Rising sea levels, combined with the age of the facility, have prompted us to focus on major property infrastructure improvements to our seawalls. Thanks to a large donation, in 2023 we replaced half the seawall along the canal and resurfaced hundreds of yards of concrete dock. In 2025, a grant from the Monroe County Tourist Development Council allowed us to resurface the dock along the lagoon edge and replace a span that was almost unsupported.

Our most recent project is the creation of an additional pier, with a lift installed, that will allow people who depend on wheelchairs to get into the lagoon, whether they are SCUBA or snorkel students. This accessibility will allow many people to get into the ocean when they never have before! We are grateful to the donors who have supported this effort. Learn more about this and other efforts to make our programs more accessible.

A new boat is currently under construction to replace one of the older boats in our fleet.

We are also in the planning stages of a capital campaign to raise funds for a complete site redevelopment. Our main building was constructed in the 1970s as a boat storage barn; it has been renovated to create dorm rooms, offices, labs, and other support areas, but it is vulnerable to storms.