Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

About

Experience the Santa Monica Bay! The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is Heal the Bay’s public marine-education center located beach-level, just below the Carousel at the world famous Santa Monica Pier.

Story

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is the public face of Heal the Bay, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; it is home to more than 100 species of marine animals and plants, living examples of the importance of our work to make Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean.

A visit to the Aquarium is uniquely interactive – the 4,500-square-foot marine center is loaded with hands-on exhibits; staff, trained volunteers, and interns are stationed throughout ready to help identify animals on display, answer questions, and engage in conversation about the ocean environment.

Mission

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium’s vision is to inspire understanding and conservation of the Santa Monica Bay and its watersheds through hands-on education, environmental stewardship and discovery. To that end, visitors find engaging education programs, activities and special events dedicated to pollution prevention, marine conservation, biodiversity and environmental education.

Products

During public hours, visitors have the opportunity to engage in hands-on exploration at the touch tanks - which are home to dozens of species of marine animals - from the commonly seen purple sea urchins, hermit crabs, sea stars and sea cucumbers to the unique California sea hares, brittle stars, abalone, kelp crabs and tube worms.

Visitors are also invited to learn about marine conservation and other environmental issues by watching short educational films, reading Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card® which is on display, or visiting the Aquarium’s pollution corner, a three-dimensional exhibit that charts the path of litter from urban streets to the open ocean. Marine-themed arts and craft projects for a range of age groups are available as well.

Naturalists offer weekly presentations at specific tanks; the public can enjoy Shark Sundays, special event weekends, which include activities both inside the Aquarium and at the west end of the Santa Monica Pier, and the free lecture series held evenings throughout the year.

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is also available as a rental venue for events such as private birthday parties and business meetings, mixers or retreats, as well as a location for filming. In addition, Monday -Friday the Aquarium offers fieldtrips for all ages.