celebrating 10 years of

reef life survey

  • 2007

    Initial meeting of the RLS Advisory Committee in Hobart
  • 2008

    First RLS training courses held; 52 divers trained (21 of which are still involved with RLS a decade later)
    RLS & Rottnest Island Authority partnership begins. Rottnest Island now the most consistent location monitored by RLS, with a large, committed team of RLS divers contributing 405 surveys across 28 sites.
  • 2009

    First tropical AND international surveys are held in Aceh, Indonesia, through a collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society in Indonesia
    1,000th Survey logged
  • 2010

    RLS divers complete first lap of Aus by car, undertaking 359 surveys at 176 sites & travelling a total of 20,835km!
    RLS is a finalist for the UN Association of Australian Marine & Coastal Management Award
    WINNER! RLS takes home the Victoria Coastal Council Award for Community Action & Partnerships
    100th diver trained!
  • 2011

    25th Country Surveyed: spain
    RLS registers as an environmental organisation
  • 2012

    First international RLS team trained in the Canary Islands, Spain
    An RLS crew crosses the Pacific Ocean aboard the SV Reef Dragon, from Panama to Australia
    RLS hosts 1st global RLS data analysis workshop on Maria Island, Tasmania, with 40 researchers in attendance for the 2 weeks. The workshop resulted in 2 papers published in Nature based on RLS data.
    5000th survey logged
  • 2013

    RLS divers complete a 14 month circumnavigation of Australia aboard the SV Reef Dragon, which included the first surveys of most reefs in the Coral Sea
    Asociacion Reef Life Survey Spain first established
  • 2014

    EUREKA! 
    A prestigious Eureka Award for Environmental Research recognises the importance of RLS data, the impact of associated research, and the efforts of the volunteers involved
  • 2015

    200th Diver trained
    2nd & 3rd rounds of RLS training in Spain
    RLS partners with the Smithsonian's MarineGEO project, setting up ongoing monitoring at a number of Smithsonian field stations worldwide
    RLS trains a Nicaraguan crew
  • 2016

    RLS conquers the 7th & final continent, as surveys are logged from Antarctica
    RLS data form an important basis for the marine & coasts chapter of the Australian State of the Environment Report
    Reef Species of the World first launches on the RLS website, now the World's most comprehensive online field guide to reef-dwelling species
    Publication of the "Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia" ID guide by RLS divers
  • 2017

    Rottnest Island, WA becomes the first RLS site with 10 consecutive years of monitoring
    RLS training capacity increases with 6 new trainers
    WINNER! The Ian Potter Foundation receives a Philanthropy Australia "Environmental Philanthropy Award" fro Reef Life Survey
    10,000th survey logged
  • 2018

    250th diver trained
    RLS divers discover a new population of critically endangered Red Handfish in SE Tasmania. The discovery sparks a global media flurry, reaching over 51 million twitter users & mentioned in more than 130 news articles worldwide, from Aus Geographic to Snapchat!
    Reef Life Survey turns 10 years old! 
    (Scroll down to see the scope of RLS' achievements over the decade)

269

Divers involved 
since 2008 from

NINE

countries

FIFTYTWO
DIVERS TRAINED IN RLS METHODS IN 2008
40%
ARE STILL INVOLVED OVER A DECADE LATER!

eleven

rls trainers

3,300

SITES SURVEYED BY RLS ACROSS

54

COUNTRIES & TERRITORIES

Percentage of the world's continents surveyed by 
reef life survey:

100

Yup, RLS divers have even surveyed The Frozen Continent!

146˚

LATITUDINAL DEGREES SPANNED 
BY RLS SURVEYS

11,941

Total number of surveys completed by RLS divers

That's equivalent to 60,000 hours or... seven years!!

$1,800,000

OF IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM RLS VOLUNTEER DIVERS
Yep, you read that right - our volunteers have contributed over $1.8 MILLION worth of time to Reef Life Survey over the decade

670 thousand

records in the RLS database 
containing the size, abundance & location of more than 

17, 700,000

individual reef-dwelling animals

more than

1 billion

Records of species abundance downloaded since 2016
(And that's from just ONE of our THREE data access avenues!)

seventy-seven

Scientific papers & management reports published using rls data 

including SIX in the prestigious science journal

TWelve

Locations across australia monitored annually or biennially by RLS

however...

Reef Life Survey's greatest achievement over the past decade has been the unification of hundreds of volunteers, including divers, collaborators, industry representatives, tourism operators, database and website developers, photographers, managers & scientists - all with the common goal of striving to understand and effectively communicate the condition of our world's rocky and coral reefs.

RLS owes its success to the following divers, supporters & partners for their expertise, dedication & support. From the whole RLS team, we thank you all and look forward to diving the next decade with you!

Thank you!

Adrian Brown
Adriana Verges
Akkeshi Marine Laboratory, University of Hokkaido
Alan Jordan
Alan Wilkins
Albie Zepf
Alejandra Pérez
Alejandro Cotto
Alejandro Pérez San Juan
Alicia McArdle
Alicia Sutton
Allison Henss
Allyson Groth
Amakusa Marine Laboratory, University of Kyushu
Amanda Bates
Amanda Richley
Amelia Fowles
Amelia McCowage
Andrew Altieri
Andrew Green
Andy Davoren
Andy Myers
Angel Rodriguez Prada
Anna Berthelsen
Anna Cresswell
Anna Edgar
Anna Hadland
Antonia Cooper
Antonio Jodar
Aquenal Pty. Ltd.
Arthur Riedel
Asamushi Marine Laboratory, University of Tohoku
Ashley Smith
Assemble Marine (EU)
Atlas of Living Australia
Bailee Woolley
Bec Koss
Belen Calero Blanco
Ben Brayford
Ben Cashman
Ben Jones
Beth Strain
Bill Barker
Bob Edgar
Brendan Kelaher
Brett Wiliamson
Brian Busteed
Brian Hughes
Bruce Rocherieux
Bryon McDonald
Byron Bishop
Caitlin Kuempel
Caitlin Woods
Calypso Reef Cruises, QLD
Candace McBride
Carl Fallon
Carlos de Jaun
Carlota Barañano Carrión
Carly Giosio
Carolina Garcia
Carolina Zagal
Caroline Mason
Cayne Layton
Cecile Decazes
Centro National Patagonico, Argentina
Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos
Charlie Bedford
Chelsea Combest-Friedman

Cheryl Petty
Chris Gillies
Chris Jones
Chris Preston
Chris Westley
Christine Coughanowr
Christine Kibele
Christo Haselden
Coastwest, West Australian Planning Commission
Colleen Morris
Combined Hunter Underwater Group
Cradle Coast NRM
Crest Diving, Jervis Bay
Cristina Fernández González
Dácil Díaz Gómez
Damien Stanford
Dan Ierodiaconou
Dane Jones
Daniel Beard
Daniel Brock
Daniel Hernández Pérez
Daniel Ierodiaconou
Darcie Bellanto
Dave Arthur
Dave Thomas
David Eynon, SAMS, Falkland Islands
David Logan
David Massih
David McIvor
David Miller
David Short
Deb Aston
Debbie Dalziel
Debbie Freeman, Department of Conservation
Debbie Rudd
Denisse Fierro Arcos
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions, WA
Department of Environment & Conservation, WA
Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources, SA
Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources, SA
Department of Parks & Wildlife, WA
Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries, NT
Derek Shields
Don Love
Dr Alan Friedlander
Dr Ed Parnell
Dr Emmett Duffy, MarineGEO, Smithsonian Institute
Dr Mikel Becerro, PNA-CSIC, Spain
Dr Rodrigo Moura, Universaidade Federak do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ECO2, Tanzania
Ed Parnell
Edgar Castañeda
Edgar Herrera
Eduardo Altamirano
Elaine Kwee
Elisabet Bonfill i Molina
Ella Clausius
Ellie Marks
Eloise Ashworth
Emilie Novaczek
Emma Flukes
Emma Henry
Emma Jackson
Emmett Duffy
Environmental Protection Authority, SA
Fauna & Flora International
Fernando Pinillos
Fidel Ernesto Lopez Briceno

Fred Rueff
Friends of Beware Reef
Friends of the Sea, Kangaroo Island
Garrick Smith
George Wood
George Wotton
Germán Soler
Gonzalo Apesteguía Zamora
Gonzalo Chavarria
Graham Edgar
Grant Flanagan
Grant Pearce
Guillermo Muñoz Gago
Gwenael Cadiou
Harri Davies
Heiri Klein
Helen Shortland-Jones
Heydi salazar
Ian Banks
Ian Buchanan
Ian Kerr
Ian Shaw
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Iona Flett
Irene Martin
Irene Martín Forbes
Isabelle Strachan
Jack O'Connor
Jacqui Pocklington
James Brook
Jamie Hicks
Jane Abbott
Jane Elek
Janet Abbott
Janina Seamann
Janine Baker
Jared Kibele
Jasmin Knight
Jason Mant
Jason Whitehead
Javier Bermudez
Jemina Stuart-Smith
Jen Mahon
Jennifer Hine
Jennifer Hoskin
Jeremy Lane
Jeremy Ward
Jimmy Maher
Joanna Smart
Joe Shields
John Allen
John Anderson, Forte Web Design
John Ariens
John Johnstone
John Lemberg
John Turnbull
Jordan Logan
Jorge Pascual de Pedro
Jose A Sanabria
José Antonio Sanabria Fernández
Jose Luis Gutiérrez
Josh Moloney
Josh Sprague
Joyce Edgar
Jude Keyse
Just Berkhout
Justin Hulls
Karen Raubenheimer

Karl Schimanski
Kate Clements
Kate Fraser
Kate Tinson
Keith Martin-Smith
Keith Saunders
Kelly Dibbon
Kevin Mahon
Kevin Smith
Kim Sebo
Kirsten Rodgers
Kirsty Whitman
Kris O'Keeffe
Laura Airoldi
Laura Palacín Fernández
Laura Smith
Laurel Trebilco
Lauren Taaffe
Leonie Suter
Leopoldo Moro Abad
Lesley Saunders
Liz Oh
Lord Howe Island Board
Lotte Rivers
Louise De Beuzeville
Luigi Laezza
Mahala Ebery
Margo Smith
María Belén Caro
Marianne Purton
Marie-Claire Demers
Marjon Phur
Mark Green
Marlene Davey
Martin Filleul
Martin Hing
Martin Puchert
Martine Kinloch
Mat Skye
Matt Cameron
Matt Nelson
Matthias Liffers
Megan Dykeman
Megan Jamieson
Meryl Larkin
Michael Abbott
Michael Brooker
Michael Goodison
Michael Jacques
Michael Muller
Michelle Crighton
Mike Sugden
Mike Van Keulen
Mikel Becerro
Miriam Reverter Vives
MV Orion, Maldives
Nacor Balanos
Nahum Torres
Natalí Denise Lazzari
Natasha Hardy
National Geographic
National Geographic Society
Natural Resources, SA
Nature Coast Marine Group
NatureServe
Neil Vaughan
Néstor Sánchez

Nev Barrett
Nick Mooney
Nick Watkins
Nicola Davis
Nicola Fraser
Nicole Hill
Norfaizny Hasweera
NRM South
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Nuria Rizo Osuna-Moyano
Observatoire Oceanologique de Banyuls sur mer, France
Olivia Johnson
Omar Álvarez González
Paige Shaw
Parks & Wildlife Service, TAS
Parks Australia
Parks VIC
Parks Victoria
Patrick Lewis
Paul Anderson
Paul Caiger
Paul Carnell
Paul Day
Paul Jennings
Paul Schaus
Paul Sharp
Paul Tinkler
PBD Consulting Pty LTd.
Pearse Buchanan
Peltier Barahona
Perth Region NRM
Peter McGee
Peter Mooney
Peter Pfennig
Peter Southwood
Petko Petkov
Pieter van der Woude
Port Phillip Bay Fund
Prince of Wales Bay Marina
Rachael Miles
Rangelands NRM
Rebecca Watson
Reef Check Australia
Reef Watch, SA
Renata Ferrari Legorreta
Renata Pronk
Richard Hughes
Rick Stuart-Smith
Rita Silver
Rodrigo Riera
Rogelio Herrera Pérez
Ross Whippo
Rottnest Island Authority
Rowan Trebilco
Russ Stevens
Sally Sneddon
Sallyann Gudge
Salvador Sanchez
Salvador sanchez santana
Sam Gaylard
Sam Griffiths
Sam Owen
Sam Wines
San Ignacio del Huinay Foundation, Chile
Sarah Payne
Sarah-Lena Reinhold
Scoresby Shepherd
Scott Henderson, Conservation International

Scott Jones
Scott Ling
Sea Serpent Fleet
Sergio González Rodríguez
Seto Marine Laboratory
Seychelles Underwater Centre
Shamaram Eichmann
Silke Stuckenbrock
Simon Curtis
Simon Morley
Simon Reeves
Simon Talbot
Solitary Islands Underwater Research Group
Sonia Sagrista
Sophie Edgar
Sophie Powell
South African Environmental Observation Network
Southern Tasmanian Divers
Steffan Howe
Steph Mifsud
Stephanie Roy
Stephen Green
Steve Leske
Stuart Kininmonth
Sue Baker
Sue Newson
Sue Wragge
Sumit Gupta
Sun Dive, QLD
Suzanne Fiebig
Sylvia Buchanan
Tanya Mendo
Tas Douglas
Tasmanian Boat Charter s
Terina Saunders
The Ian Potter Foundation
The National Environmental Science Program
The Seven Seas, Indonesia
The Walton Family Foundation
Thierry Rakotoarivelo
Thomas Heath
Tim Alexander
Tim Crawford
Tim Forster
Tim Henry
Tom Davis
Tom Holmes
Trent McInerney
TUSA Dive, Cairns & Port Douglas
Underwater Explorers Club of Western Australia
Underwater Research Group of NSW
University of the Ryukyus
Vaughn Chapple
Víctor Hernando Morales
WA State NRM
Wade Hill
Warrick Noble
Wendy Hutchison
Western Australian Divers for Diversity Inc.
Western Australian Planning Commission's Coastwest Initiative
Whitsunday Escapes
Will Figueira
William Maher
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
WinWeb
Yanir Seroussi
Zach Foltz

Supported by The Ian Potter Foundation
The Minderoo Foundation
Website Design by Forte Web Design
website design by Forte Web Design
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