Port of Iona · Pitu’paq / Bras d’Or Lake · Unama’ki / Cape Breton Island
Discovery Centre reopens in June 2027
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Port of Iona, 2583 St. Columba Road, Iona, NS
Admission by donation · Open June to October
Contact usÀros na Mara Discovery Centre
One Lake.
Many Relationships.
Built for Curiosity.
A place for people, the Lake, and what’s possible.
Discovery · Connection · Stewardship
A Lake of possibilities.
A place to connect.
At the Port of Iona, Àros na Mara brings people closer to Pitu’paq / the Bras d’Or Lake through discovery, culture, science and shared curiosity.
Discover what connects us
Life beneath the surface
Explore the marine life of Pitu’paq through underwater films, no diving needed.
People, culture & place
Mi’kmaw, Gaelic, Acadian and community stories of Iona and the Lake.
Youth & discovery
Hands-on learning, curiosity and the next generation of Lake stewards.
In development
See beneath the surface
A window into the hidden life of Pitu’paq / the Bras d’Or Lake, filmed in its waters.
Our work.
Shared possibilities.
Supporting youth learning, scientific observation, community stewardship and lasting relationships with Pitu’paq / the Bras d’Or Lake.
10th year
of Ocean Week and World Oceans Day in 2026
Trans Canada Trail
A lake access point at the Barra Strait
Twinned
with the SAMS Ocean Explorer Centre in Scotland
Stories & updates
Stories from the Port
A new window beneath the surface
Our BlueROV2 brings underwater observation, filming and learning to the Port.
Connections across the Lake
Twinned with the SAMS Ocean Explorer Centre in Scotland, and working with partners around Pitu’paq.
Questions people ask
Where is Àros na Mara?
At the Port of Iona, 2583 St. Columba Road, Iona, Nova Scotia, overlooking the Barra Strait on Pitu’paq / the Bras d’Or Lake.
When is the Discovery Centre open?
Open daily, first Sunday in June to third Saturday in October, except Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day.
June and October: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
July, August and September: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
How much does it cost to visit?
Admission is by donation, with no fixed fee. Donations help keep the Discovery Centre open and care for its exhibits and marine life.
Do I need to go in the water?
No. The touch tank, displays and underwater imagery, along with the Port and shoreline, can all be enjoyed without entering the water.
What does Àros na Mara mean?
Àros na Mara is Scottish Gaelic for “House of the Sea,” a nod to the Gaelic language and culture that have shaped Iona for generations.
Be part of what comes next.
Visit. Learn. Share an idea. Help care for the Lake.