Reef Check / News / International Year of the Reef July Update

July 25, 2008

International Year of the Reef July Update

By U.S. NGO Facilitator for IYOR 2008 Mary Luna

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is hosting the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona on October 5 -14, 2008. During this congress, IUCN will celebrate the IYOR by highlighting coral reefs and oceans, and will show short movies about these. If you would like to contribute footage for this event on any of the following categories, please contact info@iyor.org. A script is available upon request and all contributors will be acknowledged:

Coral bleaching

Coral acclimatization

Zooxanthellae clades

Herbivory and resilience

Reproduction and connectivity

Coral morphology

Shading and screening

Water movement

Resilience-based management

The Ultimate Diver Challenge will be held on the beautiful island of Cozumel August 2 – 9, 2008. During this event, divers will compete to earn the title of “Ultimate Diver” and the great prizes associated with it. In celebration of the IYOR, the organizers are joining forces with IYOR Mexico and Reef Check to increase diver awareness. To learn more and to sign up, please visit www.ultimatediverchallenge.com.

Reef Check’s International Photo Contest, “What Do Reefs Mean to You?”, is now running! Remember to submit your photos and invite your friends to participate. Entries must be in by August 31! The goal of this contest is to celebrate the beauty of reefs and raise awareness through inspiring images. Please visit https://reefdpd.wpengine.com/photo_contest/rc_photo_contest_vote.php to check out entries from all over the world.

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reefcheckfoundation

Dec 6

Meet Jessica Pantoja, Reef Check’s Baja California Regional Manager!⁠
⁠
Originally from Guadalajara and now based in Ensenada, Jessica has dedicated her career to marine conservation, with a special focus on kelp forests. “Since undergrad, all I’ve studied are marine macrophytes—algae and seagrasses have been my passion.” Her work combines social and ecological perspectives, and she’s deeply involved with fishing communities to ensure biodiversity thrives along Baja’s coastline. ⁠
⁠
Jessica first connected with Reef Check during her studies: “I remember being in awe of how science, diving, and citizen science came together to protect kelp forests. Now, being Baja’s Regional Manager feels magical. Incredible things happen when you believe in yourself and follow your dreams.” ⁠
⁠
She’s most excited about the 2025 survey season where she will work with fishermen, academics, and divers from Mexico and the U.S. to expand surveys along the Baja Peninsula. ⁠
⁠
Jessica’s favorite Reef Check memory? A curious rockfish once followed her during a transect, stopping and starting with her every move. “It was such a funny and humbling moment. It’s the little interactions like that which remind me why I do this work.” ⁠
⁠
When not diving, Jessica surfs big waves, calling it a source of energy and gratitude. She’s also part of @nosotrasyelmar, a women-led group promoting coastal protection through cleanups, contests, and awareness campaigns. ⁠
⁠
Say hi to Jessica in the comments and follow along as she leads conservation efforts across Baja! 💙 ⁠
⁠
#ReefCheck #OceanConservation #BajaCalifornia #KelpForests #WomenInScience #CitizenScience #GirlsThatScuba #ScubaDiver #Surfer

Meet Jessica Pantoja, Reef Check’s Baja California Regional Manager!⁠
⁠
Originally from Guadalajara and now based in Ensenada, Jessica has dedicated her career to marine conservation, with a special focus on kelp forests. “Since undergrad, all I’ve studied are marine macrophytes—algae and seagrasses have been my passion.” Her work combines social and ecological perspectives, and she’s deeply involved with fishing communities to ensure biodiversity thrives along Baja’s coastline. ⁠
⁠
Jessica first connected with Reef Check during her studies: “I remember being in awe of how science, diving, and citizen science came together to protect kelp forests. Now, being Baja’s Regional Manager feels magical. Incredible things happen when you believe in yourself and follow your dreams.” ⁠
⁠
She’s most excited about the 2025 survey season where she will work with fishermen, academics, and divers from Mexico and the U.S. to expand surveys along the Baja Peninsula. ⁠
⁠
Jessica’s favorite Reef Check memory? A curious rockfish once followed her during a transect, stopping and starting with her every move. “It was such a funny and humbling moment. It’s the little interactions like that which remind me why I do this work.” ⁠
⁠
When not diving, Jessica surfs big waves, calling it a source of energy and gratitude. She’s also part of @nosotrasyelmar, a women-led group promoting coastal protection through cleanups, contests, and awareness campaigns. ⁠
⁠
Say hi to Jessica in the comments and follow along as she leads conservation efforts across Baja! 💙 ⁠
⁠
#ReefCheck #OceanConservation #BajaCalifornia #KelpForests #WomenInScience #CitizenScience #GirlsThatScuba #ScubaDiver #Surfer ...

199 21

reefcheckfoundation

Dec 3

Corals are more than colorful structures—they’re the foundation of the ocean’s most biodiverse habitats, essential for marine life and human benefits alike. However, identifying and monitoring coral health remain a challenging task. ⁠
⁠
That’s why initiatives like scientific diver courses and survey efforts are important. By improving our understanding of these reef builders, we can better track reef health and inform conservation efforts.⁠
⁠
Find a Reef Check team near you or in a location you plan to visit on our website.⁠

📸: @azul.unlimited
⁠
#CoralReefs #OceanConservation #SaveOurReefs #MarineBiodiversity #SustainableTourism #ScubaDiver #CoralBleaching #Indonesia #ReefRestoration

Corals are more than colorful structures—they’re the foundation of the ocean’s most biodiverse habitats, essential for marine life and human benefits alike. However, identifying and monitoring coral health remain a challenging task. ⁠
⁠
That’s why initiatives like scientific diver courses and survey efforts are important. By improving our understanding of these reef builders, we can better track reef health and inform conservation efforts.⁠
⁠
Find a Reef Check team near you or in a location you plan to visit on our website.⁠

📸: @azul.unlimited
⁠
#CoralReefs #OceanConservation #SaveOurReefs #MarineBiodiversity #SustainableTourism #ScubaDiver #CoralBleaching #Indonesia #ReefRestoration ...

67 3

reefcheckfoundation

Dec 2

The reef builders... AKA corals.⁠
⁠
Corals are the architects of our oceans, creating vibrant reefs that support countless marine species! But as you probably already know, these underwater wonders are at risk. Learn more about protecting these reef-building marvels with the new Corals guide—packed with tips and insights for identifying coral genera across the Indo-Pacific. Perfect for divers, scientists, and ocean lovers alike.⁠
⁠
Grab the book and get reading to become a part of the solution! Link in bio.⁠
⁠
#SaveOurReefs #CoralReefs #OceanConservation #ScubaDiver #CoralLover #MarineLife #ReefCheck #ClimateCrisis #OceanAcidification

The reef builders... AKA corals.⁠
⁠
Corals are the architects of our oceans, creating vibrant reefs that support countless marine species! But as you probably already know, these underwater wonders are at risk. Learn more about protecting these reef-building marvels with the new Corals guide—packed with tips and insights for identifying coral genera across the Indo-Pacific. Perfect for divers, scientists, and ocean lovers alike.⁠
⁠
Grab the book and get reading to become a part of the solution! Link in bio.⁠
⁠
#SaveOurReefs #CoralReefs #OceanConservation #ScubaDiver #CoralLover #MarineLife #ReefCheck #ClimateCrisis #OceanAcidification ...

52 1

@kelpreefcheck

Apr 18

Congratulations to our Northern California Tribal Cohort #1 participants for completing their @nauiworldwide Advanced Scuba Diver course! We had gorgeous conditions at Van Damme State Beach
@reefcheckfoundation

Congratulations to our Northern California Tribal Cohort #1 participants for completing their @nauiworldwide Advanced Scuba Diver course! We had gorgeous conditions at Van Damme State Beach
@reefcheckfoundation ...

82 2

Nov 13

Check that vis!
Doesn’t get better than this on the Mendocino Coast 30+ft

#reefcheckcalifornia #bullkelp #mpamonitoring #reefcheckfoundation

Check that vis!
Doesn’t get better than this on the Mendocino Coast 30+ft

#reefcheckcalifornia #bullkelp #mpamonitoring #reefcheckfoundation ...

104 2

Oct 16

A huge thanks to the awesome volunteers who came out to help survey 3 sites in Point Arena!
🎥: @halcyon_offshore

A huge thanks to the awesome volunteers who came out to help survey 3 sites in Point Arena!
🎥: @halcyon_offshore ...

132 0