Glovers Reef Marine Research Station (GRMRS) offers a full complement of facilities necessary for marine research on the Glovers Reef Atoll and surrounds, in the Meso-American barrier reef system:
The station is comprised of eight buildings including compressor & generator house, a workshop, a boat locker, a ranger station, wet & dry laboratories, a classroom/library, a kitchen/dining area, two dormitories and the Station Manager's house. There is wireless satellite internet accessible throughout the island, and the classroom is equipped with a TV, DVD player, ethernet ports and a small marine science library. The power grid at GRMRS is designed to sustain and supply continuous flow through a system of generator, solar and wind power stored in 12 deep cycle batteries.
The 200 foot dock provides secure moorings for the station and visiting researchers’ boats, with a watchman stationed on the dock throughout the night. The ranger station, dining area, dormitories and dry lab are all elevated to provide better ventilation. The station is equipped to house up to 20 researchers at any one time. The boat locker is situated on the dock and is used for storage of gear and fuel. The compressor room is situated at the base of the dock and houses the air compressor for filling SCUBA tanks. The generator house contains the two diesel generators feeding the battery bank near the workshop. The workshop has a large workbench and most standard tools.
The station also has a pick-up truck to assist with onshore operations and transport in Dangriga.
Laboratories
The dry lab is a large room with a counter surrounding three sides, providing eight bench sites with storage drawers and electrical sockets, and a large work table at its centre. There is running fresh water. The station has a very limited supply of laboratory equipment, so researchers coming to the station should bring any specialized laboratory or field equipment that they may need. Several aquaria are available in the recently installed wet lab, and filtered seawater is piped from the atoll lagoon to various outlets over workstation troughs. A weather data collection station is permanently established at the station manager’s house and provides continuous data on a variety of weather parameters.
In recent years GRMRS has endeavored to maintain and promote new energy technologies, and as a result has converted all boat engines to four stroke. Koolie Gial is our 38ft Bradley skiff with two 200hp outboard engines and can transport up to 30 people to and from the atoll. Slippery and Frenchie are our smaller skiffs for work in and around the atoll, with two and one 60hp engines respectively. All boats come equipped with GPS, Compass and safety equipment.
The station has two dive compressors and 20 aluminum tanks and weights available for use. Investigators must bring all other necessary scuba gear and equipment. It is the responsibility of researchers to comply with research station diving regulations and provide evidence of having successfully completed a certified diving program by an approved diver training organization (PADI, NAUI, etc.). There is a Dive Master available to guide researchers who use scuba as an integral part of their work.
Safety & Communications
A VHF radio system is in place, for communication in and around the atoll. The station also has a fixed line phone for use with phone cards, and there is wireless and Ethernet internet access throughout Middle Caye. A satellite phone is also carried on boats to and from shore in case of emergency. The station manager and two additional staff are first aid trained, with one of these also qualified in Wilderness Medicine. A comprehensive first aid kit and oxygen set for dive related injury are maintained at the station.
Kitchen & Utilities
The dining area seats up to 20 at any one time. A full-time cook is responsible for the kitchen and dining area. Meals are served three times a day with packed lunches available when necessary. Food is Belizean cuisine complemented by a few introduced dishes. Special diets can be accommodated but must be communicated well in advance of researchers’ arrival at the station. Food and other supplies are purchased on the mainland and arrive once every two weeks, normally on Fridays. Drinking water and squash are available at all times, and some soft drinks are available for purchase.
Dormitories, Showers and Bathrooms
The two dormitory buildings are set slightly away from the main ‘village’ area, looking east over the outer reef wall. There are six 2-person rooms and one large 4-person room, all with electrical sockets and shelves. Sheets, pillows and towels are provided and changed twice a week upon request. Laundry can be done by special request (a gratuity for this service should be given to the cook/housekeeper).
The shower facilities are located across from the dormitory. There are two showers and sinks fed by captured freshwater during the rainy season and for most of the year, only resorting to pumped well water during the driest times. There are four toilets on the island, two near the dormitory and two near the laboratory. The toilets are Clivus Multrum composting units; enclosed and non-polluting.
Park Headquarters and Ranger Residence
The land where the ranger station is located is leased by the Belize Fisheries Department for $1 per year from WCS. The purpose of this is to provide a base of operations for the Fisheries Department to manage Glover's Reef Marine Reserve in the interests of the atoll as a whole and all its stakeholders. The ranger station contains an office and residence for the reserve manager, reserve biologist and two reserve rangers.