In the three years since its opening, the Discovery Center (DC) has grown a staggering amount. Not so much in square footage, in impact. With a mission to foster a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through restoration and education, the DC team is pushing forward each year with new classes, field trips, exhibits, and determination to make marine science accessible to everyone.

Our fall/winter internship program is robust and if you or someone you know is considering a career in marine conservation, environmental science, or biology - we have amazing opportunities for hands-on experiences. The skill sets learned with Tampa Bay Watch could lead to elevated resumes and even jobs!

Why are we scared of sharks? Chances are you’ve seen a shark-related movie and at least some of your feelings about these large ocean predators stem from what you saw. There’s even a term for it; the “Jaws effect”.

Get ready to meet the new Snakes of the Essstuary at the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center! Some of our native snakes look venomous but they are actually harmless. Learn how to tell the difference!

Tampa Bay Watch Director of Education Katie Mastenbrook explains how a 7-day field course at a shark lab in Bimini, Bahamas is helping her teach local students to conquer their fear of sharks.

Many notable marine conservation organizations have headquarters located in Florida, including Tampa Bay Watch, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, and the Audubon Society.

Here is a list of frequently asked questions about our newest eco-vessel tour, Sandbar Snorkel Excursions. Learn what animals you’ll find, what you should bring, and where in Tampa Bay we’ll go.

My wife and I have the ugliest lawn in our neighborhood. At my house, there is no scrambling to enhance grass. We do not kill weeds or plants that can be perceived as nuisances. We also don’t spray weed killers or pesticides to deter growth in the sidewalk or kill insects, and we don’t water our lawn. A point we are quite proud of.

Learning how to fish and care for the environment fish live in, is a great way to connect with each other and our beautiful Tampa Bay estuary. This family-friendly program will teach you how to tie a knot, catch and release, and what bait to use. No fishing gear needed!

Our summer sandbar snorkeling excursions are all about discovering things you may have never seen before, right here in the Tampa Bay shallows. Snorkel in our calm clear waters and find crabs, sea stars, sponges, and fish galore!

Students from Meadowlawn Middle School created water stories based on an interview with the Discovery Center’s Education Coordinator, Zoe Caraffi.

During this time of year, when you go to the beach you may see some dead animals wash up on shore. Why is that? This is due to the phenomenon called red tide. Red tide is a type of algal bloom that is free-floating through the water.

Keep an eye out for the invasive Burmese Python as it slowly begins to make its way north. Invasive species are those that are non-native and cause ecological destruction to the ecosystem they are invading.

Florida is home to 27 different native species of frogs. This is due to Florida’s ideal living conditions for amphibians and reptiles.

The species found in our bay are endless, but one unique creature is the Cownose ray. This type of stingray is important to the ecosystem and has an interesting relationship with humans that also inhabit the bay.

The Tampa Bay watershed is home to a wide variety of fish species, many of these being killifish. There are a total of 10 ‘killifish’ species that call Tampa Bay their home.

Meet our touch tank volunteer, Gus Larussa!

Students at Shorecrest Preparatory School were recently presented with a unique challenge — to produce a short video about the Tampa Bay watershed. Despite poor weather conditions and limited class time, they created excellent work. You can view the results and learn a few interesting facts about our local ecosystem below!

Last month kicked off the start of the manatee season. Beginning in November, manatees move into springs and estuaries like Tampa Bay where water temperatures are much more constant than in the Gulf of Mexico.

When someone says to name a pink bird what bird do you immediately think of? Flamingo? Me too. However, another wading bird deserves all the fame and glory.