Reef Environmental Education Foundation, Inc.

I bring a biologist's curiosity to the world around me and even decades after college, REEF keeps me involved in learning. They help people learn more about the fish and creatures in the ocean, and give those same people a way to then further knowledge by aiding in surveys. Their free ID seminars are even fun to listen to for the non-snorkelers in my house. The staff are very pleasant to work with as well.

REEF raised my scuba diving from “just a tourist,” to my learning the fishes, and to knowing that the scientific data I generate is used by decision-makers to make decisions that will protect more of the oceans.

I have been volunteering/working for REEF for 17 years. It is a truly wonderful organization which continually expands its horizons to find new ways to help the ocean, the fish and the wonderful people who contribute to its causes.

I appreciate the education on fish decide in different oceans, allowing me to contribute to REEF’s purpose, as a citizen scientist.

I’ve been a member of REEF for 10 years and have learned how to conduct citizen scientist, volunteer fish identification (ID) surveys from them. The entire staff, the board of directors, the lead scientist, and the office staff have all been welcoming, encouraging and helpful in learning to do fish ID. Over the years I have done a REEF lead trip to someplace around the world to help do fish ID. I have entered hundreds of surveys. I am always excited to learn new information about fish ID as well as contribute to science that may help conserve our marine environment. The trips are a group effort. There are a lot of fun and have met a lot of wonderful friends through this organization over the years. It has changed the way I look at and try to contribute to marine conservation. And it just helped me concentrate my conservation efforts when I’m back home.

I love the REEF books and use them for identification of marine species I see and photograph while scuba diving. I wore out the first set, and am now on my third set of books! I occasionally contribute to the database when I find an unusual species in a location where they are rarely seen. I also belong to the REEF Facebook group for my area, the Tropical Western Atlantic, where members are able to post photos for help with identification and ask for ID for unfamiliar species. I provide ID's, and I also ask for ID's and really appreciate the expertise of the members that are there to help. REEF is a valuable resource and contributor to the marine sciences, and I am greatly appreciative of the help they provide.

REEF has allowed me to turn my passion for scuba diving into admission to help others learn about marine life and conservation. I do hundreds of dives a year, and the surveys I log help marine scientists in their efforts to save the ocean and make the world a better place for everyone. Without REEF, this wouldn’t be possible. REEF is an invaluable resource for so many people, and deserves to be recognized for its incredible contribution to marine conservation.

REEF has helped me learn about the marine environment in many places, not only in the Pacific Northwest where I live, but in any place I visit. I started doing fish surveys on my dives and snorkels 25 years ago, and can't imagine being in the water now without doing a survey! It's so enjoyable knowing what you're looking at underwater.

I fell in to REEF quite by accident. As my love for SCUBA has grown, so has my relationship with REEF. As a science teacher, I love the activities and data that are available to me. As someone who cares deeply about our ocean, I love that REEF continues to grow their mission by engaging divers and snorkelers all over the world. I HIGHLY recommend visiting their website and seeing all the programs they are involved in. There's definitely something in there for everyone!

REEF has helped me to learn fish ID in these survey regions: Tropical Western Atlantic, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, Pacific (US west coast), Indian Ocean, Hawaii, and the Indo Pacific. Not quite the whole world, but big chunks of it. Because they lead trips, give webinars, and review your survey data (and help sort observations), they have motivated me to learn and to contribute to their worldwide database. It feels great to contribute to their citizen (and professional) science efforts, especially when my observations are for a new location or that extend the range or frequency of a species.

REEF is an amazing organization. Their outreach is second to none, getting people of all ages involved and excited about learning about the ocean and how to protect it. We have been part of their Volunteer Fish Survey Project for years and it has not only changed the way we dive, but has been life changing in terms of the people we’ve met and places we have traveled to as part of REEF led activities. We can’t say enough great things about REEF and the fantastic work that they do. The fact that they make all of their information readily accessible to all is also amazing.

As a long-time REEF member, I do a fish survey on every dive. Though I may be extraordinarily slow in getting my data entry done on my surveys, just doing the surveys keeps me learning, even as I approach 2,000 logged dives. And others who see me doing the surveys are almost always curious about the underwater survey paper, slate, etc. that I get from REEF to support my efforts. I've only been on two REEF Field survey trips (my first on nearby Bequia and the second on Dominica, which focused on lionfish) but thoroughly enjoyed and learned tons on both. Not to mention the support REEF has provided me as I've organized lionfish derbies here on tiny Mayreau, which is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the fishinars, which are always chock full of good info and lots of comradery!

I've belonged to REEF since 1994. I love their fish identification webinars (fishinars) and have used them and their books in learning to id fish, creatures and coral. I have taught their fish id course in my dive shop, and my dives are enhanced with my id knowledge. On many scuba trips, I have pointed out fish and creatures to other divers and explained fishes and their habitat, making their dives more enjoyable. I have moved to Florida and dive every week. I take pictures of fish and use REEF's TWA Facebook page to post fish I am not familiar with. The feedback from others is awesome. This is just a small part of the immense things this organization does, through research, teaching and improving the environment.

A great organization! I have enjoyed and felt that I have contributed on the plus side of the equation of being a responsible citizen each time I'm participating in a survey trip with REEF, which I have been doing since 1994!

Volunteering for REEF comes with the opportunity to become an educated citizen scientist. The fish survey field trips they sponsor are part science class with a big bunch of fun rolled into one. The organizations staff professionals are dedicated to their mission and work hard to educate each volunteer with enthusiasm and appreciation. The database of fish biodiversity statistics created by input from citizen science volunteers is available to all organizations and stakeholders. It’s important work and I’m happy to be a participant and supporter.

I got to partake in multiple REEF surveys on a school trip to Belize and had a blast learning all of the different fish. The best part was being able to take the knowledge I had gained in the classroom out on to the actual reefs!

REEF is amazing; it teaches people about the life in the ocean, it encourages ocean conservation, it provides opportunities to socialize and do fish surveys, it sponsors fun events, and even the requests for money are done with finesse and good humor. My wife and i prodly wear our REEF swag, and happily donate to the organization. Bravo, REEF.

I delighted to share that REEF was instrumental in making my recent travel course to Belize with my high school students a fantastic success. They offered a wonderful teacher education course last summer and I recently put all the details from the workshop in place to support my students in becoming REEF fish surveyors on our trip to Belize and they submitted 20 surveys! Additionally, I received support from the staff in the final stages of my trip planning to learn how to extract data from the REEF database so that my students could investigate the changes in our particular area of Belize. All of the students created scientific posters on their findings and will present them our research symposium in the next school year. A fantastic opportunity facilitated by REEF! I am so grateful. My program was so successful that I have been asked to present on my travel course.

Great resource for fish ID or fishnars so you know what you are looking at underwater.

I have been involved with REEF since 2002 it was my first trip and it changed my view of diving. It gave me a much better understanding of what I was looking at and made diving much more significant. I now can not believe how important REEF has become and the wonderful things that have been accomplished.

REEF offers so much but I particularly appreciate the references for fish ID, being able to “make my dives count” and the annual REEF Fest featuring free fabulous talks from the diving and scientific community.

REEF volunteers work tirelessly to document the marine environment and educate the public and policymakers on issues related to it. They are an important part of our environmental community.

I have been on both ends of REEF data. I have completed just under 100 surveys and learned a tremendous amount doing so. As an environmental scientist, I have also used REEF data in helping describe marine biodiversity in the Western tropical Atlantic. Their fishinars and presenters are top notch. REEF data are indispensable to the scientific community, especially in these times of accelerated diversity loss.

This is my favorite charity! I love the people and the mission: volunteer divers getting out and reporting the wildlife we see, providing a fantastic -- and free -- resource for tracking species over time. The database of surveys is now over a quarter-million worldwide.

REEF uses education and citizen science to promote healthy marine life and environment. Totally support them and their mission! I’ll continue as a volunteer diver to explore, discover and make a difference!!

REEF has made diving into a thrilling experience for me, as I look for fishes to record on my surveys. Yay, a new fish! And then the REEF community helps me identify them. It's terrific.

REEF offers training and dive experiences that make it easy for any scuba diver to give something back to the ocean as a citizen scientist.

I really like volunteering with REEF. It combines seeing and understanding the marine environment and scuba diving. I like that the data is shared with scientists who use it to get deeper understanding of our oceans. Also, it is easy to access support when ever I get stuck on something, like a fish identification.

REEF is the best thing that ever happened to me. I love diving and I love identifying fish! REEF opened a whole new world for me when I started surveying during my dives and made it so fun by counting fish. I learned so much and now I can share my knowledge with other divers interested to learn how to ID different vertebrates and invertebrates. :)

One of the best scientific and educational organizations . Now I know what the fish in the sea are too, from all their excellent expertise.

REEF changed how I view the oceans. Scuba had become boring. Everything under water looked the same. REEF taught me to identify fish, creatures, coral and sponges. Scuba is fun once again. REEF gives purpose to recreational diving.

The staff at REEF are always looking to engage the public to promote marine environment advocacy. They are super helpful when I call with questions about their volunteer fish survey project.

I spent a long time looking for a way to give back to a sport and community that has shaped my life and the way that I see the world. When I found Reef.org, I found a way to not only contribute to the growing knowledgebase of what we know about the underwater world, but a way to challenge myself to improve and go further. I am humbled and grateful for the people I have met through Reef.org and the passion they have.

REEF gets people involved with the documentation and preservation of marine habitats. With a great volunteer program to document fish and invertebrate species seen at dive sites, REEF has created a trove of data on species diversity and distribution. The REEF database can be queried by anyone and is a great tool in open-sourcing data on marine life.

A couple of years ago, REEF invited me, as a middle school science teacher, on a trip to Bonaire to learn about their amazing fish database and participate in a week of fish surveys and seminars. It was such a great experience for me as an educator thatf I have been sharing it ever since. I have signed up for more trips and now my local diving has taken on a whole new level of significance. I have turned other teachers (my wife included) on to this great way to participate in 'Citizen Science'...REEF even supported classrooms remotely during this recent year of science education upheaval. And, just a great bunch of folks on top of it!

With a love for scuba diving and the environment and a background in Marine Science, the REEF organization created the perfect opportunity for me to continue my passions.

With fun and educational events run by their amazingly helpful staff, anytime I can give them a shout out, I do.

I’ve both contributed to the databases, as well as using the data to create data visuals for population distributions of the species my dive scuba dive club members might come across.

Cannot say how much I appreciate this group and their staff!

For over 20 years, I have been relying on Reef Enivronmental Education Foundation's books and extensive database for identification of marine species I see and photograph while scuba diving. They provide a valuable service to all who love to learn about the ocean. In the last few years, I have been contributing to their database when I find an unusual species in a location where they are rarely seen. I also participate in their facebook group for my area, the Tropical Western Atlantic, where members are able to post photos for help with identification and ask for ID for unfamiliar species. REEF is a valuable resource and contributor to the marine sciences.

I became a member during the pandemic and REEF has provided an amazing learning experience. What I really like is that REEF can focus on my ocean area of the world. Once I had joined, I received in the mail ID cards for fish and invertebrates in my area, a clipboard and write in the rain paper for underwater surveying, and cool stickers and cards. Next, invitations to webinars arrived, and each one again tailored to my specific location and very well presented. I look forward to many years of involvement with REEF as I snorkel and dive my way around the coast.

REEF teaches divers of all levels how to identify fish through their webinars, books, Facebook pages for different areas and sponsored trips. As a diver, they make your underwater experience a learning one and one That is utterly awesome!

I have been doing REEF fish surveys for a number of years. But the key activity I do with them (when not doing surveys) and often recommend to friends, are the Fishinars (webinars on fish), which are both informative and entertaining. The staff, particularly Janna Nichols, are always helpful in figuring the odd, unusual fish. They are a joy to work with. I would not donate to them if I did not believe in them.

REEF is a jewel in conservation and education about the fish and other inhabitants of the earths vast ocean areas.
The online Fishinars are a great way to educate yourself and are perfect for individuals and families.
The online Volunteer Fish Surveys are a great way to use what you learned. Reef Trips are a great way to participate with wonderful mentors to monitor the health of the oceans.
To me, REEF is a great resource.

Citizen science is WAY more fun than real science ever was for this retired scientist. REEF Fish ID trips are WAY better than tourist swim-around dive trips. I LOVE knowing the fishes, and REEF’s fishinars to teach me to identify the fishes are the best way to learn them.

I discovered REEF last year and it has been a game changer for me as a scuba instructor and university researcher. The values and mission of this wonderful organisation are supported and promoted by their extremely competent, dedicated and motivated staff. The impact of their numerous projects and programs is beyond any non-profit group I have encountered so far in the realm of marine conservation and citizen science. They are truly deserving of recognition for the impact they have had and continue to have on improving the health of our oceans.

Every summer I bring children with intellectual and physical disabilities to their classroom where they teach them about common reef fish and the Fl Keys ecosystem. The staff is knowledgeable, sensitive, and the children love the staff , their stuffed pets and t-shirts.The best non profit!!

Terrific support of the fish geek community. Very helpful with fish identification and tips on how to ID them in the field. Fishinars have opened my eyes to fish I might otherwise have missed during diving and snorkeling. Their data base is great for trip planning and, I am sure, a gold mine for scientists.

REEF has opened my eyes underwater! There is so much more to see when you know what to look for. Also, they have influenced my behavior in all areas of conservation. Great people too!

REEF's enthusiastic and knowledgable professionals and volunteers are dedicated to conservation, education, and outreach. With the health of our oceans in decline, exemplary organizations like REEF are more necessary than ever. Keep up the good work!

This is a wonderful citizen science organization that works to protect marine life diversity. Their Grouper Moon project along with the Cayman Islands DEP has preserved the Nassau Grouper population at one of the last know spawning sites in the Caribbean in Little Cayman.

Great organization to enhance awareness, help new people with identifying their sightings and encorage people to enter there sightings in an online open source database for identification of reef biodiversity.

When I first started with identifying fish, I used REEF's educational tools and found them very useful. The staff is super helpful and I still enjoy their webinars.

REEF is a spectacular resource for divers and researchers. They and citizen science volunteers amass more reef fish distribution information, worldwide, than any other existent body. REEF offers courses and webinars with tricks to help divers and others interested to become familiar with and gain mastery of fish identification.
Their games and quizzes offer learning and fun.
Their databases offer materials for students and researchers to access for their work.
REEF is a top shelf nonprofit and deserves Great Nonprofits recognition!

It’s so exciting to volunteer and be a citizen scientist for REEF.org, not only am learning to ID the fish I see but it’s fun to teach others too.
I also feel with the random surveys I do I am helping to observe the health of the ocean and reef systems that help the scientists protect and preserve our underwater environment.

REEF is a fabulous charity that involves and educates anyone with an interest about the marine life of our oceans. They offer courses on how to identify what's living down there, both as on-line fishinars and in-person lectures for a number of interested local groups such as dive clubs. Once you know what you're seeing, you can partake in volunteer fish surveys, either on your own or as part of REEF-organised trips. They also carry out research into issues such as invasive lionfish. As a scuba diver, REEF have taught me so much about the fish and invertebrates I see when I dive, and taking part in their citizen science surveys makes my dives more fun and helps monitor the state of our sea life.

I love working & diving with the Reef team.
I feel safe, learn a lot about fish and at my best scuba diving with this group.

Great education program.

Creating Citizen Scientists to aide researchers

Very knowledgeable and helpful staff

I have learned so much about fish with their Fishinars-seminars targeted to different areas of fish identification and behaviour, and had been able to contribute to the citizen science by reporting a number of species in Fiji, and other places in the South Pacific as well as in Hawaii. This is an amazing organisation!

I first learned about REEF 3 years ago while on a dive trip. I am so grateful I did! This is an excellent organization, dedicated to the conservation of my beloved oceans and her creatures. The people at REEF are knowledgeable and passionate about their mission, and just all-around awesome humans.

I have become involved in the REEF fish survey project, where I perform underwater surveys of fish populations while diving. This data is used by marine scientists and others for important conservation work. Participating in this program has been so rewarding. REEF’s education programs are quite effective, and left me well-prepared and confident in my knowledge of fish species in order to do surveys. I love being a citizen scientist, knowing I am having a positive impact for marine life!

Thanks to Reed.org I became a better advocate for the different marine ecosystems. My dives have become more fun as I try to learn and find new species.

My grandsons have attended REEF summer camps since they began - all the way from California. Last year they were joined by three girl cousins and all had a great time. My husband and I are regulars at monthly Fish and Friends mtgs., Key Largo Lionfish Derbies and any other REEF activities we can fit in our schedules. Great organization!

As a board member of a local (Puget Sound) marine advocacy group (WA Scuba Alliance) I've had the joy of working with REEF on a number of projects. REEF folks have always come through to work with our team. Many of my fellow scientific divers are active REEF members. I can always count on these folks when we need to gather solid technical data for a project.

REEF not only provides valuable citizen-science data, they are a great resource for divers wanting to learn more about the marine world. The staff and volunteers go out of their way to make you feel welcome and that your surveys matter ... even you are just learning your sculpin from your rockfish!

Nature, especially the oceans need a friend and REEF brings so many non-scientist to the realm of marine critters, helping spread the message that they need to be protected . With their surveys, REEF helps monitoring the state of health of marine life around the globe.

Reef.org was a game changer for me. It gave diving meaning. I have loved learning more about the environments that I was diving in. I have learned more than 120 tropical fish by site and do surveys for reef whenever I dive.

REEF has been a wonderful tool to teach biology to divers. We introduce the technique basics early in advanced diver training or on special biology field trips. Students learn to identify the various fins, jaw structures and behavior of fish as part of species identification, which adds t0 a richer understanding of fish biology. The REEF program also allows students to add their contribution to the body of science after only a few hours of training. They love it!

REEF is a great way to extend your diving experience into marine biology through fish and invertebrate identification training and practice. People protect what they love... but first you must know what is out there... REEF can help with that part!

REEF has helped me expand my knowledge of ocean environments and the creatures that inhabit them. It has provided a wonderful way for me to participate in citizen science and contribute to marine conservation. The training materials are first rate with the Fishinars being some of the best adult education I have experienced

We wanted to learn more about sea life near our home in Seattle. Thanks to REEF's free on-line classes we can now identify the most important critters when diving. We haven't yet starting surveying what we see, but REEF makes the path to doing surveys (that help science) clear and easy.

Work they do is exceptional and often times the only long term data available.

I love REEF because it has provided a purpose to my diving and I have met so many like minded divers who share this passion for the fish in the sea. I also like the idea that the data we are providing is useful for scientists in a variety of fields. The REEF staff does a terrific job of training and support for its volunteers to insure accuracy of the data collected.

Pam Wade

REEF provides encouragement and training for volunteer fish surveyors. This provides a large data base that can be used for fish species scientific research. It also gets people much more involved with the ocean environment. Without the friendly ready knowledgable staff and volunteers it would be much more difficult and less enjoyable to get this knowledge and training. It also puts individuals interested in the ocean environment together so that they can build a community. Finally it promotes conservation and appreication for our ocean environmnet.

I am a marine scientist, diver, and member of Reef. I love that reef has volunteer divers that (of their own accord) have become experts at reef creature identification and that Reef.org provides tests of their knowledge. This allows me to use that data and be confident in its quality. So far I have published 2 papers that have used Reef.org data as a major part of the paper. I am also a Reef.org diver and as a diver it always gives me a good reason to get in the water and get in a fish count and a dive. Finally I have found that as divers begin counting and IDing fish and inverts in their dives they become more and more aware of the diversity of the ocean and the health of the ocean. They invariably become ocean stewards and ocean health advocates.

Awesome- Fish ID training and opportunity to do citizen science and give back to the ocean environment I LOVE! I use REEF resources and books to connect my high school natural science students to their resources too.

I can't begin to tell you how important the work is, that these folks do, with regards to our environment. The fish surveys they take in order to determine species counts and the fierce battle that they wage against invasive species, which harm our waters is critical. Best wishes to all those involved and keep up the great work!!

REEF is an amazing organization that has many branches growing from its trunk. I like them all, but the one that I like the most is called Fish Surveying. A scuba diver or snorkeler like myself that enjoys marine fish can become a citizen scientist on every underwater adventure collecting data by filling out a survey that records species and abundance for a particular region of the world. Each individual survey goes into REEF's database and is available to anyone, i.e. research scientists, to use for their work/research in the marine realm. I feel like I am able to contribute to ocean research as a lay person...REEF has made that possible for me. It feels great!

No finer marine education organization anywhere!! Speakers, activities, field trips. Fish ID, dive buddies, demonstrations and more. Awesome organization and people.

The work REEF does with interns is invaluable to the continued advancement of environmental education by providing a springboard to future scientists and ecologists.

REEF is an amazing organization. I have had the pleasure of working with them for two years now to train college students in fish identification and survey techniques. Their education coordinator is fantastic and my students have come away with very meaningful experiences that have inspired several of them to pursue careers in marine science.

REEF is a great organization doing a lot to educate people about our ocean environment. They offer great trips every year keyed on fish identification and population counts. The results of these counts end up in a database that is invaluable for all types of organiztions and scientists. Not to mention the other benefits of these trips, making new friends with other like minded divers.

This is a great resource for learning about different kinds of fish all over the world. They provide free classes and online resources that make learning fun. They collect data from volunteer citizen scientists and use it to increase the knowledge of our oceans. It is a great resource used by many scientists.

Great organization! Helping us all understand the underwater eco-environment just a bit better! Thank you REEF

REEF is an amazing resource for helping scientists better understanding our marine world. And they do critical work in aiding marine conservation. Thank you REEF!

Having just suffered a tremendous blow to its physical plant and by those who both work and live in the immediate area (Key Largo, Fl), I can not think of a nonprofit that could use a boost in its moral more than REEF. This organization and more so the people who work and volunteer for it are some of the best people in the world. I have been a member some 16 years now and volunteering for REEF has changed my life. REEF deserves this recognition, especially now.

This is an excellent nonprofit that benefits scientific research while educating the general public. They offer free education to all interested individuals. They increase awareness while promoting protection of the oceans we all share.

Phenomenal organization! Doing things for the Ocean that not many others can or will do! Great diving organization too!

I heard about Reef a couple years ago and was impressed with how they were using volunteers to both increase our understanding of the oceans by scientists and to enhance the appreciation of the oceans by other divers. I started doing reef surveys about a year ago. I find that not only do I feel good about helping the scientists but I have greatly increased my understanding and appreciation of the great diversity of the oceans. I am now seeing all sorts of ocean life that I did not notice before. I am passing this appreciation on to others through the photos I post online which have a number of followers.

REEF has been honest and committed to their cause since inception. They have some very knowledgeable people on staff and as volunteers. Their findings are used by several serious science organizations, and therefore REEF is contributing directly to ocean conservation.

The trips are fun and informative, linking divers of like mind and spirit.

I have worked with REEF.org for 10 years now and their knowledge, education program and staff have consistently been A+...

I have been an active supporter of REEF for over 8 years and am currently on the way to join them as a volunteer conducting surveys on Saba. The educational materials and free online seminars have been a great resource of knowledge invaluable to me as a scuba instructor and underwater photographer.

I have been to a number of REEF events, from their lion fish derbies, to their jewelry workshops, and even their annual REEF Fest and can honestly say there is not a harder working, more passionate, fun loving, all around genuine and fantastic group than the REEF staff and volunteers. I am so impressed with what they are able to accomplish world wide while having such few people and so many projects. I highly recommend all ocean enthusiasts to pursue this non profit and just get to know their mission.

REEF is an amazing group of people who do truly meaningful work. They spend the extra time to get to know each member and it really came across at REEF Fest, when so many old and new friends gathered to celebrate ocean conservation. Their database is extremely useful to scientists and policy makers as well as recreational snorkelers and divers, and their invasive lionfish research program does amazing work. They don't only hold events related to ocean conservation, but they also make it fun and bring together a community of like-minded fishy people.

I truly believe that the work REEF does is exceptional, and they have an equally outstanding team making it happen. I will always support REEF and cherish my time there!

This is a great organization teaching people about the reef and how to protect our ocean. My husband and I learned about the importance of eradicating lionfish from them and have been pulling lionfish out of the ocean as much as we can now. A great organization.

REEF conducts ground-breaking research in the field of marine science. The governments of the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas have enacted legislation protecting Nassau Grouper populations based on REEF's work. The Lionfish project is making a difference in the control of an invasive species in the Atlantic.

My daughter and I have been volunteer members of REEF for almost twenty years. She was seven when we joined, and became a certified junior diver at ten- In great part due to the fun we had together as REEF members & volunteers. Avid snorkelers, and divers, we love diving with a purpose. Our favorite "self-challenge" is to see how many species we can identify on outing; always trying to better ourselves! Best Part of REEF? The workshops and events hosted; on an ongoing basis. Fish identification seminars, lionfish round-up, and social gatherings where we have had the opportunity to bond with like minded fish enthusiasts; to name a few. BONUS of volunteering with REEF? Supports related environmental causes & influences environmental policy.

I have been doing fish surveys for REEF for a couple of years and enjoy really "looking" at the fish I see while diving. I find that I spend extra time watching behaviors of the fish, too. I took my first REEF trip this past spring and it was amazing...jammed packed with diving, identifying, and educational seminars, with a top-notch, knowledgeable group leader!!! It is great fun being a citizen scientist with this wonderful organization.

My 20 year old daughter has been a member of REEF since jr. high school! What a wonderful educational group to help those interested in the fields of marine research to learn so much. After years of posting surveys as a young diver, trust me invertebrate biology is a snap in college! Thank you for all you do REEF!

Hello. I am a diver, and REEF educational group allows for this sport to continue exploring REEFS, keeping the oceans safe for marine life and divers. Educating our children to care for our oceans is necessary to continuing life on our planet while educating those who help keep the ocean's balance ecologically. REEF is amazing!
Jacksonville, FL
Kim Habermehl

My life was changed when I became an active REEF surveyor. I am a better diver, and a better educator - this group is first rate.

I was thoroughly impressed with the staff and interns at Reef Environmental Education Foundation. I recently attended the Lionfish Derby in Key Largo, hosted by REEF, and was not disappointed by their knowledge and friendly demeanor. REEF is going above and beyond to raise public awareness and education about the impacts of the invasive lionfish, working hard to get the public involved in hand- on learning and participation in getting lionfish off local reefs. In addition, REEF is doing extensive work with fish identification surveys worldwide to get a more comprehensive dataset of marine fishes. Lastly, I learned that REEF offers an internship to young individuals wanting to get experience in non-profit work pertinent to marine conservation. I commend this group for giving an opportunity to young people to get a well-rounded learning and work experience to boost their career. Good job to Reef Environmental Education Foundation for all their efforts to get more people actively involved with and educated about marine conservation. We need more groups like them in the world!

My husband and I took one of REEF's very first fish ID courses in 1993, and it changed our lives. As we continue to count fish and support REEF, we have become more and more impressed by their focus, specificity, and high effectiveness. For example, REEF's special projects are targeted--such as protecting the breeding of mass-spawning fish, and eliminating invasive lionfish--and have made measurable differences for the people affected (in the Atlantic basin, countries that rely on tourism), and their data are remaking science. I also love the fact REEF's data are available to all, and that significant institutions (like NOAA, fisheries around the world, and governments) use the data to create policy. Finally, I love the esprit de corps of REEF and its remarkable efficiency. I know as a member of its board that the staff are breathtakingly dedicated, underpaid, and highly productive. REEF's budget overwhelmingly goes towards its work. It is a truly great organization.

I volunteer for another non-profit organization that raises funds to deploy artificial reefs. When we decided to include fish counts in our artificial reef surveys REEF became our model. REEF is great to work with, I am always asking them to add new artificial reefs into their database and they are quick to respond. I enjoy doing surveys for both organizations, and the Florida FWC encourages us to put our survey data into the REEF database where it can be used by more researchers. REEF has been a great place for me to learn more about the fish I see on our surveys, and to get identifications on fishes I'm not familiar with.

I got involved with Reef.Org around the time of the 20th anniversary celebration. The key members were present giving lectures and leading groups of fish surveyors on their dives. It was an incredible experience and I've been hooked ever since. I feel like I learn something new on every dive when doing surveys. It's a great satisfaction knowing you're contributing to a database for scientific research. Reef.Org provides prominent speakers every 2nd Tuesday of the month, speaking on timely ocean topics at their facility in Key Largo as well as fish ID seminars lead by Carlos and Allison Estape. Web seminars on fish ID are hosted regularly to anyone with a computer so you need not be physically present. The Lionfish invasion is one key issues addressed by Reef.Org and they are one of the top organizations combating this problem. They are truly a force helping to protect our oceans.

Simply put, there is no other nonprofit like REEF providing excellent free resources, education, and data to divers and industry professionals world-wide.

I love to SCUBA dive and snorkel for pleasure, but making my dives count towards something larger is fantastic. This is exactly where REEF comes in. I can independently ID fish and send my surveys in to REEF or sign up for REEF trips, filling out surveys while having a great support group and gaining more underwater knowledge. I love receiving their emails to see how my (and other REEF divers) data has contributed to large-scale and long-term research. I wish more non-profits could contribute in such a grand and meaningful way.

My wife and I are great fans because REEF has significantly enhanced our enjoyment of diving. The "Fisninars", which are fun, fast and informative, have anchored our increasing ability to identify fish. The REEF Training & Survey materials (with that excellent, user friendly CD) gave us the confidence to take PADI's Fish ID specialty course and to complete our first REEF surveys. As a bonus, my REEF knowledge noticeably improved my eye for underwater photography.

Hi, I got certified in 1995 in Southern California then moved to Miami. Reef with their continue seminars and hands on the job actions keep me going strong, the only thing I got to say is thank you to them all.

I got into scuba for the fun, but you can't avoid the education. I am still learning, a lot, after 40 years of diving, and REEF is my primary source for underwater education. REEF helps me with fish identification and fish behavior. It is a wonderful "client" centered organization.

I have been following the lionfish debacle for a few years now, and was delighted that they offered some unique and artistic designs on t-shirts that would get the word out to those unaware of their Atlantic invasion. I ordered one and decided to pick it up at their HQ in Key Largo while vacationing in the Keys. They were very friendly and helpful group who informed me how I could get involved as a free diver here in our own Indian River Lagoon. Hats off to their Lionfish Derbies, as they are always a huge success.

As a volunteer new to eco-activism, I looked to established agencies for knowledge, expertise, inspiration and guidance in my fields of interest, marine conservation and community involvement in areas affected by invasive species, specifically lionfish. REEF's leadership with their Invasive Lionfish Program is second to none in dealing directly with this threat to marine biodiversity and coastal communities that depend on sustainable ocean productivity for their livelihoods.

I have done surveys in the California region for about 4 years and on the Advanced Assessment Team as well. Doing surveys is a lot of fun and knowing what I am looking at has helped hold my interest in my SCUBA diving generally. The educational component is exceptional and I would add that the people that work for REEF, like Janna Nichols and Christy Semmens are simply amazing and dedicated individuals who really demonstrate they want what is best for the members and the critters we encounter. i'm glad to be associated with such a fine organization!

I have been contributing to REEF's database of dive surveys for over 5 years now and I really like the amount of support they provide to divers and snorkelers at any level. Their web site is a wealth of information, not only their database but also quizzes for all different regions. Their free webinars aka "Fishinars" are always fun and entertaining to be experienced from the comfort of your home. To top if all off, they have friendly staff to answer any kind of questions you may have from your dive experiences. I learned so much regarding the critters I see in the ocean and it keeps it interesting and fresh. REEF offers a lot for FREE but actually they are priceless.

REEF is my favorite non-profit. It is a group that gets stuff done! I started surveying with REEF in 2002 and have stayed involved with various projects pretty much since then. What is so amazing about REEF is the sheer numbers of volunteers. Love REEF!

I have been diving as a REEF fish count volunteer for about a decade. It has been a great experience working with REEF staff over the years and having an opportunity to contribute to their data collection of species abundance and diversity.

It's 21 years and counting that I've been working with REEF in one way or another - advising, hosting volunteers, partnering on research, using their data in management, and volunteering. I know of no more active or productive volunteer-based organization. What an awesome outlet for anyone with a desire to learn more about the ocean while helping protect it!

As a marine biologist for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, I have been involved with REEF since 2007. REEF divers are given in-depth exposure to species identification from local experts, have access to online seminars, and participate in field excursions with biologists that further hone their skills in collecting data on fishes, invertebrates and algae along the eastern Pacific, from Washington to California. REEF divers are at the leading edge of the citizen science movement that is rapidly expanding along our coastal waters. Their sense of stewardship, appreciation for ongoing education, and general enthusiasm for the outdoors is contagious!

I highly recommend any divers interested in learning more about the marine environment and with a passion for making a difference to join REEF.

I have been working with this organization for 10 years. As far as I am concerned it is the preeminent marine, citizen science non-for-profit in the world. Their positive impact for diving, the environment and educating people about the importance of the oceans and the life therein can not be underestimated. From free online fish ID webinars, to fish watching vacations, to presentations on their many programs for schools and other organizations they have bridged the gap between scientists, politicians and the common individual wanting to learn more about the ocean realm creating a common playing field for all.

I've joined REEF.org in the last two years and it has made my diving so much more rewarding. REEF.org is free to join. They provide all the fish ID tools that you could possibly need, including online quizzes, seminars aka 'Fishinars, and a pathway to expert surveyor ... all for FREE! With over 180,000 volunteer surveys submitted, REEF has compiled an invaluable resource for marine biologists and other scientists. It is easy to join and progress. "Make every dive count" join REEF!

I started volunteering for REEF about 10 years ago, and my diving has never been more interesting. Each time I go in the water I'm challenged to find and ID more fish which makes my dives much more fun and at the same time I'm gathering data which is used by scientists, fishery management groups, other divers... basically anyone who wants to know which fish are where. Between dive trips I really enjoy the free online webinars that happen about once a month as a way to keep my feet wet and get together with other cool fish geeks. I've met some of the most fun and fascinating divers in this group, some of whom have a truely contagious enthusiasm for learning about the marine ecosystem. If you're looking for a group that will make your dives more interesting and fun that you can really feel good about, REEF is a great choice!

REEF keeps it's finger on the pulse of the oceans' health by mobilizing citizen scientists across the world. At the center of many different outreach projects is the fish identification survey database, with contributions from volunteer divers. The data that's collected is used by researchers who would be financially prohibited from collecting it themselves. I'm proud to participate and contribute my time too such a critical organization.

I've been volunteering with REEF for over 12 years and have done close to 1000 surveys. It is one of the greatest joys in my life to be able to be a citizen scientist for this group. I'm able to combine an activity I love with a worthwhile cause. It doesn't get any better.

This is a phenomenal group to work with. Providing educational opportunities and community outreach to people, this organization exceeds all expectations. It is serious work to bring attention to our fragile ecosystem and they hit the mark. Fishinars, events, and monthly meetings are just some activities they engage the community in. They are doing great work here. If you aren't a part of it, you are missing out.

We moved to an area near their HQ about a year ago and were welcomed with open arms. Thanks to REEF we dive with a greater purpose. That aside, they take great care to assure there are no conflicts of interest and that they remain true to their mission through great leadership, dedicated staff, and volunteers.