Interested in having your photo featured? Email graysreef@noaa.gov for more information!

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary February Recap

Earth is Blue Block Party Celebrates Newly Reimagined Exhibits

The day to unveil the newly reimagined exhibits at the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center finally arrived! With over 600 guests throughout the day, local partner organizations with educational booths and activities, delicious food and music, and our immersive exhibits, it was the event of the year! Bringing all of our partners, volunteers, friends, colleagues, and community members together to celebrate the wonders of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary directly increases awareness and fosters stewardship for this incredible offshore resource. We would like to thank everyone that came out and celebrated this magical day with us!

Plan your visit at the Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center by visiting our website!

SCAD Serves volunteer dressed as the shark mascot, promoting excitement for the day. Photo: Danielle Oxman/NOAA

Gray’s Reef staff leading the “Sanctuary Scientist” activity. Photo: Danielle Oxman/NOAA

Gray’s Reef Staff Works With Local University 

Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD) is one of the local institutions in the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary headquarters area of Savannah, GA. As part of an innovative research project, a group of SCAD students are investigating restoration efforts on coral reefs. Gray’s Reef staff connected the students with our friends at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for coral restoration knowledge, however the students were eager to learn about their live-bottom habitats. The students met with the Gray's Reef Superintendent and Resource Protection Coordinator, to discuss the ins and outs of protecting a live-bottom habitat. After the interview, the students immersed themselves into the sanctuary through a virtual dive and walked through the newly reimagined Discovery Center. Interested in talking to a member of our team? Email us at graysreef@noaa.gov.

SCAD students and Gray Reef staff explore the Ocean Discovery Center. Photo: Danielle Oxman/NOAA

The Ocean Discovery Center Joins Georgia Museums in Super Museum Sunday!

Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center participated in Georgia’s statewide annual Super Museum Sunday for the fourth time. Super Museum Sunday, organized by the Georgia Historical Society, is an outreach initiative for the annual Georgia History Festival, where museums, visitor centers, aquariums and more across the state open their doors for free to encourage communities to learn about the amazing nature, history, and culture that the state has to offer. Visitors were welcomed by NOAA’s to-scale North Atlantic right whale calf, Lefty, and guided around the center by Gray’s Reef staff and volunteers to view the new exhibits. Despite the chillier weather, the center welcomed over 350 visitors during the event to learn about Gray’s Reef, and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, Georgia’s official state marine mammal!

NOAA’s right whale, Lefty, greets visitors to the Ocean Discovery Center for Super Museum Sunday. Photo: Danielle Oxman/NOAA

Upcoming Events with Gray's Reef

Gray's Reef at CoastFest: March 21st, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ET)

Location: Mary Ross Waterfront Park, 10 F Street, Brunswick, Georgia.

Find Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary's activity table at CoastFest 2026, an exciting free annual event celebrating Georgia's coastline hosted by the Coastal Resources Division! Learn more about the event here.

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting: April 15th, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (ET)

Location: Marine Resources Research Institute Auditorium, 217 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412

The meeting is free and open to the public for in-person attendance or virtual attendance via an on-line GoToWebinar registration link. Learn more on our Council News and Actions page.

Gray's Reef Southeast Regional MATE ROV Competition: May 2nd, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ET)

Location: Chatham County Aquatics Center, 7240 Sallie Moon Mood Dr., Savannah, Georgia

Organized by NOAA Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary and Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, middle and high school students build their own underwater robots and compete to win a chance at advancing to the national competition. Learn more about the competition here.

Find Us Online:

Follow Us on Social Media:

Facebook: graysreefsanctuary

Instagram: @graysreefnms