Study Marine Life on The Oceanic

Sail away this September -- and October -- for a marine life meetup where you'll learn about your watery Long Island Sound neighbors. Take part in the Maritime Aquarium's Marine Life Study Cruise and set sail on the Oceanic, its research vessel. Participants help collect many types of marine life from different habitats. The two-and-a-half hour cruise also shows off the Aquarium's sophisticated Sound monitoring equipment. The videomicroscope gives a magnified view of wriggly plankton who hang around the water's surface. The biodredge visually explores the Sound's muddy bottom, catching snails, worms and tiny crabs in its sights.  And everyone gets to help pull up the trawl net with lots of creatures to see close up.Jack Schneider, the Aquarium’s curator of animals and programs director, points out there is more than fascinating exploration happening on each trip. “The cruises also have great value in showing participants that the Sound is very much alive and worthy of our protection,” he says.

The Maritime's Marine Life Study Cruises also add information to the Aquarium’s Long Island Sound Biodiversity Project, which tracks the Sound's physical features and fluctuations of its marine life. Horseshoe crab tagging, a project Sacred Heart University is undertaking, is also a component of the cruises.

The Oceanic departs at 1 p.m. daily, through August 31 and then at 1 p.m. every Saturday in September and October. Reservations are suggested though walk-ups tickets are available when space permits. Tickets are $20.50. For more information and reservations, visit the Aquarium's website.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.