Mississippi Aquarium Unveils Secrets of the Deep – Gulf of Mexico, Showcasing Mesophotic and Deep-Sea Habitats of the Gulf of Mexico

Mississippi Aquarium announces the grand opening of its Secrets of the Deep – Gulf of Mexico exhibit, a fascinating dive into life in the twilight and midnight zones of the Gulf of Mexico.

This new exhibit highlights the mesophotic and deep benthic coral communities that live beyond the sunlit surface of the Gulf and offers a uniquely immersive experience and brings guests face-to-face with animals rarely encountered 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 projects.

The Secrets of the Deep exhibit will provide guests with numerous ways to interact and engage with deep Gulf ecosystems. Features in this new exhibit include:

– A live coral exhibit showcasing rarely seen deep corals from the Gulf of Mexico, which were collected as part of ongoing restoration efforts.
– An immersive exhibit featuring 3D printed coral sculptures, with an augmented reality feature that showcases these habitats.
– Stunning, lifelike artwork featuring animals found in the mesophotic and deep Gulf of Mexico by Louisiana artist Robert Post.
– A walk-in deep-sea submersible featuring real underwater footage collected during restoration efforts. This feature is wheelchair accessible and fun for guests of all ages.
– An interactive kiosk that provides guests the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be part of the restoration team by identifying fascinating species along the seafloor and learning about deep-sea habitats and technology.

The Secrets of the Deep exhibit is free with Mississippi Aquarium admission and is located within the Aquatic Wonders building. For more information about the exhibit and Mississippi Aquarium’s conservation and education efforts, please visit https://www.msaquarium.org/.