Audubon Aquarium's New "Deep Dive Into the Gulf" Exhibit Showcases Deep Water Corals
Audubon Aquarium is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its highly anticipated Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit, an immersive exploration of life in the twilight and midnight zones of the Gulf of Mexico and the mesophotic and deep benthic coral communities that live there. The new exhibit, housed in Audubon Aquarium’s guest favorite Gulf of Mexico Gallery, highlights the vibrant ecosystems that exist deep beneath the Gulf’s surface—home to animals rarely seen by the public.
The exhibit was made possible through a grant from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation with funding to restore natural resources injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill from the DWH Open Ocean Trustees. The new exhibit showcases corals collected as part of ongoing restoration efforts by the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) projects.
Deep Dive into the Gulf is the first public exhibit to highlight this essential restoration work in the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting Audubon’s commitment to conservation and public education. An interactive educational cart, hands-on learning activities, and daily talks with aquarium keepers and educators are designed to engage visitors of all ages.
“Deep Dive into the Gulf brings the Gulf of Mexico’s hidden treasures to the public,” said Rich Toth, Senior Vice President and Director of Audubon Aquarium. “This exhibit offers a rare glimpse into deep-sea coral ecosystems that are a critical part of the health of the Gulf of Mexico. Our goal is to inspire visitors with the beauty and importance of these habitats and to encourage a commitment to protecting them for future generations.”
The Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit will provide guests with numerous ways to interact and engage with the underwater world. Features in this new exhibit include:
- A live coral exhibit that will be the first ever to display deep corals from the Gulf of Mexico, showcasing the types of life found on the seafloor.
- Interactive never-before-seen video footage of deep Gulf habitats, which provide guests the opportunity to experience what it's like to be part of the restoration team by identifying fascinating species along the seafloor.
- Educational panels that provide insight into Gulf marine life at different depths, the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the vital restoration efforts currently underway.
- An art wall that offers a larger-than-life photo op with the corals, sponges, and fish that represent the deep-sea habitat.
- A 3D map that shows guests the bottom of the Gulf, with its salt domes, canyons and more! The map highlights areas like the Mississippi Canyon, where coral restoration efforts are concentrated.
The Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit is free with Audubon Aquarium admission. For more information about the Deep Dive into the Gulf exhibit and Audubon’s ongoing conservation efforts, please visit https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/ .
About Audubon Nature Institute:
Audubon Nature Institute operates a family of museums and parks dedicated to nature. Its mission is to celebrate the wonders of nature through innovative programs that instill a sense of stewardship for wildlife and the natural world. Learn more at audubonnatureinstitute.org.
About the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) portfolio: After the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, federal and state agencies assessed the impacts and implemented actions to restore injured habitats, species, and the services they provide. In 2019, they selected four Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities restoration projects to be implemented through 2028 in the northern Gulf of Mexico. NOAA and the Department of Interior coordinate a multidisciplinary group of partners to plan and implement these projects. Learn more at fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/habitat-conservation/mesophotic-and-deep-benthic-communities-restoration.
About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports America’s national marine sanctuaries through our mission to protect species, conserve ecosystems and preserve cultural and maritime heritage. We accomplish our mission through community stewardship and engagement programs, on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs, and scientific research and exploration. The Foundation fosters innovative projects that are solution-oriented, scalable and transferable, and develop strategic partnerships that promote the conservation and recovery of species and their habitats. Learn more at marinesanctuary.org.