Exploration • Conservation • Education
Discover our Marine Discovery Centre situated at the hotel and meet Marine, our marine biologist who’s waiting for you with lots of interesting information and useful advice!
The Marine Discovery Centre is dedicated to the exploration and preservation of the marine and coastal environment with the aim of educating and raising awareness among all users of the lagoon and the local coastal communities.
The Centre was launched in 2010 in collaboration with a local NGO and is funded by the Green Attitude Foundation.
-
Guest activities
What can you do in the Marine Discovery Centre?
• Visit the Centre and discuss with our marine biologist
• Learn about our rich biodiversity via our educational saltwater aquarium and extensive library
• Awaken your curiosity through interactive activities
• Discover our mangrove nursery and wetlands during a tour
• Enjoy the underwater landscape in a protected area from our glass bottom boat or by snorkelling the underwater trail
• Contribute to our scientific research through our participatory Citizen Science programme, by observing animals and plants -
Meet the team
-
Nina
Scientific Programme Manager
Nina is the Head of our scientific programme. A specialist in marine conservation and awareness projects, she is the link between us and our local and regional stakeholders. -
Marine
Marine Discovery Centre Coordinator
Marine is our marine biologist. An expert in the biodiversity of tropical marine and coastal ecosystems, she has a real passion for scuba diving and marine biology. -
Vashish
Marine Science Educator
Vashish is a Doctor in Biological Oceanography with a fascination for the ocean’s microscopic world of plankton. He is also a firm believer in the importance of making research accessible to everyone. Come and see him in the Marine Discovery Centre – he has so many interesting and fun things to show you!
Partnerships
To address the environmental challenges we are facing, we promote both local and regional collaborations. We already signed 3 partnership agreements to study and help preserve humpback whales, sea turtles, and endemic bats and plants.
-
Globice
We study the humpback whales
COMBAVA project: In 2021, for the first time in Mauritius, we deployed a hydrophone to record the songs of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), with the objective to improve the knowledge this specie in our region and strengthen the skills of local actors. -
Kelonia & CEDTM
We study the sea turtles
- TImOI project: In 2021, our team was trained by CEDTM and Kelonia in how to collect samples on hawksbill turtles for genetic and isotopic analysis. The aim is to learn more about their life cycle and contribute to their protection.
- TORSOOI: A photo identification software used to build a database of the sea turtle populations in Mauritius with the objective of enhancing local knowledge and capacity building.
-
ERA
We help preserve endemic plants and bats
During 2022, we will set up a garden with endemic coastal plants in front of the MDC, with the purpose of conserving and raising awareness of our native fauna.
We will also support the protection of the last groups of endemic bats and their ecosystems via educational activities to highlight their importance for our island.
.png)
Created in 2001, Globice is an NGO dedicated to research on and conservation of cetaceans in Reunion Island and the Indian Ocean.
.png)
CEDTM (Centre d’Etude et de Découverte des Tortues Marines) is an NGO in Reunion Island working on research programmes on sea turtles and their habitats.
Kélonia is an observatory, a museum, and a centre for research, intervention and care dedicated to sea turtles in Reunion Island.
ERA IO (Ecosystem Restoration Alliance Indian Ocean) is the only NGO in Mauritius that exclusively specialises in bat research, conservation, and bat-ecosystem interactions. They also work on the conservation of native flora.
A sneak peek of what you can expect
-
Mangrove nursery
-
-
Yellow boxfish
-
Glass bottom boat
-
-
Striated heron
-
-
Mangrove nursery
Yellow boxfish
Glass bottom boat
Striated heron
.png)
.png)
