Living Art Marine Center’s guided tours explore wild side of reefs

Spend a summer morning exploring tide pools and shallow reefs for a chance to see sea cucumbers, sea urchins, hermit crabs, pufferfish and moray eels (oh my!), and maybe even turtles and monk seals from a distance.

Living Art Marine Center offers 90-minute guided reef walks, where participants can wade in up-to-knee-deep water with experienced naturalists and marine biologists.

The program often books quickly because it’s so popular.

“It’s different than seeing an animal in a tank, and it’s real easy and fun to spot animals as a group,” said reef walk guide Bill “Uncle Bill” Barney.

“People also tell me it makes it more fun because there is someone there who can explain what animal they are seeing, and tell which are safe to touch.”

“It’s fun to teach people where to find the animals, but also how to take care of the ocean,” Barney said. “I like to teach people ways to enjoy the animals without destroying their homes.”