Become a Volunteer Research Diver for SDOF! INTRODUCTION Are you SCUBA certified? Here is your chance to get involved with a local conservation organization and help study the trends of marine life off San Diego's coast! By becoming a volunteer research diver you will be contributing to much-need reef research. Your scuba dives will now have a purpose - you will be doing your part to help scientists study the trends of these ever-changing marine ecosystems. The training program will take you into the magical underwater world of reefs and the marine life that inhabit them. We will give you an overview of these complex ecosystems and then we'll dive deeper and show you how to protect & preserve these areas by monitoring them. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The San Diego Oceans Foundation has partnered with the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) to offer free, NEW and IMPROVED fish identification training classes for Southern California divers. The class is open to divers of all levels and ages. By the end of the training session you will be able to identify local marine fish, collect information on populations, and report it to REEF for species and abundance tracking. The information will then be used by the National Marine Sanctuary Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, and The Nature Conservancy, along with others. REEF Certification Levels: Did you know that REEF has 5 levels of certification for fishwatchers? (Not available, yet, for Inverts). Most SDOF Reefers have reached the "Level 2" Experience level, but now you can test into higher levels, with more rewards! REEF Level 2 (novice): Trained in REEF Survey and Fish Identification Methods and conduct 2 surveys. REEF Level 3 (novice): Pass the Common Fishes Quiz (50 fish) with 80% and conducting 25 surveys. REEF Level 4 (expert): Pass the Advanced Fishes Quiz (60 fish) with 90% and conducting 35 surveys. REEF Level 5 (expert): Pass the Advanced Fishes Quiz (60 fish) with 95% and conducting 50 surveys. Members that achieve Expert status are extended an invitation to REEF's Advanced Assessment Team (AAT). As a member of REEF's AAT, you will be invited to participate in special regional monitoring and assessment projects. Once you have completed the required surveys, you may arrange a time to take a REEF certification test at the SDOF office or at any SDOF REEF training session. SDOF's goal is to have 20 Expert (REEF level 4 or 5) surveyors "inaugurated" at the Great Annual Fish Count in July! Get out there, survey and contribute to the knowledge of San Diego's marine life. Upcoming Course: The next training session will be held on Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Mt. Carmel High School. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. Unlike past REEF Fish ID training sessions, this class will cover ALL 70 fish listed on the REEF scanform. This is an opportunity for new divers and invertebrate surveyors to learn about local fishes. For those of you who have already attended a Fish ID training, this will be a great chance to review, brush up on some less common fishes, and take the test for a higher level REEF certification. REEF survey kits (recommended for surveyors) will be available to purchase for $25 (includes 1 year membership to San Diego Oceans Foundation). FILES FOR DOWNLOADING Part One: Research Training Course Part Two: Fish Identification Training Course Fish ID Codes Fish ID Quiz Fish ID Categories Invertebrate ID Intro Invertebrate ID Quiz Invertebrate ID Categories