Exploration • Conservation • Education
Discover our Marine Discovery Centre at Lagoon Attitude!
Come and meet our team of marine biologists who are ready to share interesting information and useful advice with you.
The Marine Discovery Centre is dedicated to exploring and preserving the marine and coastal environment. Its aim is to educate and raise awareness among all sea users and local communities.
The Marine Discovery Centre was launched in 2010 in collaboration with a local NGO and is funded by the Attitude Foundation.
What can you do in the Marine Discovery Centre?
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Learn from marine biologists
Learn interesting facts and tips by popping into the centre and chatting to our marine biologists.
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Kayak through the mangroves
Enjoy a guided kayaking tour in the mangroves.
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Beach clean
Grab a blue net bag from the centre and help clean up litter on our beaches and underwater world.
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Upcycling workshop
Awaken your creativity at an upcycling workshop.
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Snorkelling trail
Snorkel along our trail and discover the marine life. Can you spot our educational signs underwater?
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Glass-bottom boat
Join a marine biologist on our glass-bottom boat tour and learn about the marine fauna and flora.
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See plankton under a microscope
Want to know what humpback whales eat? Join us at SeaBreeze bar to look at plankton under a microscope.
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Citizen Science programme
Help our marine biologists with their scientific research by taking photos of humpback whales and sea turtles.
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Saltwater Aquarium
Visit our saltwater aquarium and learn about its rich biodiversity while listening to relaxing music.
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Try our VR headset
Slide on our VR headset and watch videos of sea turtles, humpback whales or dolphins.
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Sustainable whale watching
Join a marine biologist for a sustainable whale watching trip from July to October 2024, helping the team identify migrating humpback whales in Mauritius.
(Activity at an extra cost and subject to weather conditions)
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Meet the team
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Nina
Attitude Foundation Manager
Nina is responsible for our foundation. A specialist in marine and coastal environment project management, she liaises with local as well as regional partners and stakeholders. Nina also has a soft spot for and extensive knowledge of dolphins and whales. -
Marine
Marine Discovery Centre Manager
Marine is the head of our Marine Discovery Centre. She is a marine biologist and a certified marine mammal observer. An expert in the biodiversity of tropical marine and coastal ecosystems, Marine has a real passion for scuba diving and the underwater world. -
Vashish
Marine Discovery Centre Coordinator
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. Meet Vashish at the centre, he has so many interesting and fun things to show you!.
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Musharraf
Marine Educator
Musharraf is a passionate marine educator and holds a degree in Marine Environmental science. He is dedicated to teaching others about marine life and oceans. By helping people understand, we can all work together to keep our oceans safe for the future. Meet Musharraf at the centre, where he will tell you all about it!
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Our projects
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We study humpback whales
Did you know that we deploy a hydrophone to record the songs of humpback whales? We also have a photo ID programme, where guests can help us identify these whales and observe their behaviour and migratory patterns.
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We study sea turtles
Our team is trained in collecting samples from hawksbill turtles to learn about their life cycle. We also have a photo ID system to build a database of the sea turtle populations in Mauritius and encourage guests to help!
Partnerships
To address the environmental challenges we are facing, we promote both local and regional collaborations. We signed 5 partnership agreements to study and help preserve humpback whales, sea turtles, and blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves and seagrasses).
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Globice
Created in 2001, Globice is an NGO dedicated to research on and conservation of cetaceans in Reunion Island and the Indian Ocean.
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 species in our region and strengthen the skills of local stakeholders. -
CEDTM and Kélonia
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.
TImOI project: In 2021, our team was trained by CEDTM and Kélonia 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. -
Wildlife Conservation Society
WCS is a New York based NGO. Its goal is to conserve the world's largest wild places in 14 priority regions, the Western Indian Ocean region being one of them.
QWIO project: a scientific assessment of underwater noise from shipping and maritime services and its effects on large cetaceans, sharks, and sea turtles in the Western Indian Ocean. The aim is to raise awareness about how we locally can help reduce this noise and protect humpback whales and other species around Mauritius. -
Odysseo Oceanarium
The first oceanarium in Mauritius, a hub for learning and exchanging on the ocean.
Project: raise awareness of the role and importance of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses). The aim is to improve the marine biodiversity of blue carbon ecosystems in Mauritius.
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Created in 2001, Globice is an NGO dedicated to research on and conservation of cetaceans in Reunion Island and the Indian Ocean.
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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.
WCS is a New York based NGO. Its goal is to conserve the world's largest wild places in 14 priority regions, the Western Indian Ocean region being one of them.
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The first oceanarium in Mauritius, a hub for learning and exchanging on the ocean.
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