Experience the Santa Monica Bay

Best Time to Visit

  • OPEN HOURS
  • Tues. - Fri.: 2 - 5 p.m.Sat. - Sun. : 12:30 - 5 p.m.Closed to the public on Mondays
  • Driving and Parking tips during Santa Monica construction

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.

Whether stopping by during our public hours, visiting with a field trip group, or attending a private party or special event, you will be treated to a unique view into the ocean world just steps from our Aquarium’s doors.

The family-friendly facility is home to more than 100 species of marine animals and plants – all found in the Santa Monica Bay. As our guest, you will gain a new appreciation for the sea life of the Bay, and leave inspired to become a steward of this crucial marine environment.

To keep up with what's happening, be sure visit our Aquarium Facebook page.

Santa Monica Certified Green Business

Above: Long-time volunteer Alec Richker made the beautiful Aquarium video.

Weird Science: Part Two

Editor’s Note: Vicki Wawerchak, director of the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, chronicles the process of preparing two sea lion skulls and one harbor seal skull to become marine artifacts on exhibit at the aquarium. This is the second installment of h…
Skull

Hundreds Compete in Santa Monica Pier Paddle Races

Hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators gathered Sunday to honor paddleboarding’s past and present at the Santa Monica Pier Paddle Race and Ocean Festival.

Fish Dealer Admits He Sold Whale Meat

A Gardena seafood dealer who imported and sold illegal whale meat from Japan pled guilty Tuesday, May 31st, to violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
sei whale

2010-2011 Annual Beach Report Card

Heal the Bay’s 21st Annual Beach Report Card® provides water quality information to the millions of people who swim, surf or dive in California, Oregon and Washington coastal waters. This is the first annual report to cover the entire West Coast, …
2010-2011 Annual Beach Report Card - Cover page

Malibu Lagoon Restoration Upheld

After months of legal debate, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled Oct. 27 that the proposed plan to restore impaired Malibu Lagoon can move forward. Responding to opponents' legal challenges, the judge found tha…
Malibu Lagoon

Schooling the Aquarium

Recently, to wrap up Earth Month, a class from the Laurel Hall School in North Hollywood took a visit to Santa Monica Beach to participate in a cleanup and learn how trash ends up in the Bay. Afterwards, the group toured our Santa Monica Pier Aquariu…

Domoic Acid and Marine Animals

Strandings of marine animals in Southern California have increased dramatically in the past few weeks. The mortality rate is up and rescue teams and care centers are overrun with a large number of ailing sea lions and birds. We asked David Caron…
CA Sea Lion at Anacapa Island
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