REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.

This month we highlight Edgar Graudins, a REEF member who lives in Washington. Since joining REEF nine years ago, he has conducted more than 140 surveys and achieved Expert Level status in the US Pacific Coast & Canada (PAC/PNW) survey region. We're thankful to Edgar for his dedication to conservation and passion for REEF's mission!

When and how did you first volunteer with REEF or become a REEF member? How did you first hear about REEF?
I first joined REEF in 2016. I heard about REEF from members of my dive club, the Emerald Sea Dive Club, and my local dive shop, Evergreen Dive Service, a REEF Conservation Partner. They helped me get started with surveying and directed me to learning resources.

If you have been on a REEF Field Survey Trip, where and what was your trip highlight?
I have been able to participate in the REEF Advanced Assessment Team surveys in the Puget Sound for the last few years. It's great to work with fellow fish geeks who are just as passionate about REEF as I am.

What inspires you to complete REEF surveys? What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned doing a REEF fish survey?
Being able to identify the different fish species makes my dives more interesting, and being a REEF member motivates me to keep improving my ID skills.

What is your favorite part about being a REEF member?
While growing up, I was going to be either a marine biologist or an engineer. I ended up going the engineering route for my profession, but I never lost my interest in the marine world. Being a REEF member and doing surveys gives me the opportunity to feed my other passion by being a citizen scientist in my spare time.

In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of REEF’s projects and programs?
One of the most important aspects of REEF is involving the public in science. The wide network of citizen scientist divers around the world not only helps collect data, but they also become passionate advocates for marine conservation.

Do you dive close to where you live, and if so, what is the best part about diving there?
Living in Washington State, I am fortunate to have the entire Puget Sound on my doorstep. I dive year round in the Sound (even in winter!) and have a bunch of great dive sites within an hour of my house. This area has a wide variety of diving environments including eelgrass, kelp forests, natural reefs, artificial reefs, wrecks, and walls, each with its own variety of life. Diving Puget Sound never gets old.

What is your favorite fish or marine invertebrate?
I love the Mosshead Warbonnet. It has fantastic colors and patterning, and makes a great photo subject. Also, it likes to hide and is hard to spot, so when you do find one, you feel a sense of accomplishment.

Do you have any surveying, fishwatching, or identification tips for REEF members?
Practice, practice, practice! Find what method you learn best with - watching Fishinars, studying fish ID books , flash cards, or whatever - and just keep doing it regularly.

What is your most memorable fish find?
I once spotted a Redstripe Rockfish, Sebastes proriger, at one of my local dive sites. That species is rarely seen by divers and even more rarely reported - partly because it is very similar to another, more common species. Had I not been studying for my REEF Level 5 test that year, I probably would not have recognized it.