The Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML) was founded in 1965 by Professor Thomas F. Goreau, then based at State University of New York. His vision was to establish a dedicated research facility focused on understanding the biology and geology of coral reefs and the diverse organisms that inhabit them.

In 1968, the laboratory received a major boost when the Kaiser Bauxite Company donated the land on which the current facility stands. Construction of the laboratory was undertaken by The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus with generous funding support from the Wolfson Foundation and Canadian International Development Agency.

The new laboratory officially opened its doors in 1970, featuring five research rooms, an instrument room, a library and seminar space, offices, and a large wet laboratory designed to support marine research. In its early years, DBML was jointly operated by The University of the West Indies and Stony Brook University until 1975, when the facility became solely managed by UWI Mona.

From that point, DBML developed a close association with the Department of Life Sciences while maintaining its own staff and Director. Over time, the laboratory grew into an integral part of the University, serving as UWI’s primary marine research facility on Jamaica’s north coast.

In 1990, when the Centre for Marine Sciences was established at the Mona Campus, DBML became an important component of the new centre, further strengthening its role in advancing marine and environmental research in the Caribbean.