DAUPHIN ISLAND — The Alabama Aquarium will soon premiere expanded offerings for young visitors and those interested in the deep sea.

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) announced plans for upcoming renovations to the aquarium, including a discovery lab for younger visitors and a room highlighting a journey to the deep sea. This round of construction is working as the next phase of improvements planned for DISL following their previous renovations to the aquarium, which included upgrades to the four main galleries as well as the construction of a scientific pool. Both were completed in July 2023.

While most of the aquarium highlights the Mobile Bay Watershed and other local marine life, the upcoming Journey to the Deep Sea room will feature animals beyond the shores of coastal Alabama. Mendel Graeber, Alabama Aquarium educator, said this will be the aquarium's first exhibit with the intention of highlighting the deep sea.

Graeber also said the goal is to convey how different factors such as light, sound and pressure effect life in the deep.

"There are some interesting elements to think about and organisms to examine that are less familiar to people because they're less well known," Graeber said.

Graeber said the future Deep Sea Room is currently the tech room that features a large multi-touch screen highlighting things that are "difficult to recreate in a tank."

Another renovation project will improve the Little Billy Goat Hole, which currently serves as a children's play area. Graeber said that, with the upgrades, younger visitors will be able to participate in hands-on learning activities related to the aquarium.

The interactive children's discovery lab plans to have an extended play area alongside simulated scientific processes, such as getting an x-ray of an animal, looking at samples under a microscope, tagging animals for research and other lab-based activities to help kids study and learn about local marine life.

While no specific date is set for completion at this time, the ideas for the Journey to the Deep Sea and Little Billy Goat Hole have officially made it through the planning phase. DISL also plans to renovate their on-campus dorms and outdoor classroom starting this fall.