2nd place, Aquariums category, Shasta Hartley. Click to see all the winners.

Photographers immersed themselves in North Carolina’s aquatic environments and came up with some vivid images for the North Carolina Aquariums annual photo contest.

Kyle Humphrey of Kure Beach took first place in the “At the Aquariums” category with a compelling photo of striped bass at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

Shasta Hartley of Dudley, N.C. took second with a colorful image of an Eastern newt at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. A bobwhite pair at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher earned Karen Doody of Morehead City third in this category. Lee Moore of Atlantic Beach earned honorable mention with a lionfish image taken at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. (more…)

One artist’s hunt for the perfect surfboard led to the creation of unique works of art now on display at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Raffaele Paglia’s artwork, which showcases the deep bond between surfers and the environment, will be on display in the Spadefish Gallery from June to September.

The mixed media art brings a whole new meaning to hidden treasures. The artwork, which was created from used and weathered skim boards and surfboards, now hosts mesmerizing patterns that Paglia painted, such as loggerhead sea turtles. On display will be three painted skim boards, one surfboard, and a kneeboard. There will also be numerous paintings, and a two dimensional wall piece entitled A Carolina Moon, Paglia’s signature piece.

After moving to Carolina Beach three years ago, Paglia decided he wanted to learn how to surf. After searching for the perfect artwork on a board, Paglia wanted to create his own designs. After spending a great deal of his professional career in the fashion industry as a designer/illustrator, he was confident that this task would be an adventure. While delving into research about surfboards, Paglia found himself immersed in the history of Carolina Beach. He has created several large works of art incorporating the towns’ history that have been on display throughout Carolina Beach.

The Spadefish Gallery at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher showcases local artists throughout the year. Artwork that coincides with the Aquarium’s mission of “Inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments” is located on the second floor, near the auditorium.

Here’s a reel deal - net some expert instruction and hands-on fishing practice with the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

The Fishing Fanatics program is offered every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the summer.  The three-hour surf fishing session is suitable for would-be anglers from ages 10 and up.  Experienced instructors explain tackle, techniques and other basics for landing the big ones. The Aquarium has you covered on equipment, bait and license requirements.

For youngsters, a special Fishing for Kids class from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays tailors the techniques for ages 5 and up, and moves the action to the sound side. Fishing for Kids begins on June 2. Gear and other essentials are provided.

The fee for each program is $20 per person and advance registration is required. Contact the registrar at 252-247-4003, ext. 257.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores makes it easy to enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of summer in the coastal environment.  Choose a kayak or canoe and let an Aquarium naturalist lead the way through the marshes and wetlands of the Roosevelt Natural Area surrounding the Aquarium.

No need to lug anything except your water bottle and personal necessities. The Aquarium provides the vessels and other equipment. Enjoy kayaking with your older kids, ages 12 and up, on Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings. The Thursday morning canoe trek is suitable for children ages 6 and up, but paddlers must be at least 12.

The programs repeat weekly throughout the summer. Advance registration is required, and the fee is $20 per person. Call 252-247-4003 for additional program information or to register. Many other outdoor adventures and indoor tours and activities also are available throughout the summer.

Visitors to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher can not only enjoy the freshwater and saltwater animals, but also the lush gardens upon exiting the building. Spanning over an acre, the garden is alive with fresh flowers like snapdragons, fox gloves and irises, and trees and shrubbery such as live oaks, palms, agave and weeping yaupon.

And now, photographic art is adorning the garden. As visitors are strolling the boardwalk they encounter a grouper, squid, shark, sea turtle and a large wave swell tucked away among the trees. These five large scale photographs on aluminum are by local artists Sean Ruttkay and videographer Ryan McInnis.

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Visitors might well think sharks have invaded the Aquarium this summer. Our staff has worked hard to make the Aquarium as “sharky” as possible by doubling the number of large sharks in the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit.  A nearby changing exhibit area has been converted into a 10,000-gallon display  with smaller sharks which should be a real crowd-pleaser.  The new exhibit will feature a number of interactive components and provide educational opportunities for young and old.  A simulated shark cage will let visitors experience the excitement of being surrounded by swimming sharks. A new Aquarium character, “Dr. Finnegan,” will appear on graphic displays and dispel shark myths with facts about these creatures that pre-date the dinosaurs!

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is located at 374 Airport Road, Just north of Manteo.  Call 252-473-3494 or visit our facebook page: NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Put on your eye-patch and get ready to have your timbers shivered. Pirate pretenders invade the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on June 17 for the first Family Night of the summer.

The other four Family Nights feature other fun themes. The Aquarium opens as usual at 9 a.m. Family Night activities begin at 4 p.m. and go on until 8 p.m., though ticket sales stop at 7 p.m. Activities are free with admission or membership.
June 17: Pirates - En garde for swashbuckling  with playful pirates.
July 1: North Carolina Culture - Tap your toe to bluegrass tunes, and immerse yourself in the state’s other rich traditions.
July 15: Slime, Scales and Salamander Tails - Have fun getting to know amphibians and reptiles, important players in our ecosystem.
July 29: Sharks - Explore the misunderstood world of the ocean’s top predators with “fin”-filled activities.
Aug. 12: Birds - Bird encounters and other high-flying activities send spirits soaring.
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Gwendy Womble with seaside little bluestem she planted at the Aquarium

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently cited Gwendy Womble, Conservation Horticulturist at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, for her work with a native beach grass.

DENR awarded Womble an honorable mention in its annual competition that recognizes employees for going beyond their normal job duties to promote sustainability. Womble propagated seaside little bluestem (Schizochyrium littorale) at the Aquarium’s greenhouse for transplant to selected sites on the Rachel Carson National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The crystal skipper, a butterfly thought to be exclusive to Bogue Banks and islands in its immediate area, lays its eggs on seaside little bluestem. Womble’s work was part of a larger effort to restore and expand seaside little bluestem and therefore the crystal skipper’s habitat and range.

The Aquarium’s Volunteer Dive Program will celebrate 10 years of service on Saturday,April 3, 2010.  The origins of the dive program date back to 1993, but it was not until 2000 when Patrick Murphy was hired as the first full-time Dive Safety officer that major dive programs began.  He immediately began work in anticipation of the Roanoke Island facilities reopening after a major, three-year expansion.  The Volunteer Diver Program was initiated to meet the underwater maintenance needs of the larger facility.

Throughout its 10 years of operation, Aquarium volunteer divers have not only assisted with daily surface cleaning of the 1/3 scale USS Monitor replica, but have also completed dive shows on full-face mask in support of public education programs.  Several elite divers have participated in research dives to depths of 240 feet on the actual wreck of the Monitor located 16 miles off Cape Hatteras.  The wreck lies within the first nationally-designated marine sanctuary, and volunteer divers helped in support of an ongoing partnership between the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary and the North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island.  The Aquarium has also successfully established a junior volunteer dive program, featured recently on the nationally-syndicated “Aqua Kids” television show.  This program is open to local high school students ages 16-17 who are SCUBA certified.

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SORRY!  ALL 2010 SUMMER CAMPS AT THE NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES ARE FULL. PLEASE EMAIL THE REGISTRAR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. Registration for summer camps at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores begins at 12 a.m. on April 1. These fun-filled, week-long day camps for children in grades 2-7 are among the Aquarium’s most popular programs.

Those interested in registering should closely follow instructions Camps are limited to 12 participants per camp, and they typically fill up within a few hours. Parents may sign up only their children or children in their care. Camps are $225 per participant.

Click for camp dates and registration instructions.