We're excited to share another story about the power of REEF citizen science data. Last month, researchers from University of Miami published a new paper in the scientific journal Fisheries Management and Ecology, which used REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP) data to help model population trends in coral reef fish species.
With its large variety of dive sites, Grenada is known as the dive capital of the Eastern Caribbean. Colorful reefs and spectacular shipwrecks filled with fish life will thrill all types of divers. Conditions are typically excellent both above and below the water, with dive visibility normally between 50-100 feet. Grenada is also home to a world-famous underwater sculpture park and has plenty of land-based activities to enjoy during surface intervals, including hiking, visiting beautiful Grand Anse Beach, river tubing, and touring historic sites.
Tobago's unique location in the southern Caribbean results in rich biodiversity. Outflow from the Orinoco River in Venezuela feeds this area with an abundance of nutrients, which in turn attracts lots of fish. Speyside Inn offers spectacular ocean views and a relaxing experience, while Tobago Dive Experience brings guests to the pristine, world-class reefs and clear waters.
Explore three distinct destinations in one trip, seeing everything Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia has to offer. This amazing trip will start off by spending 4 nights at Murex Manado Resort, where you will dive stunning walls, losing count of the number of species you see in one dive. You will then spend 3 nights at Murex Bangka Resort that will leave you with sensory overload, where the pristine reefs are teeming with life.
Join REEF on our first trip to Malta! Set in the middle of the blue Mediterranean, the Maltese islands enjoy some of the best climates in Europe, a wealth of scenic beauty, and a vast inheritance of culture. Steep, rugged cliffs, caves, valleys, and picturesque rock formations dominate most of the Maltese Islands’ dramatic coastline. Below the surface of the water, the scenery is as breathtaking as above. Enjoy shore diving, boat diving, and collecting data in an area that has never been surveyed before!
Located in remote Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Misool is known for its pristine reefs and abundant marine life. All of the dive sites are protected by the resort's own Misool Private Marine Reserve, including the House Reef, a world-class shore dive with the opportunity to see unique animals including Black Tip Reef Sharks, Bargibanti and Denise Pygmy Seahorses, and even mating Mandarinfish!
Our annual Cozumel trip is known for its many unique fish finds, including the Cozumel-endemic Splendid Toadfish as well as high concentrations of other interesting species like Cherubfish, Blackcap Basslets, and Sargassum Triggerfish. When not diving, you will enjoy all the wonderful food and culture that Mexico has to offer, as well as daily fish ID classes. Reserve your spot today because this popular trip is sure to sell out quickly.
REEF Into the Blue Book Club will discuss our latest book selection, Monarchs of the Sea, The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods by Danna Staaf.
All are invited to join in this meeting, whether you have read the book or not. For more details about Into the Blue Book Club, visit www.REEF.org/bookclub.
This meeting will be led by Hilary Penner, REEF Education, and Conservation Programs Manager, and Katie Barnes, REEF Communication and Engagement Fellow.
Citizen science is growing increasingly important for managers and conservation science. The REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project provides an accessible and flexible way for divers to contribute observations to a large database. This flexibility comes with challenges for analysis, but these challenges can be addressed with analytical models that account for variation in survey effort in time and space.
From walls adorned with spectacular corals, wrecks that are home to a diverse array of marine life, or shallow reefs teeming with tropical fish species, the dive sites of Grand Cayman will delight REEF surveyors. Participants may take advantage of the unlimited shore diving directly in front of Sunset House. While Grand Cayman has hundreds of dive sites, this destination also has plenty of activities to enjoy during surface intervals or to entertain non-divers, including Stingray City, Pedro St.