Marine Life Study Cruises

Cruise out for close encounters with crabs, fish, lobsters and always a few surprises when you come aboard the research vessel Oceanic for The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk’s new season of Marine Life Study Cruises.
 These exciting outings reveal what is, to many, a surprising diversity of marine life just off our shores in Long Island Sound.  Aquarium educators put participants to work in collecting and examining animals from all levels of the water column:  tiny wriggly plankton gathered at the surface (and viewed with a videomicroscope), little crabs and worms grabbed from the muddy bottom, and an always-unique variety of fish, crabs, lobsters and surprises brought up in the Oceanic’s trawl net.
 Starting April 24, Marine Life Study Cruises will occur at 1 p.m. Saturdays through June 26.  Beginning July 1, they’ll depart at 1 p.m. daily through August.  (For the full schedule, go online to www.maritimeaquarium.org/cruises.html.)
 Weekday chartered cruises are available for school groups.
Tickets for a Marine Life Study Cruise are $20.50, or $18.50 for Aquarium members.
Maritime Aquarium Study Cruises are good for ages 8 and older.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Space on the Oceanic is limited so advance reservations are strongly recommended.  Walk-up tickets will be sold, space permitting. The cruises depart from the dock outside the Aquarium’s IMAX movie theater.