2024 Reef Fest

All are invited to celebrate ocean conservation during REEF Fest on Oct. 17-20, 2024, in Key Largo, Fla. Hosted by Reef Environmental Education Foundation, this annual event features educational ocean seminars, social gatherings, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and a nature tour. Most events, including the seminars, are free and open to the public, although online pre-registration is requested. Please visit www.REEF.org/REEFfest for complete details and registration.

Ocean Seminars

Free educational seminars will be held on Friday, Oct. 18, and Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. Guest speakers include scientists, underwater photographers, and more. This year’s seminar speaker lineup includes:

• “Fisheries Science with a SMILE: Citizen Scientists contribute to marine conservation one photo at a time!” presented by Dr. Alli Candelmo, REEF Director of Conservation Science
• “Upside-down Jellyfish As Bioindicators” presented by Natalia López Figueroa, Ph.D. Candidate, University of South Florida College of Marine Science
• “Key Largo… The New Normal” presented by Stephen Frink, Underwater Photographer and Publisher of Alert Diver Magazine
• “The Reef Fishes of Gainesville, Florida: How the Florida Museum Fish Collection informs our understanding of reef fish communities” presented by Rob Robins, Ichthyology Collection Manager at the Florida Museum of Natural History
• “Diving With a Purpose: Restoring Coral Reef Ecosystems and Documenting Maritime History” presented by Kramer Wimberley, Founder, Diving with a Purpose-Collective Approach to Restoring our Ecosystems (DWP-CARES)

For full talk summaries and speaker bios, visit www.REEF.org/REEFfest/seminars.

Social Events

Open House Welcome Gathering

Thursday, Oct. 17 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Location: REEF Campus (98300 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, FL 33037)

REEF Fest Happy Hour Social

Friday, Oct. 18 | 5:00-6:00 p.m., followed by evening seminar presentation from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Location: Murray Nelson Government Center (102050 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, FL 33037)

For the Love of the Sea Celebration

Saturday, Oct. 19 | 5:00-8:30 p.m.

Location: 103674 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, FL 33037, an outdoor waterfront venue located next to Quiescence Diving Services on Key Largo’s Blackwater Sound.

The Open House and Happy Hour Social are free and open to the public, but registration is requested. For the Love of the Sea is a ticketed event. Tickets may be purchased during REEF Fest registration. Discounted tickets are available for $95 per person until September 27, and then increase to $105 per person.

For additional details on social events, www.REEF.org/REEFfest/social.

Eco-Excursions and Conservation Activities

Discover the amazing marine life of the Florida Keys by diving, snorkeling, or kayaking. Eco-excursions are offered on the mornings of Thursday, Oct. 17, Friday, Oct. 18 and/or Saturday, Oct. 19 with REEF partners. Find more information on excursions at www.REEF.org/REEFfest/diving.

After a weekend celebrating REEF’s marine conservation work, attendees can see firsthand how organizations in the Florida Keys are working to protect local flora and fauna. On Sunday, Oct. 20, start your day with a guided walking tour of a local trail at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park led by a volunteer naturalist. Please see www.REEF.org/REEFfest/conservation for more conservation activities.