Marine Resources Classroom/Laboratory Underwater Classroom of Tomorrow

The design, emplacement, and operation of a No-decompression underwater classroom/ laboratory are discussed. The Marine Resources Underwater Classroom/Laboratory is sixteen feet long and eight feet in diameter and capable of sustaining four divers for missions up to three days in duration. The facility is owned and operated by the Marine Resources Development Foundation (MRDF) and the laboratory science program is managed by the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO). Located in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the facility is available for use in support of marine science and engineering educational programs at the university, community college and secondary school levels, allowing students to participate in a variety of scientific, engineering, or ecological projects. Operations are oriented not only toward the collection of data relevant to the understanding of the local ecosystem but also toward providing the marine science community with an educational experience previously unavailable.