The Dauphin Island Sea Lab was founded in 1971 by the Alabama legislature to provide marine science programs for many of the state’s colleges and universities. Today, 22 member institutions partner with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to provide studies to undergraduate and graduate students. Since 1971, the DISL mission has expanded to include K-12 education, professional development, and a public aquarium.
The Alabama Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium (MESC) is comprised of 22 public and private colleges and universities. The Presidents of each school make up the MESC Board of Directors. The Program Committee members consist of one faculty member, appointed by the President, from each of the member institutions.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation (DISLF) supports the Dauphin Island Sea Lab in its mission, “to provide wise stewardship of the marine environment through education and research”. The DISLF provides funds to sustain the activities and programs of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The foundation is also continuing to build the George C. Crozier Endowment, as well as the DISLF Endowment for the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
The mission of the Mobile Bay NEP is to promote wise stewardship of the water quality characteristics and living resource base of the Mobile Bay estuarine system. Administered through and funded by the EPA under provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1987, the initial task for the MBNEP was the development of a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) as a blueprint for conserving the estuary.
The Discovery Hall Programs offer a variety of programs for your children during the summer, ranging from single-day programs to residential camps and academic courses.
Discovery Hall Programs has developed a variety of activities focused ROVs, to take advantage of K-12 students’ interest in robotics, marine biology and oceanography.
Discovery Hall Programs strives to provide current and relevant continuing education opportunities for teachers and informal educators through hands-on workshops.
While the DISL serves as the focal point of graduate education in marine science in the state of Alabama, it is not a degree-granting institution, and graduate degrees are offered through ten of the 23 DISL Member Schools.
The focus of the REU Program is to provide participants with the opportunity to carry out an independent research project while working under the direction of a faculty mentor.
University Programs hosts a seminar series throughout the year on campus. The Sea Lab faculty invite researches from around the world to speak about their work. The majority of seminars are streamed live and archived on The Sea Lab’s YouTube channel.
Since 1971, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab researchers have collected valuable environmental and ecosystem level data as part of the research and monitoring efforts in the fields of oceanography and ecology.
ARCOs, Alabama Real-Time Coastal Observing System, is freely accessible by the public with ten sites monitoring the water quality. The information is updated every half hour and is gathered from eight water quality sampling stations that are located around coastal Alabama, including a new site off-shore.
Since 1971, research personnel at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) have collected valuable environmental and ecosystem level data as part of research and monitoring endeavors.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) provides scientific diver training and oversight for all participating schools with the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium. DISL joined the American Academy of Underwater Science in 1992.
A Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative consortia led by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the Alabama Center of Ecological Resilience (ACER) investigates how biodiversity influences an ecosystem’s resilience. Specifically, the ecosystems of the northern Gulf of Mexico to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s digital library gives the public access to more than 200 publications authored by faculty, staff, and students dating back to 1974.
Find all the information you need to make the most of your visit in our public aquarium. Hours, Pricing and even our live streaming webcams can be found here!
The Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab hosts a number of events for the public. The free, twice-monthly Boardwalk Talk program offers the public a chance to engage with the experts at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The Excursion Program takes visitors into the habitats studied by our marine scientists, researchers, and students at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is the perfect place to host your next meeting, wedding, or birthday party. Let our special events team guide you to creating a memorable experience for you and your guests.
Discover an authentic Gulf Coast experience at The Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Our unique venues combine on-point technology and amenities to keep you focused.
From inviting breezes on the open decks to the unmatched visual exhibits of the fourth largest estuary system in the United States, the Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is the perfect venue for your indoor or outdoor functions.
Every reason for supporting and donating is different, but every donation matters. Your donation enhances the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s educational, research and service programs.
The Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, formerly named the Estuarium, hosts a number of events for the public. The free, twice-monthly Boardwalk Talk program offers the public a chance to engage with the experts at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab on science topics as wide-ranging as climate change, habitat restoration, hypoxia, sea-level change, salt marshes, oyster reefs, sharks, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The Excursion program takes visitors into the habitats studied by our marine scientists, researchers, and students at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
Boardwalk Talks
The Boardwalk Talk series is a free, public program on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, at 11:15 a.m. Currently, Boardwalk Talks are scheduled virtually and air live on the DISL YouTube Channel.
Talks give you a chance to participate in a dialog with the experts, including researchers, graduate students, post-docs, educators, aquarists, and technicians. These informal chats encompass a broad range of science topics.
Wednesday, August 24- 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Tuesday, September 20- 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Thursday, October 13- 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Location: Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
For All Ages (Children 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult) Program Cost: $12 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Please note that your reservation will not be secure until you purchase your tickets through a link you will receive by email using a code provided in the same email.
Salt marshes are not monotonous expanses of grass; they’re fascinating coastal wetlands that are critical to our estuary system. Be a marine scientist for a day, and use seine nets, buckets, shovels, and sieve boxes to collect samples, including crabs, snails, and fish (we’ll release animals back to the marsh). You’ll learn about the important role salt marshes play in the Gulf of Mexico and how they support the seafood we enjoy.
After meeting at the Estuarium, you will travel to the Dauphin Island salt marsh to explore this vital ecosystem. Please be advised that you will get wet and muddy, so you may wish to prepare your vehicle accordingly.
What to wear: Proper footwear is very important for your safety and enjoyment. Because of sharp oyster shells, participants are advised to wear closed-toe shoes that tie or strap on, such as old tennis shoes. Please no flip-flops, Crocs, or rubber boots as they get ‘eaten’ by the marsh mud. Wear clothes that can get wet and muddy.
What to bring: hat, sunscreen, water bottle, change of clothes and shoes, bag for muddy items
Please conduct a health assessment on everyone in your party before leaving home on the morning of the Excursion. If anyone is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please cancel by phone, and we will issue a full refund. Everyone will be screened for symptoms upon arrival. We will not take a party if anyone in the group is symptomatic, but we will issue full refunds. Please help us safeguard everyone's health.
DISL reserves the right to cancel in case of inclement weather or if there is insufficient participation.
Thursday, October 27- 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Thursday, November 10- 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Friday, December 9- 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Location: Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
For All Ages (Children 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
Program Cost: $12 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Please note that your reservation will not be secure until you purchase your tickets through a link you will receive by email using a code provided in the same email.
There’s more to a barrier island than sand and water – the beach is a thriving habitat with a dynamic dune system and fascinating plants and animals, and higher elevations are covered by lush forest. We’ll walk through the maritime forest, then on to the dunes and beach.
You will learn about plants that Indians and colonists used and the benefits of an intact dune system. You’ll see many coastal animals; occasional highlights include osprey, alligators, and dolphins. You’ll dig for mole crabs that live in the surf zone and chase scuttling ghost crabs. We’ll bring hand nets and critter containers so we can get an up-close look.
What to wear: Comfortable walking shoes for the beach and forest. Light-weight clothes for hot summer temperatures. If you’re eager to get wet, feel free to dress accordingly, though getting wet can be avoided.
What to bring: hat, sunscreen, water bottle, bug spray, change of clothes and shoes, bag for wet items
Please conduct a health assessment on everyone in your party before leaving home on the morning of the Excursion. If anyone is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please cancel by phone, and we will issue a full refund. Everyone will be screened for symptoms upon arrival. We will not take a party if anyone in the group is symptomatic, but we will issue full refunds. Please help us safeguard everyone's health.
DISL reserves the right to cancel in case of inclement weather or if there is insufficient participation.
Friday, August 19- 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, September 23- 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, October 7- 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, November 18- 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, December 2- 2:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: Alabama Aquarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Join a professional Dauphin Island Sea Lab Educator for a two-hour boat trip in the waters surrounding Dauphin Island, where you’ll learn how estuaries such as Mobile Bay feed the seas. Mobile Bay is a thriving nursery ground that supports a vast array of animals. A short trawl will produce a sampling of some of these animals for you to examine, and a plankton tow will give you a look at the microscopic organisms at the base of the food chain. Other kinds of wildlife, including pelicans, gulls, dolphins, and sharks, can often be seen from the boat.
The minimum age for participation is 8. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Tickets:
$30 per person. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Please note that your reservation will not be secure until you purchase your tickets through a link you will receive after submitting the reservation form. This program is limited to 25 participants (based on Covid distancing guidelines, and subject to change). A minimum number of tickets must sell before the scheduled Boat Excursion for the trip to run.
Children 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for their supervision and safety.
What to wear: Proper footwear is required for your safety. Wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes. Please note that you will not be allowed to board the vessel without proper footwear. Layers are advised for variable weather conditions.
What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, water bottle, binoculars, snack, camera, your curiosity, and your mask
For questions, reservations, and inquiries about private tours: E-mail summerexcursions@disl.org or call (251) 861-2141 ext. 2127.
DISL reserves the right to cancel in case of inclement weather or if there is insufficient participation.
Please conduct a health assessment on everyone in your party before leaving home on the morning of the Excursion. If anyone is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please cancel by phone, and we will issue a full refund. Everyone will be screened for symptoms upon arrival. We will not take a party if anyone in the group is symptomatic, but we will issue full refunds. Please help us safeguard everyone's health.
