AQUA SAFARI and REEF

We at Aqua Safari are proud of our association with the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. As of January 1, 2001, Aqua Safari became an official REEF field station. We invite you to visit us when in Cozumel for courses, survey dives, supplies or just to "speak fish". Stop in, email or call to speak with our REEF expert, Sheryl Shea or Donna Mena.

Want to add more fun and excitement to your dives? Join us for a REEF fish identification course. Open your eyes to a whole new underwater world. Your dive will be more interesting and you will be contributing to marine conservation too, by using your new skills to do underwater fish surveys. And the thrill of discovering a new or unusual species is an added bonus!

Courses can be held any day of the week. Advanced fish ID course available on request. Contact Us!

COZUMEL FISHWATCHING:

For the coral reef enthusiast who wants to learn more about the most fascinating underwater creatures - tropical reef fish. Learn the REEF method of identifying angelfish, butterflyfish , boxfish, stingrays and lots more, including our Cozumel Spendid Toadfish. You will learn identifcation and behavior of the 50-plus most common reef fish in Cozumel.

2 hours, no diving involved. Participants will obtain level 1 REEF membership. Includes waterproof underwater fish ID book.

$ 40 US

 REEF FISH ID COURSE:

Includes above class session, plus you will learn to do underwater fish surveys and become "citizen scientists", active participants in marine conservation, not just tourists. You will go underwater with a special slate and use your new fish ID skills to locate and identify as many fish as you can during 2 dives. In the 2nd class session, you will transfer your surverys to special scanforms, to be added to the REEF online survey database, where they will be used for research and conservation. Join us for the hunt!

Participants may achieve level 2 REEF membership. Survey kit with underwater fish ID book special slate, and underwater paper included. Can also be done snorkeling.

REEF Fish ID Course - Highly Recommended" - As a Coz Regular for the last 4 years, I did what so many others do: Dive, Get back to shore, Browse the books to try and figure out what I saw. Now, thanks to Sheryl Shea and REEF, I've learned how much easier and more fun it is to know what's down there when I'm down there, too! Took the course on an evening from Sheryl at Aqua Safari. (Phone 872-0101) She taught us to ID the 50 most common fish in Coz's waters, joined us for 2 ID/survey dives and helped us see & understand the wildlife in a new way. After diving, we met again to complete the survey forms and take a short quiz. Now I have a base on which to expand my knowledge of both critters and habitat which certainly enhances the dive experience. The course meets guidelines for a PADI Underwater Fish ID c-card (for the additional cost of a PIC) and would be of interest to snorkelers as well as divers. Deb in NY
Debbie Bollag
New York, NY USA - February 24, 2006

News and Events

Another week-long field survey trip is planned for December 1-8, 2007, so please plan to join us! For more information or reservations contact Tami at Travel For You at 1-888-363-3345 or reef@travelforyouinc.com. COZUMEL REEF SURVEY 2005 - Held in spite of Hurricane Wilma December 3-10, 2005 Being the intrepid divers that they are, not even the strongest hurricane in recent history could dissuade our REEF'ers from coming to Cozumel to report in on the fish situation after the storm. In spite of airline hassles, no dock (Wilma victim) and general uncertainty 13 REEF members reported for duty on December 3! During 22+ dives they managed to track down over 180 fish species - although a few like the usually abundant Cherubfish were quite elusive due to the underwater re-arrangement by Wilma. Hats off to the REEFers!

From left: Martin Mayer, Franklin Neal, Margaret Cowin, Sheryl Shea, Bill Horn, Pat Broom, Kristi Draper, Barbara Anderson, James Brook, Jim Polfer, Steve Vinitsky, Larry Draper.

Cozumel REEF Field Survey trip at Aqua Safari
Dec. 11-18, 2004

Aqua Safari once again hosted REEF members from all over the USA for an entire week of fun, learning and fish surveying. 165 different species were located including many rare or difficult to locate species, including of course our beautiful Cozumel Splendid Toadfish.

REEF SEMINAR FOR AQUA SAFARI DIVEMASTERS

October 3-10, 2001

Taking advantage of the "slow" season, all Aqua Safari divemasters attended a REEF seminar. With so many years of Cozumel reef observation between them, they now have a method of recording their observations and putting them to work for marine conservation. A11 12 divemasters attended fish ID seminars and conducted surveys.

Photo right top row: Orlando May Marentes, Sergio Munoz, Ivan Carvejal, Elpidio May Ramos, Mariano Mex Puc, Ricardo Gutierrez, Porfirio Maldonado. Bottom row: Georgina Tuxpan, Jose Canche, Sheryl Shea.

Ben Sherwood, Gaylynn Dickerson, Tom & Rita Young, Greg & Penny Thompson, Joaquin Hernandez. Bottom row: Nary Evans, Lea Michael, Rosalinda Garcia, Granny Northern, Miguel Tun Madera, Gustavo Vazquez.

COZMEL'S 1st ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN FISH COUNT July 26-29, 2001 In July, the month when REEF members all over North America convene to count fish and recruit new fishwatchers, the first GAFC in Cozumel was held at Aqua Safari. A fish seminar began the event, followed by fish survey dives with local and visiting REEF members and Aqua Safari divemasters participating. Photo right: Ralph Dickerson, Gustavo Vasquez, Sheryl Shea, Gaylynn Dickerson, Rita & Tom Young.

AQUA SAFARI HOSTS REEF FIELD SURVEY December 2-9, 2000 Aqua Safari hosts its first official REEF Field Survey trip. Reef fish enthusiasts and marine park staff from Cozumel, Belize and the U.S. took part for a week of diving, learning and camaraderie. During the 10 dives, 185 species of fish were sighted and over 200 surveys were produced. A great time was had by all.