Conservation
Plunk and Mettwurst Update
Plunk and Mettwurst are leaving our facility and heading back to Sea World! They will be heading back there to finish out the last few months of their rehabilitation and acclimation before they are re-released. Both Plunk and Mettwurst are still on track for their winter release date and we will continue to post updates Read More
Read MoreNew Exhibit – Mangrove Terrapins!
Come check out the newest residents of Aquarium Encounters, the Mangrove Terrapins! This subspecies of the Diamondback Terrapin is found almost exclusively in the Florida Keys. Unlike their freshwater cousins, these animals inhabit salt and brackish water. Terrapins also typically spend more time on land than freshwater turtles so this exhibit has plenty of space Read More
Read MoreReef Renewal – Anchor Installation
Divers from Dynasty Marine, Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, R3EACH and Reef Renewal USA in partnership with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently worked with Ken Nedimyer to install anchors for a brand new coral nursery. Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, is now the Director of Reef Renewal International working to Read More
Read MoreNew Year Resolutions
Hurricane Irma – One Year Later
After reopening December 15th, 2017 from hurricane Irma our aquarium and staff had a great year in 2018! We participated and assisted in three manatee rescues, successfully certified kids in our NAUI summer camp program, reached the half way point on our Great Hammerhead Project fundraising, and educated thousands of guests on marine life and Read More
Read MoreRocking Success!
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support our first ever fundraiser concert at the aquarium! Our Rockerama was a rocking success and we could not have pulled it off without all of your support. The event featured live music from local musicians, silent auction items from local businesses and a 50/50 Read More
Read MoreOut reach
Aquarium Encounters has been doing a lot of work out of the “office” lately! Our staff has been fortunate enough to be invited to a few outreach programs dedicated on educating children on science and marine life. Our main goal at the aquarium is education, through awareness, and we love sharing our knowledge of our Read More
Read MoreR3EACH – update
In the past few months we have been privileged to be a part of a manatee rescue, and a manatee transport. Both of these events have been an amazing start to what we are looking to accomplish with our nonprofit organization. The main goals of R3EACH are to help our local species of marine life Read More
Read MoreShark Bait OoHaHa!
July was all about sharks! Even though July 14th was Shark Awareness Day, and July 22nd-29th was Shark Week, the conversation does not end there. These amazing apex predators are often feared by humans, but in reality, we have the largest impact on their populations. Research shows you are more likely to get hit by Read More
Read MoreRecycle today for a better tomorrow!
The first week of July was Clean beaches week, but here at Aquarium Encounters , we believe every day should be Clean Beaches day! Aquarium Encounters is always trying to do our part when it comes to recycling and staying green; on land at the beach, at the aquarium, or on our days off on the Read More
Read MoreThe Great Hammerhead Project – Be In The Know!
The great hammerhead shark is currently on the red list (endangered) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Overfishing, shark finning, and the loss of critical food resources are some suspected causes for their decline. Depriving future generations of such an iconic species would be tragic. Learn more at www.greathammerheadstudy.org Do you know about our Read More
Read MorePlan your End of Year School Field Trip at the Aquarium!
Looking for an exciting end of year adventure for your Child’s School Field Trip? At Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, we love welcoming school groups at our interactive aquarium in the heart of the Florida Keys.
Read MoreClose Encounters with Ben Daughtry
The Journey to create Aquarium Encounters As a local Marathon business, we are proud of our homegrown roots. Aquarium Encounters began as a dream in our founder, Ben Daughtry’s mind, almost 20 years ago. After an exciting trip to an interactive aquarium in Curaçao in 1996, Ben imagined how great it would be to have a Read More
Read MoreGive a hoot! Don't Pollute!
Did you know that marine debris is a HUGE problem for environmentally sensitive ocean ecosystems like those found here in the fabulous Florida Keys? Trash and other debris that makes its way into our oceans can create serious challenges for marine life and the overall health of our aquatic environments. According to NOAA Marine Research: Read More
Read MoreOur New Arrival!
We have exciting news this week at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters! Rupert and Emma, our Florida Box Turtles, welcomed a hatchling into the world on 7/14/15 and Baby Boxie is now strong enough to be on exhibit at our park in Marathon. Baby Boxie may be tiny now, but (s)he will grow up to be 6+ Read More
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