MarineLab Family Day

Come and explore Florida Bay with us! And, because mangroves and Florida Bay go hand in hand, we wouldn't miss this opportunity to teach you a little bit about these unique trees and the animals that call them home. How exactly do they deal with the saltwater? Are red mangroves really red? Is it true that they give live birth!? Get the answers to these questions and more!

For this event, participants will hop on our boats and enjoy a relaxing boat ride in Florida Bay. On our way out to the snorkel site, we’ll make some stops along the way to talk about our unique seagrass and mangrove habitats. Then, once everyone is a mangrove and seagrass expert, participants will hop in the water and snorkel with our marine biologist instructors. We’ll point out all of the good stuff and collect some invertebrates!

 

Registration for this event will open up at noon on November 1st. 

 

Please sign the online waiver for each person attending!   If your waiver is not submitted you forfeit your spot in the program. These waivers contain vital medical information that needs to be submitted for the participants safety.

Click here to submit your medical/waiver form

or typehttps://waivers.marinelab.org/FamilyDayNov152026 into your browser window.

If you have any questions, email us at familyday@marinelab.org

 

Doctor's Note*: MarineLab requires a doctor’s note for conditions such as seizure disorders, heart conditions, recent injuries/surgeries, and/or conditions that can cause fainting (eg POTS) or loss of consciousness.  This list is not all-inclusive; parents/guardians should be prepared to provide a doctor’s note upon request.  The note should give approval for the participant to snorkel in seawater off vessels that may be up to 5 miles offshore, potentially a 45 minute boat ride to land.*Failure to provide a Dr note for medical issue/injury could prevent participation in boat trips and/or snorkeling.*MarineLab will not submit requests until a few days prior to your arrival - if unsure if note is needed, please reach out to assistant.coordinator@marinelab.org for guidance to prevent having to get a note last minute.  Please email at least 14 days prior to your trip.

We are expecting your arrival at 1:00pm on November 15, 2026. MarineLab’s address is 51 Shoreland Drive in Key Largo. We are located at the intersection of Shoreland Drive and Transylvania Avenue at Mile Marker 103.2 on the oceanside.  Staff will be outside awaiting your arrival and will assist with parking. Please arrive on time to keep the parking and the schedule a smooth process. The MarineLab cellphone number is 305-709-9949. Please text/call if you are arriving late.

Please do not arrive before 12:45!  

1 PM: Arrive and check in.

Please do not arrive early as we have school groups departing at 12:30. A bus will be blocking the entrance. The Family Day program will begin promptly at 1:15. If you are running late, please call the marinelab phone at 305-709-9949.

 

1:15 - 2 PM: MarineLab instructors will review proper use of snorkel equipment as well as safety signs and signals.  All participants will be outfitted with snorkel gear - we have plenty for all but feel free to bring your own, if you prefer.  All participants will also need to take a simple swim test. 

 

2 PM - 5 PM: Board a MarineLab vessel, enjoy an educational cruise through Florida Bay, and hop in the water with a marine biologist guide to explore the mangrove habitat.

 

**sequence of events and snorkel site locations subject to change due to wind and weather conditions

 

**if Family Day is cancelled in advance due to weather, we will contact you via email and you will be given a full refund. Due to high demand, we are unable to transfer tickets to a future event.

Admission: There will be a fee of $15 for all participants. 

**if the admission fee poses a financial burden for your family, please contact us directly to register

 

Please consider that these are high demand events with waitlists - if you sign up and are no longer able to attend, please reach out to us at familyday@marinelab.org in advance so that another family can fill your spot!

 

Waiver Required! Submit your waiver here!

 

Age: Limited to ages 7 and up. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. 

 

Snorkel gear: Don’t have your own? We’ve got you covered! We are happy to provide snorkel gear in any size you need.

*due to safety concerns, we do not allow full face snorkel masks on our programs. But, we are happy to provide you with one of our masks if needed! We also require use of all snorkeling equipment - mask, snorkel, fins, snorkel vest (and lifejacket if we determine it is necessary after swim evaluation).

 

What to bring: A swimsuit, towel, water bottle, sunscreen, and snorkel gear (if you have it!)

 

For more information, email us at familyday@marinelab.org