Modern teaching and sophisticated research facilities are available both on campus and at the field station. A department library specializing in marine science publications is located at the main campus. The field station is on 18 acre Magueyes Island within a protected embayment off La Parguera, 22 miles from Mayagüez. In addition to classroom and laboratory facilities, the marine station has indoor and outdoor aquaria and tanks with running sea water and three museums containing reference collections of fish, invertebrates, and algae.  Boats include the 127 foot R/V Chapman, a 51 foot Thompson trawler; a 35 foot diesel Downeast; and a number of small and medium sized open boats. Research facilities for warm water aquaculture include some 8 acres of earthen ponds, two hatcheries and numerous concrete tanks, plastic pools, and aquaria facilities with running water available for controlled environmental studies.

Magueyes Island Marine Laboratories

The Magueyes Island Facilities are located at a field station established in 1954 in support of marine science research and education for the academic programs of the Institute of Marine Sciences, now Department of Marine Sciences of the University f Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.  The facility is administered by the DMS and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The principal departmental research laboratories and teaching facilities are located at Magueyes.  There, graduate students have access to modern laboratories equipped with state of the art equipment for marine and oceanographic research.  The marine station is located within a broad embayment protected by coral reefs and within close proximity to a wide variety of tropical marine habitats: large coral reef complexes, mangrove islets, extensive seagrass beds, rocky and sandy shorelines, a world-famous bioluminescent bay, sand and macroalgal plains, and hypersaline pools.  Surrounding waters are generally calm and clear providing excellent opportunities for field research.  The insular shelf extends six miles offshore.  A submerged reef line, marks the edge of the shelf beyond which depths of several thousand meters are quickly encountered.
 

Specific research laboratories at Magueyes include: 

• Algal / Marine Botany Lab
• Chemical Oceanography Laboratory
• Fisheries and Essential Fish Habitat Laboratory
• Geological Oceanography Laboratory
• Marine Physiology 
• Molecular Marine Biology Laboratory
• Parasitology Laboratory
• Reef Studies and Monitoring Laboratory
• Remote Sensing Facilities
• Zooplankton Laboratory
• Marine Population/Ecology Laboratory
• Marine Microbiology Laboratory

The DMS Magueyes facilities include possesses 5 laboratory buildings with approximately 20,000 square feet. The main building houses administrative offices two general teaching laboratories, one large class room, a small conference room, a student computer center, faculty offices and the research laboratories.  Additional laboratories, faculty offices and laboratories and student offices are distributed in the remainder 4 buildings. Several laboratories have a running seawater system and aquaria.  A NOAA tide and weather station wave-data recording station operated housed at the site. 

The DMSML also possesses temporary dormitory and kitchen facilities for visiting research scientists and students.  These facilities are available for a modest fee and reservations arrangements should be made through Lilivette Valle at lili@cima.uprm.edu

Access and Communication with Magueyes Laboratories

Access to the island requires previous request and authorization by university authorities.  Twenty four hour boat service is provided by the DMS.  The island is fully connected to telephone and Internet services, and within minutes of La Parguera Village with numerous hotels, restaurants, pharmacy and grocery stores.

Telephone:   787-899-2048

Marine Capabilities
 

Research vessels available through the DMS  Marine Operations Section include 

• 127 foot R/V Chapman for open water oceanographic work 
• 51 foot Thompson trawler R/V Pezmar
• 35 foot diesel Downeast R/V Gaviota
• small crafts from 14- to 29 feet for nearshore work

From Mayagüez:

Take Highway #2 (South) and turn right on road 319 followed by a left into road 114.  Continue on road 114 for approximately 2 miles and take a right into road 102.  Continue on road 102 for 3 miles and turn left into road 116.  Turn right into road 304 and continue to the end of the road.  There, turn left, and continue until you dead end in an unpaved parking lot.  Proceed to the small dock with the UPRM sign.  A boatman (botero) will then pick you up to make the short crossing to Isla Magueyes.

From San Juan (airport):

Exit the airport and turn towards San Juan (right turn at the exit), continue on this road, Avenue Baldorioty de Castro, PR. 26,  following instructions towards San Juan and Caguas. 

Visiting Academic Groups

The DMS welcomes high school, university and college groups to visit the Magueyes Island Laboratory facilities.  Visiting groups for academic purposes are welcome to take advantage of the natural diversity of the area and the resources offered by our laboratories and marine section.  The DMS can accommodate one-day or overnight or multi-night visits for a maximum of 22 occupants.  Visits may include use of our small boats and guided field trips to the wide variety of tropical marine habitats that surround Magueyes Island.  The facilities are available year round.  We also provide student lecturers for school groups on request.

Always schedule your visit well in advance (one month or more).  Please contact Lilivette Valle lili@cima.uprm.edu  for information on available dates and fees.
 

CONTACT MAGUEYES MARINE LABORATORIES
 

Contact DMS
Our offices are open from 7:00am to 4:30pm, Monday - Friday except for US and PR holidays. You can reach us by any of the following methods: 

E-mail: (lili@cima.uprm.edu)
Telephone: 787-899-2048, exts. 221, 223 
Fax: 787-899-5500 
US Postal Mail: Department of Marine Sciences, Magueyes Laboratories PO Box 908, Lajas, Puerto Rico 00667