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
Upcoming Events
The Aquarium will be open for special hours on Memorial Day, from 12:30PM-6:00PM. We are also kicking off our Summer Hours schedule, and will be open Tuesday-Sunday until 6:00PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Spring Hours
Thursday-Friday:
Open 2:00pm-5:00pm
Saturday-Sunday:
Open 12:30pm-5:00pm
Monday-Wednesday:
Closed for School Programs
(Learn more about our educational opportunities)
Please note, the Aquarium will be closed on Thursday, May 17 for our Bring Back the Beach Annual Awards Gala.
Contact Us
(310) 393-6149
Get in touch!
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What's Going On?
Fishing for Health
Every other Friday @ 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program has launched an interactive, bilingual educational opportunity to be featured every other Friday at our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Led by Frankie Orrala, Heal the Bay’s Angler Outreach Program Manager, this educational experience is designed for all ages. Everyone will have a chance to learn more about fish contamination, fish consumption, and cooking methods for those who fish from Los Angeles County piers.
For more info on Aquarium & Heal the Bay events:
Current Exhibits
Seahorses
Swimming gracefully through the water column, pectoral fins fluttering, Pacific seahorses are our newest species on exhibit.
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, 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.