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
The first step in becoming a ‘Reefer’ is to complete our Volunteer Application. Then, 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!2010 Reef Monitoring Schedule
Sunday, January 24th | 8 AM – 11 AM | Reef Monitoring Adventure Day (La Jolla Shores)
Thursday, February 11th | 6 PM – 9 PM | Invertebrate/Algae ID Course
Thursday, March 11th | 6 PM – 8:30 PM (Level 2); 8:35 PM – 10 PM (Level 3) | Fish ID
Sunday, April 25th | 8 AM – 11 AM | Reef Monitoring Adventure Day (La Jolla Cove)
Wednesday, May 12th | 6 PM – 9 PM | Invertebrate/Algae ID Course
Wednesday, June 16th | 6 PM – 8:30 PM (Level 2); 8:35 PM – 10 PM (Level 3) | Fish ID
Saturday, July 10th | 8 AM – 11 AM | The Great Annual Fish Count (Mission Point)
Thursday, August 5th | 6 PM – 9 PM | Invertebrate/Algae ID Course
Wednesday, September 8th | 6 PM – 8:30 PM (Level 2); 8:35 PM – 10 PM (Level 3) | Fish ID
Sunday, October 17th | 8 AM – 11 AM | Reef Monitoring Adventure Day (Marine Room)
Wednesday, November 10th | 6 PM – 9 PM | Invertebrate/Algae ID Course
Thursday, December 2nd | 6 PM – 8:30 PM (Level 2); 8:35 PM – 10 PM (Level 3) | Fish ID
Underwater identification may seem a little intimidating at first, but we're here to help!
* Join SDOF’s resident ID expert, Herb Gruenhagen at La Jolla Shores on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month for a guided Reef Monitoring Dive. Here, you can get help identifying those tricky organisms in their natural environment…and maybe even visit a new dive site!
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!