Marine Lab in Key Largo is inviting families to experience a spooky underwater adventure during its annual Haunted Lagoon event on Friday, October 24.
The free event will run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Marine Lab Undersea Park, located at 51 Shoreland Drive, mile marker 103.2 Oceanside.
Anne Dinsmore of Marine Lab joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the lab.
The event will be an evening filled with Halloween activities, marine science and underwater scares. This year’s theme is “The Sirens’ Curse,” featuring a live mermaid swimming through the lagoon.
The main attraction will allow participants to snorkel through a decorated lagoon designed to resemble a haunted house beneath the water.
“Participants will actually snorkel through the lagoon,” Dinsmore said. “You’ll be led by one of our instructors, all certified lifeguards, and we will guide you through the lagoon.”
The underwater experience will include decorations and people positioned throughout the lagoon to surprise and frighten participants along the way.
Those who prefer to stay dry can still enjoy a variety of Halloween games and activities on land. Dinsmore said some activities will incorporate science, reflecting Marine Lab’s educational mission.
The event will also feature free food, and visitors will have the opportunity to explore Marine Lab’s underwater habitat museum. The exhibit offers a look at what it was like for aquanauts to live underwater.
Dinsmore said new snorkelers should not be discouraged from participating, as instructors can take extra time to help them feel comfortable in the water.
Admission is free thanks to generous sponsors. Donations and other proceeds from the event will benefit Marine Lab’s Saltwater Superheroes Fund, which allows Monroe County students to attend Marine Lab programs at no cost.
Marine Lab is a marine science education facility that hosts school groups from across the country. Students learn about local marine ecosystems through classroom activities and hands-on experiences, including boat trips and snorkeling excursions.
“All of our local schools have the opportunity to come completely free of cost,” Dinsmore said.
The facility also offers public programs, including its Snorkel with a Marine Biologist experience, which combines guided snorkeling with an on-land laboratory activity. Monthly family days give local families additional opportunities to explore marine science.
Marine Lab also accommodates groups through its classrooms, laboratories, boats, dormitories and cafeteria, providing educational opportunities for school groups and other organizations.
Dinsmore said the goal is to inspire people to appreciate marine ecosystems and potentially encourage future careers in marine science.
Organizers encourage attendees to visit marinelab.org and complete the required waiver before arriving to help save time at the event.
With underwater decorations, Halloween games, free food and a mermaid waiting in the lagoon, Marine Lab’s Haunted Lagoon offers families a chance to celebrate Halloween while learning more about the ocean and the organization’s educational mission.