Explore a shipwreck replica of famed Galveston pirate Jean Lafitte’s, The Pride while immersing yourself in the vibrant coral ecosystem and marine life sanctuaries of the Caribbean, all while sharks, rays and a bounty of tropical fish swim overhead beginning Memorial Day weekend.

A glimpse this week of the Caribbean Exhibit revealed The Pride, a 19th century rum-runner shipwreck replica, loosely based on the vessel sailed by Lafitte.

Moody Gardens divers spent a total of 48.5 hours underwater of the course of two days, putting the massive puzzle pieces together to create the replica. Luckily, each piece was labeled and outlined in a corresponding manual, making the construction slightly easier.

The Pride is just one of several enhancements to the Aquarium Pyramid, sure to give guests an unforgettable experience, all while learning just how important our oceans are and what they can do to take better care of them.

Moody Gardens’ Caribbean Exhibit is one of the largest tropical marine exhibits in the country featuring sharks, snappers, eels and reel fish swimming overhead as you walk through the tunnel into the one million-gallon exhibit. The enhanced exhibit transports you to the Caribbean with breathtaking views of shallow and deep coral reefs, and the marine life that call them home. New artificial coral, along with additional marine life, will be added to the exhibit.

You’re bound to have questions after seeing the improvements. Don’t worry. They’ll be answered thanks to new in-water presentations by Moody Gardens divers. You’ll now be able to communicate with exhibit divers to learn more about what they do and the marine life that makes up the Caribbean.

Renovations will offer guests a spectacular aquarium experience including a new Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Exhibit, Mangrove Exhibit, Caribbean Exhibit Touch Tank area and the new Flower Garden Banks Exhibit. Moody Gardens will unveil enhancements made to the Aquarium Pyramid to the public with a grand reveal May 27, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

The Aquarium Pyramid is currently closed as we finish the final wave of our renovation. But you don’t have to wait long to see all the wonders for yourself. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, you’ll not only be able to explore the Caribbean, but several other ocean habitats, all enhanced as part of the $37 million renovation project. Travel from the Gulf of Mexico to the South Atlantic, the South Pacific and the North Pacific. Each ocean exhibit highlights different marine sanctuaries.

We’re also adding jellyfish and tropical penguins at the Aquarium Pyramid, all ready for you to explore starting May 27, 2017!