Reef Check Foundation

Northern California divers 👇 Join us on Saturday, April 26th, 2025 for our first monthly Sea Urchin Removal Event of the season at Caspar Cove on the beautiful Mendocino Coast! Why? Purple sea urchins have overrun the reef, devastating local kelp forests. With your help, we can restore balance and give kelp—and the entire marine ecosystem—a fighting chance. Here’s what to expect: Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025 Time: 8 AM to dusk Location: Caspar Cove, Mendocino, CA Bring: Dive or snorkel gear + a valid CA fishing license Bonus: On-site air compressor available for tanks! By volunteering, you’ll help restore kelp forests and connect with a passionate community of scuba divers. These events happen every last Saturday of the month through September, so mark your calendars and make an impact! More info + gear checklist: https://lnkd.in/ezZTnm2B #CasparCoveProject #UrchinRemoval #KelpRestoration #VolunteerDive #OceanConservation #DiveForKelp #SaveTheKelp #NorCalDiving #MarineRestoration #SeaUrchinCulling #ProtectWhatYouLove #CitizenScience #MendocinoCoast #ReefCheck #SeaTrees

Our latest surveys from Tanker’s Reef in September 2024 reveal that the kelp forest at our restoration site is holding strong — even after coordinated urchin culling efforts ended over a year ago. Here's what we found: 📉 Urchin densities remain low: ~3 urchins/m² at the restoration site vs. 5/m² at the control site 🌱 Giant kelp densities have stayed stable since fall 2023 📓 While stipe (stem) densities dropped by 45% in June 2024, they’ve since stabilized This likely points to larger kelp plants being lost over winter, and replaced by new growth in 2024. The kelp forest is showing resilience — a promising sign for long-term recovery. Big thanks to @sea.trees for funding these ongoing monitoring efforts. We’ll be back in the field for more surveys in June 2025. Want to get involved? Check out our Reef Check training schedule. @g2krproject #KelpForest #MarineRestoration #SeaTrees #MarineBiology #CitizenScience #ScubaDiving #HelpTheKelp #GiantKelp #MarineScience #ReefMonitoring #OceanConservation

Recertification classes are filling up! Are you a Reef Check diver, but haven't signed up for your updates this year? Make sure to get in before all the spots are taken. 2025 will be a great year for learning even more about the ocean, connecting with other marine biology nerds, and collecting the important data we all need to support conservation efforts. Log into your volunteer portal to sign up for a course! #kelp #scubadiver #scubadiving #kelpforest #oceanconservation #reefrestoration #respectthesea #scubaaddict #savemarinelife #saveocean #HelpTheKelp #KelpForestChallenge #KelpForestAlliance

National Geographic released an absolutely stunning video about the importance of kelp forests and their disappearance along the coast from Baja up the West Coast of North America. Our partner in Baja, Rodrigo Beas, from Ecocimati and MexCal, is also featured! These vital marine forests face unprecedented threats from climate change, overfishing, and invasive species like purple sea urchins. Scientists, conservationists, and volunteers are working to restore these ecosystems, protecting marine biodiversity and the coastal communities that depend on them, including our new @reefcheck_baja chapter. Kelp forests sequester carbon, buffer shorelines, and support countless species. Their survival is our survival and National Geographic's article is a wonderful depiction of the past, present, and future of kelp forests and how we can protect them. 📖 Read more and watch their video at our link. #KelpForest #OceanConservation #MarineEcosystems #ClimateAction #ReefCheck #ProtectOurOceans #SaveTheKelp #BajaCalifornia #SeaLion #ClimateChange

Dive Into Science is at it again! Through the Ghvtlh-k’vsh shu'-srnelh-'i~ (Kelp Guardians) Program, Reef Check, with funding from Sea Grant, is empowering the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation’s Natural Resources staff and community members with scuba and scientific diving training. ⁠ And on top of its scientific importance for their ecosystem, scuba diving could be a key resource for the TDN community. ⁠ Watch the full video to see how Reef Check and TDN are coming together to usher in a new take on ocean conservation: https://lnkd.in/gv6Fui4B ⁠ #TolowaDeeni #IndigenousLand #IndigenousWisdom #KelpGuardians #ReefCheck #IndigenousTeachings #OceanRestoration #KelpForests #ScubaDiving #SCUBA

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for our last Winter Webinar, which is all about Reef Check Baja! Help us welcome in this newly established chapter. We're excited to offer the webinar in Spanish with live English transcription so people from both Mexico and the United States can participate. ___________________________________________ ¡No olviden acompañarnos mañana a nuestro último webinar del invierno, dedicado a Reef Check Baja! Ayúdennos a dar la bienvenida a este nuevo capítulo. Nos alegramos ofrecer el seminario web en español con transcripción en vivo al inglés para que personas de México y Estados Unidos puedan participar. Register now/Regístrese ahora: https://lnkd.in/gGr-8Yd9 📸: @kogia_org @karimiliya @the.oceanic.eye #kelp #buceador #buceo #bosquedealgas #conservacióndelocénao #restauracióndearrecifes #respetoalmar #adictoalbuceo #salvemoslavidamarina #salvemoselocénao #AyudaalKelp #DesafíoAlKelpForest #AlianzaAlKelpForest

For the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (TDN), the kelp forests are more than just ecosystems—they are an integral part of their cultural heritage and traditional lifeways. But climate change and colonization have led to their decline, threatening both the environment and traditions that have endured for generations. Through the Ghvtlh-k’vsh shu'-srnelh-'i~ (Kelp Guardians) Program, Reef Check, with funding from Sea Grant, is empowering TDN’s Natural Resources staff and community members with scuba and scientific diving training via our Dive into Science program. This initiative strengthens TDN’s capacity to monitor and restore kelp forests, blending Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with Western science to protect these vital underwater forests for future generations. Watch the full video to see how TDN is reclaiming stewardship of the ocean and leading the way in kelp forest conservation: https://lnkd.in/gTk_CQeX #TolowaDeeni #IndigenousLand #IndigenousWisdom #KelpGuardians #ReefCheck #IndigenousTeachings #OceanRestoration #KelpForests #ScubaDiving #SCUBA

Opportunity for Kelp Forest Monitoring Volunteers👇 Have you wanted to get certified to monitor tropical reefs? Join our Reef Check Hawai‘i crossover class this August and expand your skills by learning the Hawai‘i species and survey protocols! 📍 Where: Kona, Hawai‘i 📅 When: August 2024 🤿 What’s included? 5 days of diving This is an incredible opportunity to broaden your Reef Check knowledge and contribute to data collection in this region. 📢 Want to learn more? Join our informational call on March 24th at 7:00 PM! Registration details were sent to your email. Mahalo, and see you in the water! 📸: @kogia_org @karimiliya @cedricdageville #ReefCheck #KelpForest #ScubaDiving #SCUBA #OceanConservation #MarineBiology #Hawaii #CoralReef #CoralBleaching

Reef Check expands kelp forest monitoring to Northern Chile! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of a new kelp forest monitoring program in Northern Chile! In collaboration with OCEANA Chile, Reef Check’s Jan Freiwald and marine ecologist Rodrigo Beas Luna traveled to Chile in January to kick off this exciting initiative. 🌱 Why It Matters: Kelp forests are vital for ocean health and support local artisanal fisheries. By working with three fishing villages (Caletas), we’re helping to build a long-term monitoring framework that will support sustainable marine management. 🌎 Global Collaboration: This program is part of a growing partnership between Reef Check, OCEANA Chile, and the Chile California Council, strengthening ties between Chile and California in the fight to protect kelp forests. Read more about Jan's experience in Chile here: And stay tuned for more updates as we work to expand ocean conservation efforts across the globe! #ReefCheck #KelpForest #MarineConservation #Chile #OceanHealth #KelpRecovery #MarineBiology #NonProfit #CitizenScience

Reminder! We have more coming up for our Winter Webinar Series. Will you join us for the season summary on March 12th? How about our Reef Check Baja season on April 3rd? Register now at our 🔗 and get it on your calendar! #kelp #scubadiver #scubadiving #kelpforest #oceanconservation #reefrestoration #respectthesea #scubaaddict #savemarinelife #saveocean #HelpTheKelp #KelpForestChallenge #KelpForestAlliance