Volunteering with the Reef Monitoring Project

Dive With A Purpose

The Reef Monitoring Project gives you a chance to get involved in local conservation efforts by studying and reporting marine life off San Diego's coast! By taking our training courses and becoming a ‘citizen scientist’, you will be contributing to the data collection required for fisheries management, the implementation of Marine Protected Areas and much more!

Just imagine YOUR survey helping to protect the ocean you love!!!

• Surveys are completed on YOUR schedule. We reward our top surveyors with prizes like free boat dives and air fills each quarter…so get out there and get started!

Training

In order to participate in our program, you must have completed a minimum of 20 dives.

The first step in becoming a ‘Reefer’ is to complete our Volunteer Application.
Then register for FREE at Reef.org
Then, send us an email at volunteer@sdoceans.org to sign up to attend one of our fish or invertebrate training courses, where we will show you how to conduct an underwater survey as well as identify many of the marine species commonly seen in Southern California. Come, check out the marine diversity that the tourists travel from miles around to see!

2011 Reef Monitoring Schedule

Wed, Feb 9th 6PM - Invertebrate/Algae ID Course held at Ocean Enterprises
Thurs, March 10th at 6PM, - Fish ID held at Ocean Enterprises
Wed, May 11th at 6PM - Invertebrate/Algae ID held at Ocean Enterprises
Thurs, June 2nd at 6PM, - Fish ID held at Ocean Enterprises
Wed, Aug 10th at 6PM - Invertebrate/Algae ID held at Ocean Enterprises
Thurs, Sept 8th at 6PM, - Fish ID held at Ocean Enterprises
Wed, Nov 9th at 6PM - Invertebrate/Algae ID held at Ocean Enterprises
Thurs, Dec 8th at 6PM, - Fish ID held at Ocean Enterprises

Underwater identification may seem a little intimidating at first, but we're here to help!

SDOF Dive Waiver
SDOF Snorkeling Waiver

Great Annual Fish Count

The Great Annual Fish Count (GAFC) serves to raise awareness about marine conservation efforts, introduce new volunteers to the program and give existing volunteers a chance to meet others and refine their skills.

Out of the area or can’t attend our event? Do more by surveying on your own schedule!

Continuing Education

Learning never ends! On the last Wednesday of every month, SDOF hosts a continuing education event called ‘AquaTalk’. These events include exciting lectures by local scientists, talks from professional conservationists, exhibits by renowned photographers and behind the scenes tours of local marine facilities and collections. Please check out our Calendar of Events for more information.