The water around Key West teems with life and the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is an eco-sensitive area that can be explored. Children and adults will learn about the Keys’ shorelines and underwater world through videos, displays and interactive exhibits spread over 6,000 square feet (560 square meters).
See the Aquarius exhibit, which is a copy of the world’s only underwater ocean laboratory. The actual lab is not far away, located 3.5 miles (5.5 kilometers) off Key Largo at a depth of 62 feet (19 meters).
A section of the center is part of the Mote Marine Laboratory network, with an exhibit on living reefs. Watch the coral reef come alive in a 2,500-gallon (9,500-liter) reef tank containing an ecosystem of reefs and tropical fish that have an interrelated dependence. Learn about North America’s only coral barrier reef located where the Aquarius is submerged and also about the dangers facing this marine organism.
As expected, the reef is off-limits and protected in a national marine sanctuary, so the center provides an excellent way to learn about it. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, provides current information on the reef’s condition and manages the center.
In addition to explaining the reef, the center has displays on other aspects of the ocean encompassing southern Florida, including an excellent high-definition movie, Reflections of the Florida Keys. View what’s happening on the reef in real time through a live video camera. Watch an exhilarating 3-D movie filmed in nearby waters.
The gift shop is a worthwhile spot to visit for unique items, with sale proceeds supporting educational programs. Plan a family outing to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. Parking and admission are free, although donations are gratefully accepted.
Find the center at the Truman Waterfront. It is closed Sunday, Monday and certain holidays. If you aren’t driving, get here by riding the free Duval Loop bus that stops at the center.
