Florida is the only state in the continental United States to have extensive shallow coral reef formations near its coasts. Numerous species of stony corals and octocorals (sea fans) are found in over 6,000 Florida reefs that extend from along the Atlantic Coast to the Dry Tortugas and into the Gulf of Mexico.

There are over 200 species of coral and fish in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The SCUBAnauts perform fish counts as well as survey coral colonies to monitor species distribution, bleaching, algal overgrowth, disease, and other conditions.

The SCUBAnauts also participate in the Great Annual Fish Count sponsored by REEF in the Florida Keys. To prepare for this event, the SCUBAnauts conduct classroom training to prepare them to gather valuable data that will assist marine biologists studying fish species diversity, abundance and distribution. The SCUBAnauts also conduct fish and marine species counts during each coral reef monitoring dive in the Gulf of Mexico. Data from these studies is shared directly with state, federal, and university scientists.