REEF Fest is less than two months away! Please join us for a four-day celebration of marine conservation that includes snorkel and dive charters, ocean-themed seminars, and social gatherings with friends. Diving and snorkeling trips are offered on the mornings of Friday, Sept 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22. Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. There is no need to call a dive shop to participate in REEF Fest diving or snorkel trips. Instead, visit the REEF Fest Diving webpage to register online. In additon, don’t forget to purchase your ticket for the banquet dinner, For the Love of the Sea, on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 6-10pm. Click here to purchase your ticket for the banquet.

We are excited to share the speaker lineup for our ocean-themed seminar series, held at the Murray Nelson Government Center. Here is the seminar schedule:

Thursday, Sept. 20

7:30 pm - Atlantic Goliath Grouper: Changing paradigms in Florida

Dr. Christopher C. Koenig, Florida State University

Friday, Sept. 21

2:30 - Diving in the Florida Keys: A fishy experience

Carlos and Allison Estape, REEF Volunteers and Underwater Photographers

3:30 - In the wake of an Environmental Disaster: Is there a silver lining?

Dr. Martin Grosell, University of Miami

4:30 - Western Atlantic Coral Reefs' Last (Plastic) Straw: Reflections of hope

Dr. Andy Bruckner, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Saturday, Sept. 22

2:30 - Lionfish Research and Management: New directions and innovations

Dr. Alli Candelmo, REEF Invasive Species Program Coordinator

3:30 - Diadema: The lost piece of the puzzle...found again?

Lad Akins, REEF Director of Special Projects

4:30 - Stressed Out: Three decades of nitrogen enrichment on coral reefs of the FL Keys and Caribbean

Dr. Brian Lapointe, Florida Atlantic University

REEF would like to thank our 2018 REEF Fest platinum sponsors, including Atlantis Philippines Dive Resorts and Liveaboards, The Carrow Foundation, Centennial Bank, Divers Alert Network, Florida Keys Brewing Company, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

We look forward to seeing you at REEF Fest! If you have any questions, please contact events@REEF.org.