Meet the Locals!
Visit the Aquarium
Heal the Bay Aquarium recommends that face masks be worn by all guests over the age of 2.
Tight-fitting masks and physical distancing are strongly recommended at ALL times while visiting Heal the Bay Aquarium. To do our part in reducing the spread of COVID-19, Heal the Bay is continuing to follow guidelines from the Los Angeles County Department of Health, City of Santa Monica, and the CDC. For the health and well-being of all, take proper precautions to limit the spread of illness.
Please follow these guidelines:
- All guests over the age of 2 are advised to wear a face mask covering both mouth and nose at all times, especially for those who are immunocompromised or at a higher risk of severe illness.
- Guests will maintain a 6ft distance from others when able and feasible.
- Guests will not attend if they are sick with a fever and/or respiratory symptoms. Guests will also not attend if they have come into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
- No food or drink is allowed.
- Our staff will be following COVID safety protocols put forth by LA County Department of Public Health, City of Santa Monica, and the CDC.
- Our staff will wear masks at all times.
- Hand sanitizer is available at our exit, and we have restrooms on site for guest convenience and use.
- Get the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s your turn.
- Get the flu shot to prevent influenza if you have not done so this season.
For more information, review the CDC’s mask guide, visit Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and view the LA Mayor’s Directive about COVID-19 LA City Guidelines.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate the pandemic. When guidelines change, we will make announcements on social media, on our website, and at our admissions desk. Let us know any questions. Thank you for helping us protect our communities.
Questions? Contact us or call (310) 393-6149 x206
Location
Heal the Bay Aquarium
at the Santa Monica Pier
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90401
How to find us
Admission
Adults and kids 13+: $10.00
Kids 12 and under: FREE with an Adult Ticket Purchase (Children MUST be accompanied by an adult)
Group rate: For groups of 5 or more adults ($7.00/each person); for groups of 10 or more children ($3.00/each child)
Discounts:
(must show appropriate identification at Admissions Door)
EBT, Military: FREE
Students/ Older Adults (65+): $2.00 off Ticket Price
About Us
Under the Santa Monica Pier, come see what Heal the Bay’s work is all about: Protecting the people and animals who call the Bay home. With over 100 local species on exhibit, hands-on activities for all ages, and daily educational programs, our award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium is the perfect place to immerse yourself in marine science.
Plus, you can visit our Shop at Heal the Bay Aquarium for zero-waste goodies, plushies, green travel items, limited-edition Heal the Bay gear, and more! Browse some of the items in our Online Shop.
What’s New
- Take your class on a Field Trip to our Aquarium
- Care for local wildlife species by making an Aquadoption
- Rent out our Aquarium for your next Birthday Party
- Visit our Virtual Aquarium anytime on Twitch.tv
Hours
General Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday
12 PM – 4 PM
Spring Holidays:
Wednesday, March 22, 2023: CLOSED
The Aquarium will be closed to the public on Wednesday, March 22,2023. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will re-open on Thursday March 23,2023 at 12:00pm.
Saturday, March 25, 2023: Limited Hours
The Aquarium will be open for limited hours on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 2:30pm-4:00pm. We are closed from 12:00pm-2:30pm for a private event. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Contact Us
Call us at (310) 393-6149
For the coolest updates and cutest critters, follow us!
What's Going On?
Wednesday at the Aquarium
We’re open today! Come by between 12pm and 4pm, and check out our Events calendar for special activities.
For more info on Aquarium & Heal the Bay events:
Current Exhibits
Touch Tanks
LA’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.
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.
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
Aquarium volunteers support public programs by interpreting at touch tanks, ensuring the success of private events and attending outreach events all over LA.
Aquadopt
When you “adopt” one of the animals, the animal stays with us, but your good karma stays with you. Support our mission to protect local habitats and marine life, and help protect what you love.
Host a Birthday Party
Make your party planning easier while supporting Heal the Bay.
Invite your friends and family to Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier for an fin-tastic birthday party for your child – it’s the next best thing to actually being under the sea!
