Home to more than 11,000 ocean animals representing nearly 500 species, the Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates the planet’s largest and most diverse body of water: the Pacific Ocean. Featuring nineteen major habitats and thirty-two focus exhibits, the Aquarium is a world-class institution exploring the waters of Southern California and Baja, the Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific. Visitors can touch sharks in Shark Lagoon and view some of the largest species of these top predators. Feed the colorful winged residents of Lorikeet Forest, or see a show and watch a diver in the Blue Cavern or Tropical Reef habitats or see husbandry experts working with the sea otters or seals and sea lions.

Be sure to look for the giant Pacific octopus in the Northern Pacific Gallery, along with sea jellies, Japanese spider crabs, and puffins. In the 350,000-gallon Tropical Reef habitat, see beautiful coral, over a thousand colorful fish, and many other animals, including sea turtles, zebra and blacktip reef sharks, and porcupine puffers. The Tropical Pacific Gallery also features the Aquarium’s sea horses and sea dragons. The Southern California/Baja Gallery represents this diverse marine environment in eighteen exhibits. At the entrance of the gallery is the impressive Blue Cavern. This 142,000-gallon, three-story high exhibit stands at the end of the Aquarium’s Great Hall of the Pacific and features ocean inhabitants found off the coast of Catalina Island. In the Amber Forest habitat, catch a glimpse of the colorful garibaldi (California’s state fish). Also in the Southern California/Baja Gallery is the 211,000 gallon Seal and Sea Lion Habitat, the Ray Touch Pool, and many more in this rich gallery highlighting Southern California’s coastline.

In 2011 the Aquarium of the Pacific opened its Ocean Science Center, which features a Science on a Sphere® from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to explore our planet and tell stories about ocean phenomena and their impacts. Currently, the center is featuring daily shows on sea level rise and ports.

The Molina Animal Care Center, opened in 2010, allows guests to view veterinary medicine in action. Each day a staff member explains a live procedure or offers one of several educational shows. As guests pass the hospital viewing windows, the veterinarian could be working on an animal. Maybe a surgery on a fish will be in progress. Maybe an otter will be getting its teeth cleaned. Windows and overhead computer monitors will make it possible for everyone to see.

Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-3100
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Open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day of the year, except Closed Christmas Day and during the weekend of the Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 13-15, 2012).