Reefs Unknown

1. Virtual reality (vr) exploration of deep mesophotic coral reefs.although the public is familiar with the existence of these Reefs as rich fishing grounds, few have any idea what they actually look like. Using scuba equipment and a special virtual reality camera, Reefs Unknown will create vr videos for educational use to show this remarkable and unfamiliar ecosystem to students of various ages. The dives will be conducted primarily by founders viktor brandtneris and sarah heidmann. Mr. brandtneris is a technical dive officer in the research dive program at the university of the virgin islands (uvi). Ms. heidmann is a research analyst at uvi. They will likely collaborate with other non-profits in creating and sharing educational curriculum. This research project will together account for approximately 30% of the principals' total time and the organization will allocate approximately 25% of its assets for this project. Reefs Unknown plans to fund this activity by private donations. The vr exploration will further the exempt purposes by directly advancing knowledge of less explored deep Reefs that are unfamiliar to most of the public. Reefs Unknown anticipates obtaining funding for the vr exploration project through private donations. The vr exploration directly furthers the organization's exempt purpose of researching deep coral Reefs and educating the public regarding these largely Unknown systems.

3. Eastern pacific reef monitoringreefs in the eastern pacific are shallower than the caribbean mesophotic Reefs, yet, due to the high levels of acidity and large temperature variations in these waters, their study can yield important insight into the future of other coral Reefs given the global warming and increased acidity in our oceans. Mr. brandtneris has been studying these Reefs with colleague dr. tyler smith for ten years and anticipates obtaining funding from private donations to carry out two field expeditions, one to the galapagos islands and one to pacific panama. The cost of these expeditions will amount to approximately 50 percent of overall expenses. The eastern pacific reef monitoring will likely amount to 40% percent of mr. brandtneris' time. This activity directly furthers Reefs Unknown's exempt purposes by increasing scientific knowledge of all coral Reefs.

2. Usvi deep lettuce coral reef studyreefs Unknown also will research deep lettuce coral Reefs, which are found by the drop offs in the virgin islands at depths between 190 to 240 feet. These very deep Reefs are greatly threatened by climate change and human impacts. This activity will involve diving these Reefs to gain a better understanding of the corals and then using the explorational dives to produce media used for educational purposes, thus increasing awareness of this vulnerable ecosystem. The deep lettuce coral reef study will utilize approximately 25% of the organization's resources, and about 50% of the principals' time. Mr. brandtneris and ms. heidmann will conduct the dives but will collaborate with educational institutions and with media outlets to share their productions with the community and beyond. This project will be financed by private donations. The usvi deep lettuce coral reef study will advance scholarship and educate the community about a variety of coral Reefs that are highly threatened.