Program Overview

Introduction to the Medina Aquarius Program

The Medina Aquarius Program is a global beacon for marine conservation, exploration, and discovery, featuring the FIU Aquarius Reef Base, the world's only underwater research laboratory. For more than three decades, Aquarius has served as an underwater observatory for monitoring ocean health. Unparalleled in its capabilities, Aquarius also serves as a training and testing hub for NASA, the United States Navy, and even technology companies.

Program Highlights

• 800+ research papers supported
• 153 saturation missions to date
• 462 aquanauts and counting

Beneath the Waves, Toward the Future

Deployed 60 feet beneath the surface of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, FIU Aquarius gives scientists the gift of time. Saturation in Aquarius affords researchers significantly more dive time, which translates into even more research time. This globally significant asset provides unparalleled means to study the ocean, test and develop state-of-the-art technology, train specialized divers and astronauts, and engage in the world of ocean science and exploration.

About FIU Aquarius

Learn more about FIU Aquarius, including the reef base, shore base, history of the program, and our leadership team.

Our Missions

Explore the types of missions conducted at FIU Aquarius and learn about some of our latest research.

Working with Us

FIU Aquarius is an ideal platform for research, advanced training, and technology testing and development.

Support Aquarius

Help build the future in ocean health, technology, and space exploration with the Medina Aquarius Program.

Legacy of Impact

Transforming the world's understanding of our oceans.

• Establishment of the world's deepest coral nursery, searching for solutions to the catastrophic loss of corals worldwide
• Investigating the role seagrasses play in protecting reefs and mitigating ocean acidification
• Investigating sharks' impacts on coral reefs to inform reef and shark protection
• Expanding research on how large predators structure coral reef ecosystems
• FIU selected as lead research partner for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
• Virtual tours and live chats with aquanauts for more than 1 million schoolchildren

News

• FIU Aquarius and Tekmara partner to apply AI under the sea
• He drove 1,000 miles for seagrass, now he advocates for 10,000 miles of coastline
• FIU celebrates the legacy of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen with launch of fellowship program
• FIU research, innovation take center stage at eMerge Americas
• FIU team ups with world-renowned marine conservationist to spotlight South Florida's coastal ecosystems
• Aquarius operations director considers worst-case scenarios surrounding the missing submersible