How Reef Check Is Expanding Ecosystem Monitoring from California to Hawaiʻi with the help of the Aquarium of the Pacific
Submitted by: Jaimee Butler, ADSO – Field Operations, Aquarium of the Pacific
Beneath the surface of the ocean, a quiet but vital effort is unfolding. An effort that relies not only on scientists, but on dedicated volunteers willing to don scuba gear in the name of conservation. At the center of this movement is The Reef Check Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the long-term monitoring of kelp forest and coral reef ecosystems across the globe.
By mobilizing thousands of highly trained volunteer citizen scientists, Reef Check gathers critical data that helps paint a clearer picture of ocean health. Underwater surveys provide essential information to government agencies, universities, businesses, and fellow nonprofits – supporting more effective management and stronger protection of marine natural resources. This is vital at a time when oceans face mounting pressure from climate change, pollution, and overfishing.
The Aquarium of the Pacific (AoP) is a proud partner of Reef Check. They help support the mission of ocean conservation through their AAUS (American Academy of Underwater Sciences) Scientific Field Diving Program. AoP currently has twelve dedicated volunteer field divers that contribute to and lead research projects along the Southern California coast, including assisting with Reef Check surveys.
The partnership with Reef Check empowers these volunteer scientific divers to directly contribute to long-term kelp forest monitoring efforts. The presence and abundance of fish species, invertebrates, algae, and substrate types are all recorded. These surveys, repeated year after year, allow scientists to track changes in species abundance, habitat condition, and overall ecosystem resilience.
In 2025, this successful model took a major step forward – crossing the Pacific.
Reef Check Hawaiʻi was officially relaunched in August 2024 with a small but determined team of seven eco-divers. In just a few months, the group completed 11 surveys around the island of Hawaiʻi, laying the groundwork for a revitalized reef monitoring presence in the state.
While the relaunch marked an important milestone, program coordinator Brad Giles saw greater potential ahead. Rather than allowing the momentum to plateau, he helped spearhead a new collaboration in 2025—bringing together Reef Check Hawaiʻi and the Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring Program to create a first-of-its-kind crossover course.
Designed for experienced Reef Check Kelp Forest Monitoring Program divers, the crossover course blended rigorous training with real-world application. The Aquarium of the Pacific’s field dive safety team, Sean Eckley and Jaimee Butler, joined a skilled team of divers to expand their skill sets to include Hawaiian reef ecosystems.
Divers learned to identify key indicator species, organisms whose presence or absence offers valuable insight into reef health, biodiversity, and environmental stress. These species serve as living data points, helping scientists understand how reefs are responding to both natural changes and human impacts. They also surveyed details about the seafloor coverage, classifying substrates, and determining what kind of material was covering the reef. Disturbance and pollution indicators were also recorded – giving scientists a clear picture of the reef’s health and what challenges they are facing.
The result was more than just additional surveys – it was a powerful exchange of knowledge, experience, and conservation culture between regions.
Buoyed by the program’s early success, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Reef Check Hawaii are looking ahead to expand their partnership. Plans are underway for the Aquarium to make Hawaii an annual destination for its AAUS scientific volunteer dive team. Over time, the Aquarium aims to sponsor dedicated monitoring sites in Kona – returning regularly to collect data and build a consistent, long-term record of reef health.
From the majestic kelp forests of Southern California to the vibrant coral reefs of Hawaiʻi, Reef Check and AoP’s work continues to prove that meaningful science doesn’t only happen in laboratories. Sometimes, it begins with volunteers who believe that protecting the ocean starts with understanding it.
As Reef Check and AoP expand their reach and grow their partnership, one thing remains clear: the future of reef conservation is collaborative, data-driven, and deeply connected to the people willing to explore, and protect, what lies beneath the waves.
