Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS)
Caribbean Marine Laboratory & Educational Facility
Established in 1989, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS)’s primary objective is to preserve Roatan’s natural resources through education and research. Ideally located for a marine study on the northwest coast of Roatan, RIMS is close to over 30 miles of fringing, and barrier reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and shoreline are home to an astonishing profusion of life.
Over the past twenty-five years, RIMS has established itself as a dedicated teaching institution, and our facility is visited year-round by colleges, universities, and high schools from abroad to study tropical marine ecosystems and the bottlenose dolphins at our facility.
For many students, this may be the first encounter with coral reefs and the underwater world, and Roatan’s coral reefs provide an incomparable realm of beauty, excitement, and endless opportunity for study. A field course at RIMS also allows students to travel abroad, become immersed in a new culture, and experience the simple way of life that has existed for hundreds of years on this small Caribbean island.
Education Center, Marine Laboratories, and Roatan Museum
The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences’ main complex comprises the Education Center, the dry laboratory, and the Roatan Museum. A second, newly constructed multi-level building consists of three large dormitory-style rooms on the upper level, a wet laboratory, and a dive gear storage room on the lower level.
The Education Center is designed for use as a comfortable and spacious classroom. This room also houses exhibits on the coral reef, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, birds, and geology of the Bay Islands. When class is not in session, the center is open to the public and visited by hundreds of tourists annually.
Roatan Museum
Honoring Roatan’s History and Culture
In 1992, Cheryl Galindo, wife of resort owner Julio Galindo, created the Roatan Museum. The museum is housed in the RIMS facility and was created with the guidance and expertise of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology. The museum reflects the Bay Islands’ culture and history through artifacts, murals, maps, and documents.
RIMS Student Groups
Accommodations & Marine Studies
We offer our facilities at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS) to university and high school student groups for research programs such as marine research programs, coral reef, oceanography, biology, etc. Special resort package rates are available to students participating in a structured program and escorted by a professor. Student groups will have access to all resort amenities, including the full-service dive shop, underwater photo center, hyperbaric chamber, and medical clinic. The proximity of living and working conditions is ideal and maximizes the program’s effectiveness. A minimum of 11 students is required to conduct a group. The professor receives a complimentary land package for every 11 paying students.
Familiarization Trips
We have offered several familiarization trips, allowing professors and instructors to visit our resort. These trips allow you to see our facility, meet our staff and familiarize yourself with the marine habitats. Ideally, a visit to our facility is encouraged before your arrival. If you are interested in bringing groups in the future, please contact the Education Coordinator.
RIMS Guidebook for Instructors
We invite you to visit RoatanIMS.org, where you can download our free RIMS Guidebook for Instructors. This comprehensive 78-page PDF file features a wealth of information about our facilities, programs, and research initiatives and a complete guide to planning a course with us for your student group.
Educational Programs
Spending as much time as possible in the marine environment is the way RIMS teaches. The most useful educational tool we offer is the reef itself.
Internships at RIMS
Live and work at our facility and engage in various activities to gain experience and skills that will aid your career in marine science. For further details, follow the link below to learn more.