marine life of the Florida Keys together, to weeklong trips with classroom lessons, snorkeling and kayaking, and even online programs to help people experience the ocean from their home or classroom.
REEF Fest is an annual event for ocean lovers. It includes free educational presentations, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, nature tours, and socials. It's all happening on October 19-22 in Key Largo, Florida. You can check out all the details at www.REEF.org/REEFfest. We're excited to welcome an amazing lineup of guest speakers this year, including:
