Get Up Close and Personal with Marine Life of the Santa Monica BAy

Visitor Information

• Map (Google Maps)
• Directions & Parking (PDF)
• Travel tips during Santa Monica construction
• Fees & public hours
• Questions? Contact us
• Download our Monthly Calendar of Events (PDF)

Schedule Notes

• May 27: Aquarium open Memorial Day 12:30-5:00PM
• Free Admission for Active Duty military personnel from Memorial Day through Labor Day through the Blue Star Museums program

Whether you’re from halfway around the world or from just down the street, we welcome you to a hands-on exploration at our Aquarium. Visit and be inspired to understand more about our amazing Santa Monica Bay marine environment, and learn how you can help to conserve it.

Visit during our public hours and you can:

• Get a hug from a spiky sea urchin
• Experience the salty spray from a swell shark
• Examine microscopic sea life in our lab
• Learn about the animals of the Santa Monica Bay on a marine-themed scavenger hunt
• Make a sea star crown, an ocotpus puppet or a pirate's hat at the arts and crafts station
• Stop by any Saturday for a whale of a tale - 3:30 p.m. is story time in the Green Room

 Feeding times:

•  Each Tuesday and Friday, staff members invite visitors to help feed the sea stars in our touch tanks. Weekly feedings begin at 2:30 p.m.
• Don't miss the shark's favorite time of day - feeding time! Learn about these often-misunderstood creatures while watching them eat a meal Sundays at 3:30 p.m.