Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Dauphin Island Sea Lab The state of Alabama's marine education and research center. The research programs of the DISL range from biogeochemistry and oceanography to ecosystem ecology.

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's University Programs (UP) serves Alabama's 21 four-year colleges and universities through summer college courses and graduate programs. Discovery Hall Programs (DHP) encompasses K-12 field programs, teacher-training, and public engagement. The BayMobile, DISL's traveling classroom, allows Sea Lab educators to bring marine science lessons to schools all across the state.

The Estuarium, the public aquarium of the DISL, focuses solely on the Mobile-Tensaw Estuary System, and offers a variety of hands on exhibits including the Rays of the Bay Tank, creature table, and and touch tank. Most of our research focuses on the near-shore and estuarine processes of the northern Gulf of Mexico, however, field sites of our internationally-renowned faculty also include Mexico, Australia, and Croatia and other countries. DISL offers state and local government, industry and agency decision makers a range of coastal zone management services. One of key contributors to coastal zone management is the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, which falls within the DISL’s numerous programs. DISL is also the home of a nationally acclaimed data management center. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Executive Director is Dr. John Valentine.

Great update!!
08/25/2026

Great update!!

Looking forward to having space for more students in 2027!
08/22/2026

Looking forward to having space for more students in 2027!

Mark your calendar to join us!
08/21/2026

Mark your calendar to join us!

Join us in September as we celebrate where rivers meet the sea and all the incredible features that make the Mobile Bay estuary system unique. We’ll have a different activity each day throughout the week, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore the plants, animals, habitats, and natural processes that make our estuary so important!

Welcome to campus, grad students!!
08/21/2026

Welcome to campus, grad students!!

The Marine Ecology class, taught by Dr. Katrina Phillips, kicked off the first fall semester at DISL with a sea turtle r...
08/21/2026

The Marine Ecology class, taught by Dr. Katrina Phillips, kicked off the first fall semester at DISL with a sea turtle release on the West End beach this week.

The students saw a small juvenile Kemp’s ridley and a large juvenile loggerhead released. Both of these turtles had been hooked by recreational fishers in Alabama.

The students were able to chat with the sea turtle rehab team from the Mississippi Aquarium that cared for the animals. Later this semester, they will visit the aquarium to see the rehab facility in person.

08/21/2026
08/21/2026

We’re proud to partner with the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program to help protect and restore this beautiful ecosystem. On Saturday, August 29, from 9 a.m.–noon, volunteers will help plant marsh grasses along the newly rebuilt Bellingrath Spit at Bebee Point—and we need 20 helping hands!

Come ready to get a little wet and dirty. Long sleeves and pants are recommended, and closed-toe, closed-heel shoes are required. RSVP linked in the comments.

08/21/2026

What’s in the Water Wednesday? It’s one of our aquarists, Dakota!

Dakota is performing routine maintenance on our shark and stingray touch tank, an important part of keeping the animals healthy and their environment in good condition.

This tank is one of our largest and has a pretty cool feature: a geothermal heating and cooling system! This system circulates freshwater through underground pipes that go down 120 feet, where the water reaches a steady temperature of around 70°F. A heat exchanger then transfers that temperature to the tank’s saltwater, helping keep it cool during the hot summer months and warm during the winter.

This system helps maintain a stable, comfortable environment for our sharks and stingrays while also reducing our energy use.

To learn more or to feel the water yourself, join us at the Alabama Aquarium!

What a fun summer!
08/20/2026

What a fun summer!

NEW PODCAST! Zoom in on the mighty diatom with Dr. Jeffrey Krause.
08/19/2026

NEW PODCAST! Zoom in on the mighty diatom with Dr. Jeffrey Krause.

DISL’s Senior Marine Scientist Dr. Jeff Krause introduces us to the tiny organisms that form the foundation of ocean food webs and play a surprisingly big role in our everyday lives.

Address

101 Bienville Boulevard
Dauphin Island, AL
36528

Telephone

+12518612141

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