Hidden Marine Treasures

Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park Star Attraction in Regional Celebration

More than 250 visitors to the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec's Haute-Côte-Nord district were treated to a festival of exploration, excitement and wonder as the natural treasures of the deep were revealed over a glorious Labour Day long weekend. The two-day festival included guided underwater tours, a visually stunning photographic exhibit, and an awe-inspiring glimpse of protected marine mammals, seashore and marine environment.

Visitors from the Deep

The Festival marin des Escoumins was put on by a committee of local agencies to showcase some of the treasures visitors can discover in this lovely district of Quebec. The weekend festival was hosted at the Marine Environment Discovery Centre, a site particularly known for the opportunity it offers to observe sea life—including the region's famous beluga whales —in their natural habitat. To give credence to its reputation, as if on cue, a lone minke whale appeared during Jazz Under The Moon. It seemed as though this gentle creature also wanted to enjoy a night of music by moonlight.

Visitors to the Deep

As a part of the celebration, certified scuba divers as well as those unable or unwilling to venture into the deep had plenty to discover. Intrepid divers looking for both beauty and bounty took part in the highly-anticipated underwater treasure hunt! On land, festival-goers could peruse the display of underwater videos and pictures provided by the divers, sample delicious, local seafood, attend presentations and explore the vast quantity of aquatic life that lives at the juncture of land and sea.

The pièce de resistance for most was the “Live from the St. Lawrence – By Night!” After sunset, visitors sitting nice and dry in a projection room communicated with divers who were 40 feet below the surface of the estuary. With a high definition camera and full face mask, divers showed visitors the richness of the marine park by night and answered the questions fed down to them from above.

Sea, Shore and Sun

Visitors to the successful festival reported that the celebration of the marine environment through its multitude of engaging activities was a special treat. Breathtaking and inspiring, Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, part of Parks Canada's national marine conservation area system beckons visitors to come once, return often, and explore the unknown world beneath the seas.