Reef Check Foundation | Supporting the World's Reefs

Reef Check Foundation | Supporting the World's Reefs
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Saving reefs worldwide.
Reef Check empowers people to save our reefs and oceans. Let’s work together to create a sustainable future through education, research, and conservation. Join us in our mission. We’re a team!
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Our mission is simple—but not really.
Every year, we train thousands of citizen scientist volunteers to survey the health of tropical coral reefs around the world and kelp forest ecosystems along the West Coast of North America.
What we do and how.
Experts use the results from our dives to improve the way we manage our natural resources. Reef Check programs provide ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions to save our reefs. We create partnerships among community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities, and other nonprofits.
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Coral Reef Program
With divers who survey the health and status of coral reefs, the Tropical Program uses a globally standardized scientific protocol to collect valuable data for reef management. Our EcoDiver teams span 102 countries and territories to help preserve and protect our coral reefs.
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Kelp Forest Program
The purpose of the Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring Program is to educate, train, and engage our community to monitor the health of our kelp forests. Local citizen scientist divers volunteer their time to support science-based ocean management and conservation.
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Dive into Science Program
Our Dive into Science Program aims to provide youth & young adults from under-resourced and tribal communities with a pathway to a career in conservation or college education in natural sciences or marine biology.
Data is important to us.
Reef Check has coordinators, teams, and EcoDiver training facilities in countries around the world. Since the first Reef Check coral reef monitoring survey in 1997, our EcoDivers have completed over 17,000 surveys in 102 countries and territories. Our initiative is built on over 25 years of global reef health data.
Lingcod are ferocious predators with big mouths and lots of very sharp teeth. Usually seen in Northern California, they can grow to be around five feet long!
Coral Reef Program
Together, we’ve completed
17,712
SURVEYS
IN
102
Countries & Territories
Kelp Forest Program
Together, we’ve completed
2,068
SURVEYS
At
254
Sites
Education Program
Together, we’ve taught
1,300
Students
From
32
Schools
The Octopus is a soft-bodied mollusk in the class Cephalopoda. Found in all the world’s oceans, there are almost 300 identified species. The word octopus comes from the Greek, októpus, which means "eight foot."
Anemones
(Order Actinaria)
Species Data
Anemones are related to jellyfish, corals, and hydroids.
In California, Reef Check volunteers count all anemones larger than 10 cm wide and/or 10 cm tall.
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
California Sheephead
(Semicossyphus pulcher)
Species Data
The females that do turn into males usually change when they are about eight years old.
California Sheephead are typically found in Southern California and down to Baja California.
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
California Sea Cucumber
Species Data
They are extremely important to the environment because they are detritivores which are animals that break down organic matter.
The California Sea Cucumber are typically seen from Central California to Alaska.
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Horn Shark
(Heterodontus francisci)
Species Data
They are nocturnal and are usually found by Reef Check divers, hiding in holes and deep caves within the rocky reef.
They can reach up to three feet in length, but no one knows how old they live to be.
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Cabezon
(Scorpaenichthys marmoratus)
Species Data
Cabezon are typically seen and counted on Central and Northern California surveys but can sometimes be found in Southern California as well.
Cabezon are a popular fish for recreational fishermen and the live fish fishery.
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Long-spined Black Sea Urchin
(Echinothrix diadema)
Species Data
In the Caribbean, absence or low numbers may indicate urchin disease; high numbers are an indicator of overfishing of urchin predators
In the Indo-Pacific, high numbers are an indicator of overfishing of urchin predators
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Banded Coral Shrimp
(Stenopus hispidus)
Species Data
These shrimp are among the cleaner shrimps that feed on parasites that live upon other reef organisms
They are fairly hard to see because they live under rocks and in crevices, but have very obvious red and white stripes and long, white antennae
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Grouper
Species Data
For Reef Check, only grouper greater than 30cm in length are counted since large numbers of small species can obscure overfishing of species that grow to larger sizes
Is a global tropical indicator organism of overfishing and the live fish trade
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Moray Eel
Species Data
Is a global tropical indicator organism of overfishing
Eels tend to hide in holes on the reef – you’ll rarely see them swimming around
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
Parrotfish
Species Data
For Reef Check, only parrotfish greater than 20cm in length are counted since large numbers of small species can obscure overfishing of species that grow to larger sizes
All species in the Scaridae family are counted
Want to learn more? Visit the
Global Reef Tracker
News and Events
Keep up with Reef Check! Get the latest news and information about how we’re contributing to the global effort to save and preserve coral reefs and kelp forests.
2026 Kelp Forest Monitoring Trainings Now Open! Register Today!
February 25, 2026
Reef Check’s Kelp Forest Monitoring training classes for 2026 are now open for registration! There are five opportunities in California, Oregon and Baja California for divers to get involved as…
Reef Check Coral Data Featured in Two Recent Publications
February 25, 2026
Earlier this month, Nature Communications published the article, “Severe and widespread coral reef damage during the 2014-2017 Global Coral Bleaching Event”. The paper relied on Reef Check’s coral reef data…
Children’s Book Benefits Reef Check Hawai’i
February 25, 2026
Reef Check Hawai’i’s first ever children’s book is now available through Barnes and Noble, with every purchase supporting Reef Check Hawai’i! Polly Polyp and the Curious Baby Shark is a…
Reef Check in Panamá Launches with Coordinator and Training Facility
February 25, 2026
Ankay Conservation, in Bocas del Toro, Panamá—on the Caribbean coast—has always been about turning real, on-the-water work into measurable reef protection. They combine hands-on conservation action with community collaboration and…
More News and Events
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Photo of the Week:
April 24, 2026
Reef Check's tropical program is divided into regions such as the Indo-Pacific, Caribbean and the Red Sea. Find out more about our protocol
here
21,964
Members Worldwide
Become a Reef Check member or volunteer your time. You can even join our Adopt-a-Reef program and support our community-based monitoring and conservation of our coral reefs and kelp forests. Like the ocean, our opportunities to get involved are endless.
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Reef Check Key Supporters Include:
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Keep in touch with Reef Check and get the latest news about our initiatives to help preserve and monitor our oceans and reefs. We’ll update you on recent dives, current events, and new information about Reef Check programs. Join the wave and get involved.
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@reefcheckfoundation
We’re on the ’gram! Follow us today for an even deeper dive with a social connection.
reefcheckfoundation
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Apr 20
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In Semporna, Malaysia, 22 local youths just took a powerful step for the future of their reefs, completing their scuba certification through a community-led program by @reefcheckmalaysia and Green Semporna.⁠
Over three days, participants from five island communities gained the skills to safely dive and directly support conservation efforts like coral monitoring, reef restoration, underwater cleanups, ghost net removal, and managing crown-of-thorns outbreaks.⁠
Reef Check Malaysia is making huge impacts in the community:⁠
• 600+ kg of ghost nets removed⁠
• 4,000+ crown-of-thorns starfish cleared⁠
“I have been actively contributing to non-diving activities with the Selakan Marine Conservation Group. With this training, I can now participate in coral restoration and other marine conservation activities around Selakan Island,” ~Mohd Azrul Musli from Selakan⁠
The ocean’s best advocates are the people who call it home.⁠
Stay up to date with Reef Check Malaysia by following their page!⁠
📸: @kogia_org⁠
#ReefRestoration #CitizenScience #ScubaDiving #CoralReefs #MarineConservation ⁠
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Apr 16
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Happy Bull Kelp Day!⁠
On April 16, we celebrate an ocean giant that’s easy to overlook but impossible to replace. Last year, bull kelp was officially named Washington’s state marine forest, recognizing just how vital these underwater ecosystems are.⁠
Bull kelp forests provide habitat for hundreds of species, help support fisheries, and play a critical role in keeping our coastal ecosystems in balance. In recent years, many of these forests have faced dramatic declines making monitoring, restoration, and community action more important than ever.⁠
That’s where you come in.⁠
Are you a Reef Check diver or ocean lover?⁠
Celebrate Bull Kelp Day by sharing your favorite kelp photos, dive moments, or survey experiences and help us spotlight these incredible ecosystems.⁠
👉 Don’t forget to tag @reefcheckfoundation so we can share your posts!⁠
Let’s share the beauty of this forest with everyone. ⁠
#scubadiver #KelpForest #ReefCheck #CitizenScience #OceanConservation
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reefcheckfoundation
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Apr 15
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It was a wonderful opening night at the San Francisco Ocean Film Festival with old friends last week. Reef Check staff, Jan Freiwald and Annie Bauer-Civiello, joined an inspiring group for the Night of Ideas focused on kelp forest restoration at the San Francisco library with @Kalie_Granier ⁠
We left the event fired up to continue our work helping kelp forests all along the West Coast of North America.⁠
Learn more about our work and donate to our efforts on our website.⁠
📸: @cinemare_kiel @villa_sf @Kalie_Granier @thejetlagged @Intloceanfilmfest⁠
#scubadiver #kelpforest #oceanconservation #reefrestoration #marinebiology
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@kelpreefcheck
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Jun 18
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Congrats to the newest group of Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring divers! This group completed the NorCal training in Fort Bragg last weekend. Great job everyone, looking forward to diving with you all this season!
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kelpreefcheck
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Apr 18
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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
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kelpreefcheck
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Nov 13
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Check that vis!
Doesn’t get better than this on the Mendocino Coast 30+ft
#reefcheckcalifornia #bullkelp #mpamonitoring #reefcheckfoundation
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