New Opportunity for Volunteer Divers

Reef Check California is a new volunteer based dive survey that will be starting up in the near future. Craig Shuman, the Reef Check California Director, is looking for well trained divers with some scientific experience to ground truth the volunteer methodology and form the basis of the first teams in California.

The Reef Check California program will train volunteer teams of local divers, surfers, and fishermen to survey marine life on underwater rocky reefs and to develop an accurate picture of the health of California’s near-shore marine environment from Santa Barbara to Monterey. In 2005, volunteers will be trained by Reef Check scientists to monitor fish and invertebrate populations along the state’s Central Coast. In 2006, the program will expand to include Southern and Northern California. The collected data will be made available on a website and scientific analysis will be used to support better management of California’s complex reef ecosystems.

Now in it’s 9th year of operation, Reef Check Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that maintains the world’s largest coral reef monitoring and conservation program. Reef Check’s network of scientist and volunteer divers from over 80 countries and territories submit standardized data to the USA headquarters for analysis and review. International teams work with communities, governments and businesses to scientifically monitor, restore, and maintain coral reefs globally. Reef Check has received prestigious national and international environmental awards for its work, and is the United Nations’ official community-based reef monitoring program.
More information is available at:
www.reefcheck.org

Or email: california@reefcheck.org