Recent News

Michael Douglas To Narrate “Ocean Vet” Series
Monday, December 22, 2014

Movie star Michael Douglas has agreed to work with Gass Productions and Ocean Vet to narrate the series on behalf of Dr. Neil Burnie, the producers revealed today.


2014 Reef Watch Report Presented To Minister
Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The 2014 Reef Watch Report was formally presented to Minister for Health, Seniors and Environment Jeanne Atherden and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary,Kevin Monkman, today [Dec 17].


BZS Names Their 2014 Volunteers Of The Year
Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] announced that Darlene Fortin and Marcus Bassett are their 2014 Volunteer of the Year recipients, with the two volunteers contributing over 400 hours to our organization.


Plan to protect turtles unveiled
Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Efforts to conserve resident populations of green and hawksbill turtles have been announced.


BZS educating students about ‘magnificent marine environment’
Thursday, December 04, 2014

Famed marine biologist, explorer and conservationist, Dr Sylvia Earle once said: “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea, no matter where on earth you live.”



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Latest News

All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!

Students get virtual lessons on ocean conservation
Royal Gazette - Sarah Lagan
Friday, April 09, 2021

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Students have been able to participate virtually in a programme teaching them about ocean conservation and how to be confident in the water.

Thanks to sponsorship from AXA XL, part of the Kids on the Reef programme for students attending public middle schools was able to take place online.

The Bermuda Zoological Society programme usually takes place over two days at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo and includes confined water and open water free-diving instruction, and classroom teaching.

During lockdown last spring owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers created a way to deliver content to students virtually.

Educators used video lessons, Zoom classes and pre-recorded instructional videos when conducting their online spring camp.

Alex Amat, BZS educator and Beth Neale, programme coordinator, used the same tactics to bring part of the programme to eight public school classes from Dellwood, Clearwater and Sandys, which included 120 students.

Dr Amat and Ms Neal used Zoom classes to teach the students breathing techniques, free-diving theory and stretches, and included lectures on ocean conservation to reinforce the students’ school curriculum.

They also produced instructional breathing class videos and video lectures for those unable to attend via Zoom.

Students still needed to complete the confined water and open water free-diving instructional portion of the programme.

In the fall of 2020, the relaxed government restrictions for Covid-19 enabled the programme coordinators to provide the in-water opportunity to 85 students from Dellwood Middle School, many of whom had previously completed the class components virtually.

For those students who had been unable to complete the virtual component in the spring, they were able to complete all segments of the programme on site at BAMZ.

Dr Amat said: “Meeting the students online allowed us to keep in touch with them and make them feel they were part of something larger and more tangible. They knew the in-water component would happen in the future, which was an incentive.

“It would not have happened without the commitment of their science teachers who understood the need to be flexible and approached the programme with an open mind.

“We are really grateful to our sponsor AXA XL for believing in us to create this virtual offering and enabling us to continue sharing our ocean passion.”