We are excited to honor Dennis Bensen as 2021 REEF Volunteer of the Year. Dennis joined REEF in 2001, and quickly became an avid REEF surveyor as part of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project (VFSP). Through the years, he has earned Expert level surveyor status in both Hawaii (HAW) and the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) survey regions, and he is one of the few surveyors who has conducted REEF surveys in most (7) of REEF’s 10 survey regions worldwide. After living in New York for decades, Dennis moved to the Big Island of Hawaii when he retired in 2015.
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
Tropical Pacific Damselfishes Pt. 2
Monday, April 4, 8pm EDT
Click here to register.
Join us for part 2 as Christy Semmens teaches us how to ID even more Tropical Pacific Damselfish, Dascyllus, and Demoiselles! You can also view the recording of Part 1 here.
Join in a REEF Field Survey Trip to experience an unforgettable fish watching adventure - and complete this month's featured Conservation Challenge! Divers, snorkelers, and surveyors of all experience levels are welcome on these educational citizen science trips, led by REEF fish ID experts. Check out the full trip schedule at www.REEF.org/trips, including our newly released 2023 (and beyond) trip schedule! You are eligible to receive this sticker if you have attended any REEF Field Survey Trip in the past, or you're registered for an upcoming trip.
Cozumel 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.
The Galapagos Islands are among the most geographically remote on earth and are pristine and largely untouched by man. 15 main islands and countless smaller ones dot the archipelago – providing plentiful shallow-water habitats. Deep, oceanic water lies just offshore, and The Galapagos Islands are washed by 3 major oceanic currents (Humboldt, Cromwell, and Panama), a constant source of nutrients for the resident marine life. Galapagos delivers amazing biodiversity from big animals to small invertebrates. Enjoy this custom 7-day itinerary.
Curacao was rated as one of the top 10 diving destinations by Scuba Diving Magazine readers in 2022. This trip offers diving through Ocean Encounters and lodging through LionsDive. Enjoy 6 days of 2 tank morning dives and unlimited shore diving! LionsDive Beach Resort has a cozy, casual atmosphere set amidst a stunning tropical location, whether you’re a diver or snorkeler, it’s the perfect trip for you.
This eco-adventure includes diving or snorkeling with Costa Rica's marine life and as well as land-based tours through a vibrant tropical rainforest and an active volcano, and a wildlife-watching boat trip. The itinerary has 4 days of diving/snorkeling (incluing 2-dives/day) to conduct REEF surveys, as well as land tours throughout the diverse Guanacaste region. This weeklong family-friendly expedition welcomes divers and non-divers alike and has something for everyone.
Dive into a technicolor world. The Red Sea in Egypt is one of the planet’s most exotic and captivating natural environments. There are few places in the world where you'll find such a diverse array of radiant corals, schooling pelagics, and plentiful marine life. This custom ten-day journey brings the best of Grand Sea Explorer’s North and Brothers-Daedelus-Elphinstone itineraries.
Saba’s volcanic origins have blessed her waters with spectacular formations and structural diversity. From shallow patch reefs to deepwater seamounts, Saba offers interesting diving at each depth and for every diver's experience level. Juliana’s Hotel has the perfect location, nestled in the lush hillside in the village of Windwardside, where the days are warm, the nights are refreshingly cool, the birds are chirping, and a gentle breeze flows through your room.
Cabañas on Clark’s Cay in the Bay Islands, Guanaja, Honduras, is a 4-acre island oasis that offers incredible seascapes, an open-air restaurant, and bar, an infinity pool, and spa along with a meandering lazy river. Concierge dive services enable guests to fully enjoy the splendor of Guanaja’s coral reef system featuring dives on pinnacles,
walls, and the wreck of the Jado Trader. Participants will contribute to REEF's online survey database and expand their Caribbean fish ID knowledge on this dive trip.