Around the Reef

Come out and play! We’re excited to present A Voyage Around Savannah, an underwater experience that doesn’t require scuba gear or getting your feet wet. The adventure will set sail on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, 2020. Our special land-based voyage is a virtual scavenger hunt that uses QR codes to guide you through the streets of the Savannah Historic District. No need to charter a boat for this dive. You can have a great time in the Historic District and learn fun facts about Georgia’s amazing underwater park, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Each voyager who finishes the hunt also has the chance to win a prize bag of Gray’s Reef goodies!

All you need is the camera on your smartphone and a sense of direction – or maybe a map! Local businesses and landmarks around the Historic District serve as the ports of call for our Voyage Around Savannah, each with a QR code sign placed somewhere around their entrance. You simply hover your camera over the QR code on each sign. You’ll see an interesting fact about Gray’s Reef pop up on your screen, and with it, a clue about where your next stop is. The QR code signs will be universal in color and appearance, so they will be easily identifiable.

There is no time limit; you have all weekend Oct. 17 & 18 to join the fun! You’ll get some fresh air and exercise during the most beautiful month of the year in Savannah. The voyage includes ports of call located from River Street all the way past Jones Street. Many of the businesses will be open that weekend if you want to check them out while on your voyage. The scavenger hunt is for all ages and for individuals or groups – your pod or family can use one phone, or you can each use your own phones individually. Just remember to social distance and sanitize your screen! Gray's Reef staff will determine the winner through a random computer drawing on Monday, October 19, and will contact the winner to give them their swag bag of Gray’s Reef goodies – after all, didn’t you always want an octopus water bottle and other cool stuff?

Lace up your tennis shoes, grab your smartphone, and get ready to experience Savannah like an explorer! So who’s ready to bear the waves -- or rather streets -- on an adventure that will transform your imagination and make you forget you are not actually sailing the big blue sea?

A diver explores the live bottom of Gray's Reef. Photo provided by GRNMS

For Information contact Michelle Riley: (912) 598-2417 michelle.riley@noaa.gov