Reef Check Foundation

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Reef Check Foundation

Reef Check leads citizen scientists to promote stewardship of sustainable reef communities worldwide
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06/08/2026

Southern California Reef Check Divers, it's time!

Survey season kicks off at the end of June, and recertifications are already underway. If you haven't secured your spot yet, now is the time to get signed off and ready for another season of citizen science.

Log in to your Reef Check Volunteer portal to sign up.

Every survey contributes to one of the longest-running marine monitoring datasets on the West Coast, helping us track changes in kelp forests, fish populations, invertebrates, and overall ecosystem health.

We can't wait to see our SoCal Reef Check community back together underwater!

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06/06/2026

Did you know? Ocean ecosystems help regulate the climate and produce much of the oxygen we breathe.

Ocean conservation is not separate from human well-being. A healthy ocean makes land habitable. We are part of the same system, and we must care for it as such.

At Reef Check, volunteers and scientists collect long-term data on reef and kelp forest health, tracking changes in biodiversity, climate impacts, invasive species, bleaching events, and ecosystem recovery. That information helps guide conservation, restoration, and management decisions, as well as public awareness.

Check out our website to learn more about our programs and become a volunteer.

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06/03/2026

Ocean conservation isn’t just for scientists or scuba divers. Small, simple choices and lifelong activism commitments compound together across communities to make an impact.

Here are a few ways YOU can help protect our ocean ecosystems:

Start small

• Buy less, but when you do buy, choose items that make less trash
• Pick up litter at the beach, park, or neighborhood storm drains
• Learn the names of local marine species and ecosystems

Support through awareness

• Share your ocean knowledge with friends
• Follow and amplify marine conservation organizations
• Attend public talks, film screenings, or community science events

Contribute to the cause

• Log wildlife observations on apps like iNaturalist
• Report marine mammals, invasive species, or pollution events in your area
• Donate to marine conservation efforts

Get involved in your local community

• Join beach cleanups or habitat restoration days
• Volunteer at aquariums, nonprofits, or marine education events
• Show up at town halls/meetings to advocate for conservation policy

Conservation succeeds when communities participate. Long-term monitoring, public engagement, restoration, education, advocacy, and everyday stewardship all matter.

No individual has to do everything. We all just need to do something.

We're in this together.

06/01/2026

New EcoExpedition in Madagascar!

Combine exploration, education, and conservation on the reefs surrounding Sakatia Island, home to more than 400 coral species and an incredible diversity of reef life.

Led by longtime Reef Check EcoDiver Trainer Christian Solterer, this 14-day field course will train participants in:
🔬 Reef Check and Coral Watch survey methods
🐠 Fish, coral, and invertebrate identification
📊 Coral reef monitoring and conservation techniques

Programs like this help expand global reef-monitoring networks while empowering divers to contribute directly to marine conservation research.

📍Location: Sakatia Island, Madagascar
📚 Courses offered in English, French, and German

Interested in joining the expedition? Learn more at our 🔗

05/30/2026

Diving is life, but when you use that skill to support ocean science? That is next level.

We train community scientists to gather data about reefs worldwide. See the diving requirements on our website and start working toward becoming a Reef Check diver this year.

DM us if you have questions!

05/27/2026

Bleached doesn’t always mean dead!

Corals can recover if conditions improve quickly enough.

Corals live in partnership with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which provide most of the energy corals need to survive through photosynthesis. When ocean temperatures remain just 1-2°C above seasonal averages for extended periods, corals become stressed and expel these algae. Without them, the coral’s white calcium carbonate skeleton becomes visible, creating the “bleached” appearance we see underwater.

We have scientific data from recent global bleaching events thanks to people participating in citizen science. These data help scientists and resource managers track changes in coral cover, reef health, species abundance, and bleaching severity over time, providing critical data that informs conservation and management decisions.

Around the world, divers, scientists, and communities are restoring corals, protecting marine ecosystems, and discovering more heat-resistant coral species. Healthy reefs still exist, and protected reefs recover faster.

As divers and ocean lovers, we can help:
✔️ Support reef-friendly dive operators
✔️ Practice excellent buoyancy control
✔️ Participate in citizen science programs
✔️ Share knowledge and advocate for ocean protection
✔️ Donate to organizations doing the important conservation work

If you want to support our mission of training more citizen science divers, donate to Reef Check today on our website.

05/25/2026

Washington people! Do you love kelp? Our friends at Puget Sound have launched Kelp Spot, a new community-powered iNaturalist project focused on monitoring bull kelp throughout Washington waters and the Salish Sea.

By using the iNaturalist app, anyone can help document where bull kelp is growing by uploading observations and photos.

These community sightings will help scientists and restoration teams:
🌊 Track seasonal kelp growth
📍 Monitor the appearance and decline of kelp beds
🗺️ Build a collaborative map of bull kelp across the region
🔍 Identify areas that may need additional monitoring or restoration support

Continued monitoring and community data collection help provide a clearer picture of how kelp forests are changing over time, especially as they face growing environmental pressures.

The more observations collected, the stronger the data becomes. Citizen science plays a huge role in conservation, and even a single photo can contribute valuable information to long-term restoration efforts.

How to get involved:
1️⃣ Create an iNaturalist account
2️⃣ Join the Kelp Spot project
3️⃣ Upload your bull kelp observations whenever you’re out exploring!

Make sure to tag us in your kelp adventures and help spread the word!

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05/23/2026

Our volunteers understand this feeling of satisfaction.

Around the globe, Reef Checkers put on their scuba gear, jump in the water, and collect reef health data. Taking action is the biggest antidote to climate anxiety.

And hope is the result of taking action.

It's especially easy when you get to witness little miracles like baby bull kelp growing in a region previously overrun by urchins.

Never heard of urchin barrens? Learn more on our profile. If you believe in our mission, check out volunteer options and donate today.

05/20/2026

The latest coral reef data from Reef Check is now live on making reef monitoring data more accessible than ever before!

Through this partnership, Reef Check’s global database of 17,700+ coral reef surveys is now integrated with real-time environmental data, including:
🌊 Ocean temperatures
🪸 Heat stress + bleaching alerts
📸 Reef imagery over time
🛰️ Satellite observations and smart buoy data

Also... It's completely FREE and open to the public, helping scientists, conservationists, divers, and ocean lovers better understand what’s happening beneath the surface in real time.

Seriously, go to the site, click on a reef site and select “EXPLORE," scroll to “Survey History,” and click “VIEW DETAILS” to access the full dataset.

Every interested ocean lover can track changing reef conditions worldwide, and this accessibility is what makes science even more powerful.

05/18/2026

🚨How Malaysia is responding to stress signs in Sabah’s coral reefs.

Recent NOAA satellite bleaching alerts for Sabah have escalated from “Watch” to “Warning” level, signaling an increased risk of coral bleaching across the region.

In response, is working closely with partners, including Sabah Parks, the Sabah Fisheries Department, and the Sabah Biodiversity Centre, to monitor reef conditions and prepare local Community Marine Conservation Groups for rapid-response monitoring efforts.

Why monitoring is a key first response reaction:
Continued reef monitoring and standardized data collection help scientists and conservation teams understand the severity and spread of bleaching events in real time. That information is critical for guiding management decisions, identifying vulnerable reef areas, and building long-term strategies to protect coral ecosystems as ocean temperatures continue to rise.

How you can help:
• Support reef conservation organizations by donating, volunteering, and sharing their work
• Educate others about coral bleaching
• Advocate for climate action and policy change

Healthy reefs are not just beautiful; they directly support human life on Earth.

Address

5760 Lindero Canyon Road #1116
Westlake Village, CA
91362

Telephone

(310)3051081

Website

https://linktr.ee/reefcheckfoundation

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