Wahoo Bay: A Unique Marine Experience in Pompano Beach
Wahoo Bay, located near Hillsboro Inlet Park in Pompano Beach, Florida, is a project designed to combine education with marine conservation. Developed by Shipwreck Park, Inc., the park offers visitors an opportunity to learn about marine ecosystems while enjoying an underwater experience. The park’s shallow waters are home to interactive art installations, submerged to engage visitors in a unique way. These installations are accessible to people of all ages and abilities, making Wahoo Bay an inclusive destination. The project emphasizes the importance of protecting natural resources, particularly coral reefs and other marine habitats. Through educational programs and hands-on experiences, Wahoo Bay fosters a connection between people and the ocean.
The park offers immersive learning experiences for students and the public, focusing on the significance of marine ecosystems. Broward County schools can schedule field trips to Wahoo Bay, providing students with a chance to study local marine life in a real-world setting. These field trips are already approved by the county and include both in-water activities and onshore lessons. For those outside the school system, the park offers similar educational opportunities, making marine science accessible to a broader audience. Onshore, Wahoo Bay features open-air classrooms and interactive displays, encouraging visitors to learn about conservation efforts in an engaging environment. For more information on educational programs, visit the Wahoo Bay website.
At the heart of Wahoo Bay’s conservation efforts is the SEAHIVE™ system, an innovative shoreline protection structure. Developed by scientists at the University of Miami, SEAHIVE™ helps reduce wave energy, preventing erosion and protecting the shoreline. In addition to its protective function, SEAHIVE™ creates habitats for marine life, including coral and other species vital to the health of the ocean. This system plays a central role in Wahoo Bay’s mission to restore and enhance the local marine ecosystem. By combining human-made structures with natural solutions, SEAHIVE™ demonstrates how engineering can support environmental conservation. This technology is key to Wahoo Bay’s ongoing efforts to preserve marine habitats.
Construction of Wahoo Bay began in 2023, with the park expected to be fully operational by mid-2024. Once open, the park will feature live webcams and underwater sensors that provide real-time data on water quality and other environmental factors. These tools will allow both visitors and researchers to monitor the health of the bay, contributing to ongoing conservation efforts. The live feeds will be accessible online, making the underwater world of Wahoo Bay visible to anyone with an internet connection. In addition to its educational role, this technology helps raise awareness of the challenges facing marine ecosystems. To stay updated on the park’s progress, you can follow their developments on the Shipwreck Park website.
Wahoo Bay is part of a broader initiative to address environmental challenges affecting coastal communities. The park is designed not just as a local attraction but as a model for how marine conservation can be integrated into community spaces. Through its educational programs, Wahoo Bay aims to inspire visitors to take an active role in protecting the ocean. By providing direct interaction with marine life, the park encourages a deeper understanding of the importance of conservation. This hands-on approach is intended to create lasting awareness and motivate action to protect fragile marine environments. Learn more about Wahoo Bay’s mission and initiatives at wahoobay.org.