Meet the Locals!
Visit the Aquarium
At the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, come see what Heal the Bay’s work is all about: Protecting the animals that call the Bay home. With over 100 local species on exhibit, hands-on activities for small frys, and daily educational programs, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is the perfect place to immerse yourself in marine science without getting your feet wet.
Location
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90401
How to find us
Admission
Individuals and groups of 9 or less
Adults and kids 13+: $5 per person
Kids 12 and under: FREE
Groups of 10 or more: $3 per person, regardless of age
Aquarium Announcements
Our Aquarium’s new pop-up exhibit, The Haunted Storm Drain Maze, takes you into the horror happening on L.A. city streets, in celebration of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Hours
Tuesday-Friday:
Open 2:00pm-5:00pm
Saturday-Sunday:
Open 12:30pm-5:00pm
Early closing Oct. 18: 4:30 p.m.
Contact Us
(310) 393-6149
Get in touch!
For the coolest updates and cutest critters, follow us!
What's Going On?
Saturday: Story Time @ 2pm
Open 12:30pm-5:00pm
Kids love our ocean-themed stories. Followed by a live animal presentation with a staff member.
For more info on Aquarium & Heal the Bay events:
Current Exhibits
Red Octopus
Even though it's small in size, this animal is super smart and can blend in very well to their surroundings.
Seahorses
Swimming gracefully through the water column, pectoral fins fluttering, are the Pacific seahorses.
Touch Tanks
L.A.’s most colorful stars hang out here, along with hermit crabs, sea urchins, and cucumbers not meant for your salad.
Rocky Reef
Celebrate the subtidal zone with mesmerizing moray eels and the cuddly-looking sea hare.
Kelp Forest
Kelp can grow up to 2 feet per day and provides vital habitat for our kelpfish, rockfish, and wolf eel.
Tidal Surge
Juvenile fish, anemones, and more live life in the splash lane as a simulated tide rises and falls every 5 minutes.
Dorothy Green Room
Embark on water’s journey through L.A.’s urban landscape to the shore in this interactive exhibit.
Sea Jellies
Meditation time. Watching our moon jellies drift and float takes the sting out of a hectic day.
Under the Pier
Get a glimpse of life beneath the Santa Monica Pier. Be sure to double-check the sand: Some of our halibut and rays like to lay low.
Sharks
Catch our horn and swell sharks cuddling in this open-top exhibit and let us explain why you have nothing to fear.
Catch of the Day
A rotating cast of the noteworthy critters our dive team finds on their weekly specimen-collecting expeditions.
Kids Corner
Six pint-sized tanks house a variety of animals like newborn sharks, tiny tube anemones, and—is it a fish or a rock band?—the sarcastic fringehead.
Dive Deeper
Can’t quite get your Aquarium fix in one afternoon visit? Here are three ways to hang with us more often.
Learn
From school field trips to camps to professional development for teachers, our educational programs instill passion for the ocean for all ages.
Volunteer
Our volunteers are the heart of our Aquarium. Get trained to educate visitors, assist our aquarist staff, and help out at special events.
Aquadopt
When you “adopt” one of the animals, the animal stays with us, but your good karma stays with you. Plus, enjoy free visits to the Aquarium for a full year.
Book an Event
Whether you’re planning a child’s birthday party, organizing a staff retreat, or setting up a commercial photo shoot, it’s easy to make a big splash by hosting your event at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.