Ocean Discovery Center and Exhibits

A wall of blue-colored panels with information about life on an ocean reef.
Visitors to locations across the southeast U.S. can learn about Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: Ben Prueitt/NOAA

Many museums, visitor centers, zoos, and aquaria around the southeastern United States have exhibits dedicated to Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. The exhibits offer visitors an opportunity to explore and learn about the resources and connections of the underwater park.

Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center
Savannah, Georgia

340 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Savannah, GA 31401

912-598-2345, phone option 7

Admission: Free

Hours

Wednesday–Friday

10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Located in downtown Savannah, Georgia, the Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Discovery Center features interactive exhibits for you to explore the wonders of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Visitors can learn about the live-bottom habitats teeming with ocean life, take virtual dives, and learn their personal role in protecting one of our nation's remarkable underwater treasures. The Discovery Store presented by Coastal Heritage Society welcomes you to support your sanctuary with ocean- and Earth-friendly toys, gifts, and books.

Upcoming Events at the Ocean Discovery Center

Ongoing Events

Coastal Flora and Fauna Art Exhibit

Coastal Flora and Fauna Art Exhibit at the UGA Aquarium

The exhibition features 10 pieces created by students at Savannah College of Art and Design. The students were inspired by their visit to the University of Georgia Aquarium on Skidaway Island, where they were introduced to marine life as well as coastal habitats and wildlife found on the facility's nature trail which traverses maritime forest and salt marsh habitat. These coastal habitats are nurseries for many species that live at offshore habitats like Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

Share the Wonder! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

An illustration of hand raising in front of an ocean scape next to marine animal arms. A text overlay reads: Share the Wonder

Volunteers are needed to open the Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center and help our community learn about the wonders of our oceans along the Georgia Coast. The two volunteer roles–Visitor Specialists and Interpreter Guides–are the first faces guests will see when entering the Ocean Discovery Center.

Visitor Specialists welcome guests, share information about Gray's Reef, and support public programs and events. Visitor Specialists are crucial to center guests learning how they can connect, discover, and explore at Gray’s Reef.

Interpreter Guides help bring deeper meaning to the sanctuary with storytelling or connections we have to the ocean and coastal environments. Guides are trained to lead interpretive programs and activities about the ocean, and facilitate guest interactions with exhibits and activities.

Share the Wonder invites you to support your national marine sanctuary by volunteering your time and help open the Ocean Discovery Center to our coastal southeast communities. Contact the sanctuary volunteer coordinator to schedule a time to learn more and sign up to volunteer.

Contact: Ben Prueitt, 912-598-2434 (call or text), ben.prueitt@noaa.gov

Mary Quinn, 912-598-2417 (call or text), mary.quinn@noaa.gov

Share the Wonder Volunteer Information

Opening Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center
340 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, Georgia

Dive Deeper-become a Center Interpreter Guide

Interpreter Guides are trained, either formally or informally, to facilitate learning. Guides are trained to lead interpretive programs and activities about the ocean, and facilitate guest interactions with exhibits and activities.

What to bring: To get started as a volunteer with Gray's Reef, bring two forms of ID-for example a valid driver’s license, AND a US Passport, OR birth certificate, OR social security card. Gray's Reef staff will help sign you up as a volunteer and answer questions.

Who can volunteer: Any U.S. Citizen, 16 years of age or older. Volunteers should plan to serve a minimum of two 4-hour shifts per month at the Center. Click here for more volunteer information.

Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center Ribbon Cutting and Dedication

Saturday, October 15, 2022

The Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center was dedicated on October 15th, 2022 by the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and City of Savannah. Emceeing the dedication ceremony was Whitney Gilliard, with guest speakers

  1. John Armor, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries,
  2. Allison Alexander, Vice President, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation,
  3. Nick Palumbo, District Alderman, City of Savannah,
  4. Matt Brookhart, Regional Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries,
  5. Stan Rogers, Superintendent, Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary,
  6. Cathy Sakas,
  7. Chris Williams, Site Coordinator, Deep Center,
  8. Jody Patterson, Gray's Reef Chapter Director, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

In the week following the ceremony and ribbon cutting, sanctuary staff and volunteers hosted a public open house with free programs, activities, and giveaways of posters, stickers, and magnets available to all guests.

A group of people stand in front of the Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center as part of the building dedication ceremony.
The Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center was dedicated on October 15th, 2022. Photo: NOAA

Other Exhibits

Curvy Wave Walls

A curved exhibit with a history timeline of Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

A series of five exhibits explore the wonders of Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary including scientific research, life at the sanctuary, recreation, history of the sanctuary, and about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This exhibit is currently displayed at Charleston Public Libraries in Charleston, South Carolina through July 2024. Library programs accompany the exhibits throughout the summer with more information at the link above.

  • Main Library (68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401) - History + Habitat, Recreation + Community, NOAA Mission + History
  • Baxter-Patrick James Island (1858 South Grimball Road, Charleston, SC 29412) - Research + Fishes, Invertebrates + Megafauna

Coastal Heritage Society

Savannah Visitor Center
301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Savannah, GA 31401

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary partners with the Coastal Heritage Society to create a major exhibit in downtown Savannah associated with the Children's Museum that will educate the public on coastal and marine topics including the role of marine protected areas such as Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary in conserving and protecting these resources for future generations. It features next generation interactive touch tables and exhibits.


Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Tybee Island, Georgia

Tybee Island Marine Science Center
37 Meddin Dr.
Tybee Island, GA 31328

Year-round programs for island visitors, scouts, and school groups on the beach, in the marsh, on the water, in the classroom, and the Coastal Gallery. The Tybee Island Marine Science Center's mission is to shape a responsible stewardship of Coastal Georgia's natural resources through marine science-based education, conservation, and research.

Gray's Reef theme: Tides, currents, and ocean observations.


University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium (MAREX)
Skidaway Island, near Savannah, Georgia

University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium (MAREX)
30 Ocean Science Cir.
Savannah, GA 31411

Visitors can explore exhibits featuring over 200 marine animals typical of the habitats found along the Georgia coast.

Gray's Reef theme: Life on the seafloor


The Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Atlanta, Georgia

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30307

Fernbank's signature exhibition, A Walk Through Time in Georgia, tells the two-fold story of Georgia's natural history and the development of our planet. Fifteen galleries combine with theaters and dioramas to explain this complex and fascinating story.

Gray's Reef theme: Creatures of Gray's Reef


Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Visitor's Center
Sapelo Island, Georgia

Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve Visitor's Center
1766 Landing Rd.
Sapelo Island GA 31327

The Sapelo Island Visitors Center serves as a key distribution point for information about educational opportunities and tourism activities such as public and group tours on Sapelo Island and how coastal ecosystems link to research and monitoring within the Reserve. Mainland ferry dock in Meridian, Georgia.


South Carolina Aquarium
Charleston, South Carolina

South Carolina Aquarium
100 Aquarium Wharf
Charleston, SC 29401

Be entertained by an intimate look at many of South Carolina's native animals and plants as your journey through the Aquarium takes you from the mountains to the sea.
Gray's Reef theme: Human impacts - marine debris and overfishing