Family Friendly Attractions & Events

Nestled amidst breathtaking natural surroundings, Moody Gardens offers a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement for guests of all ages for work or play. From tropical rainforests to the oceans of the world, a wide range of attractions, educational activities, kid's events, dining options, and exciting entertainment await. This island resort uniquely accommodates large conferences, weddings and social events as well as being the romantic escape and family destination where special memories are created.

Ocean Health

Ocean Health & Dive Medicine

Healthy coral reef at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

The Foundation of Our Oceans

Local Focus. Global Impact.

Ocean health is the foundation for all life on earth, regulating our climate and supporting vast marine ecosystems. At Moody Gardens, our commitment to protecting these waters extends far beyond our standard exhibits. The Moody Gardens Ocean Health & Dive Medicine Program supports scientific research with active fieldwork to address urgent environmental challenges. By developing strong local capabilities that can scale to any level in any region of the world, we create practical solutions paired with our mission to deliver support that provides meaningful local and global impact.

Research team deploying from a vessel in the Gulf of Mexico

Protecting the Flower Garden Banks

Fieldwork Inside a National Marine Sanctuary

The Gulf of Mexico contains incredible marine treasures that require constant monitoring and field research. Through an official partnership with NOAA, our program works directly inside the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Our teams head out into the Gulf to help management efforts of these nationally significant places, track changes, and remove harmful marine debris. Whether performing census surveys of marine life or helping to deploy and recover instrumentation, the scientific divers of Moody Gardens are well suited to any task. These are the efforts that matter, helping scientists and resource managers to safely collect their data and make their decisions that provide the use of these marine resources in a sustainable way for generations to come.

NOAA

Official Partnership

Gulf

of Mexico Fieldwork

Diver conducting deep reef coral research

Deep Reef Innovation

Planting Corals 200 Feet Down

As ocean temperatures rise, traditional shallow reefs face increasing survival challenges from severe heat stress. These areas also face the threat of harmful human activities like oil spills. To find lasting solutions, our program has begun to help restoration partners with solutions as well as complete the activity to plant corals more than 200 feet below sea level. This ground-breaking restoration effort tests whether deeper, cooler waters can serve as new areas for coral restoration efforts. By moving traditional coral restoration methods deeper and evolving them, we are pioneering brand-new ways to approach global reef restoration.

200+ ft

Below Sea Level

First

of-its-kind Study

Caring for corals inside the Moody Gardens Coral Rescue Lab

Connecting Our Community

The Coral Rescue Lab

Real progress happens when people can see conservation efforts happening right in front of them. Tucked directly inside the Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid is our working Coral Rescue Lab, a land-based nursery where we house and protect vulnerable corals in optimal conditions. By providing these coral species a place to thrive, our team continues to uncover improvements of how to care for corals despite the challenges they face in our oceans. Sharing these live, real-world triumphs inspires the next generation of ocean caretakers, researchers, and supporters to join our mission.

Join the Mission

There's a Place for You Beneath the Surface

Our oceans and the people who explore them depend on the choices we make today. The Moody Gardens Ocean Health & Dive Medicine Program thrives on the passion, expertise, and dedication of people just like you. Whether your interest lies in marine conservation, hyperbaric medicine, local volunteer opportunities, or scientific research, there is a distinct place for you in this growing community.