A new interactive attraction at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory in St. Ann is giving children and visitors a rare chance to experience the wonders of the ocean without stepping into the water.
On Monday (March 16), the facility unveiled the Immersive Marine Ecosystem Hallway Experience – a state-of-the-art educational installation that brings Jamaica’s underwater world to life through live aquaria, interactive exhibits, 3D models, tablets, and large-screen displays.
The project, made possible through a $4.2 million investment by the Sandals Foundation, also features a newly furnished conference room designed to support learning and research at the facility.
The hallway features live aquaria showcasing three distinct marine ecosystems –deep sea, coral reef, and mangrove – giving visitors an up-close look at the organisms that define Jamaica’s rich marine environment.
To heighten the sense of being underwater, the windows have been tinted to darken the space, while air conditioning ensures the live specimens and equipment remain in optimal condition.
Custom-built 3D models, interactive cutouts, and digital displays further enhance the experience, making marine science accessible and exciting for audiences of all ages.
According to Lecturer and Academic Coordinator at the Laboratory, Dr. Camilo Trench, the initiative forms part of the facility’s ongoing effort to strengthen marine education and expand public outreach.
“While the primary target audience is really schools, it is for everyone. It is a family-friendly facility. Families… small or large… can come; organisations can come here for retreats [as well as] churches. One of my scientific officers will tell them all about the coral reefs or about classification or climate change or mangrove ecosystems. However, we operate on a bookings system,” he outlined.
Dr. Trench emphasised that, beyond the Sandals Foundation’s contribution, the laboratory itself invested several additional millions into the project.
He explained that the team undertook more than 40 boat trips, each costing approximately $30,000, to collect live specimens such as algae, anemones, and other marine life.
This level of investment, he noted, reflects the Laboratory’s commitment to making the experience as authentic as possible.
“One day, we hope to have a facility that persons can walk in off the street and do this self-interpretive centre. We actually have this space. So, this is just a start of greater things of the ambitions we have,” Dr. Trench stated.
For her part, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to helping young people understand and protect Jamaica’s natural environment.
She stressed the importance of educating Jamaica’s children about the nation’s marine resources, noting that many livelihoods depend on the health of the ocean and coastal ecosystems.
“We at the Sandals Foundation truly believe that our children are stewards of our environment. If they know about it, they will respect it, and they will be the ambassadors that go out there and help to protect this precious resource here in Jamaica,” Ms. Clarke underscored.
She noted that many children, especially those from the hills and rural areas, do not get enough exposure to Jamaica’s marine environment.
“So, this [initiative] is bringing that to the shores. This is having them have a hands-on experience, so they can really understand what’s out there and get inspired and get excited,” the Executive Director added.
Ms. Clarke informed that the Foundation plans to sponsor school visits and is encouraging corporate partners to do the same, ensuring that more students across the island can benefit from the educational experience.
Students who attended the launch were already displaying a growing curiosity about marine life, a clear sign of the installation’s potential to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.
Grade-six student Breanna Taylor, of Waltham Abbey Primary and Infant School in St. Ann, was particularly fascinated by the variety of colourful fish and the unique textures that help coral reefs thrive.
Another youngster, Jakhi Wilson, a grade-four student from Discovery Bay Primary and Infant School, was equally intrigued by the marine creatures on display.
He marvelled at the porcupine fish, sponges, and the fascinating behaviour of crabs sheltering among anemones.
