About Marine Discovery Center
The Marine Discovery Center is a nonprofit education and eco tour organization on the Indian River Lagoon in New Smyrna Beach, about 30 minutes south of Daytona Beach. Its mission is protecting one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America, and its public tours put visitors on the water with trained naturalists rather than conventional tour guides.
The flagship boat trips run aboard the Discovery, a 40-passenger pontoon vessel, with eco cruises, lighthouse dolphin cruises, sunset trips, and seasonal full moon tours exploring the lagoon's dolphin pods, manatees, mangrove islands, and rookeries. Two-hour guided kayak eco tours thread through mangrove tunnels, salt marsh, and oyster reefs, with all equipment provided and no experience required. Back on shore, the center's indoor exhibits, aquariums, and nature trails round out a visit, and camps and field trips serve thousands of students each year.
Because tour revenue funds habitat restoration, oyster reef building, and water quality research, a ticket here does double duty as conservation support. The naturalist-led format means guests come away understanding what they saw, not just having seen it, which earns the center consistently outstanding reviews. Schedules and tickets for boat and kayak tours are posted on the center's website.
