MarineLab Undersea Park & Museum

MarineLab Undersea Park & Museum: diving and marine education in Key Largo

MarineLab Undersea Park & Museum is the public face of Marine Resources Development Foundation (MRDF), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1970 in the US Virgin Islands by Ian G. Koblick. In its early years, MRDF worked closely with the governments of the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on the design of ocean policies, the launch of marine training programs, the operation of undersea labs, the improvement of fisheries techniques, the testing of new diving equipment, and the development of environmental management strategies and marine archaeological and commercial diving techniques.

The largest project was the design, implementation and management of the Puerto Rico International Undersea Laboratory (PRINUL), known as La Chalupa. Today that habitat is known as Jules' Undersea Lab, presented by the organization as the only place in the world where recreational divers can spend time in a working undersea habitat, whether for three hours or overnight.

History and move to Key Largo

In 1985, MRDF moved to Key Largo and began operating the MarineLab Undersea Laboratory (MUL), a smaller undersea habitat used primarily for student groups and researchers. In 2018, the MUL, known as the "little habitat", was returned to the surface and refurbished as a museum. Also in 1985, the organization launched the MarineLab Environmental Education Program for school groups on half of the campus, with school programs, teacher workshops, summer camps, virtual learning programs and free learning resources. In 2025, after 39 years as an undersea hotel, Jules', the lagoon surrounding it and the public side of the campus came under the management of MRDF.

Visitor activities

The park offers several water and educational experiences, all requiring advance reservations:

• Jules' Undersea Lab Tour: SCUBA dive in the undersea habitat, with a guided tour of the lagoon's artifacts. Minimum of 2 divers and maximum of 6. Listed price of $110 per diver plus tax, with tank and weights included and rental gear available. Sessions at 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM.
• Snorkel with a Marine Biologist: marine science instructors teach you how to snorkel and explain the undersea world. Ages 8 and up, $53 plus tax per person, minimum of 2 and maximum of 6 participants, with snorkel gear included. Sessions at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
• Overnight stay underwater in Jules' Undersea Lab: experience what it's like to live in the sea with meals included, unlimited diving in the lagoon from Jules' and optional specialties. The overnight stay runs from noon to noon the following day. Online booking was announced as coming soon; the organization provides the phone number 305-451-2353 for information.
• Dive the Lagoon: a space aimed at instructors and dive shops for certification classes, from open water to instructor. It is presented as an open water location that is not affected by most weather conditions. Access for divers and snorkelers with limited mobility was announced as coming soon.

Museum and shop

The Undersea Lab Museum lets you see what it was like to live and work in the sea without getting wet, with free admission during park hours. The gift shop and museum are open Thursday to Tuesday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the lagoon operates every day during the same hours.

Partnerships and ownership

MarineLab Undersea Park partners with Ocean First Key Largo for SCUBA instruction services and dive gear rentals. For group environmental education programs, it refers to the MarineLab Environmental Education Center. MarineLab Undersea Park & Museum and Jules' Undersea Lab are owned and operated by Marine Resources Development Foundation Inc. dba MarineLab, a 501(c)3 organization with Florida charitable solicitation license CH113.

Location and contact

51 Shoreland Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037 · Phone: (305)451-2353 · Email: info@marinelabunderseapark.org