The Florida Aquarium — Zoo & Aquarium in Q49255

The Florida Aquarium and its collection

The Florida Aquarium, opened in 1995, is an aquarium in Tampa, United States.

The aquarium stands in the Channel District downtown and holds upwards of 7,000 aquatic animals and plants, both local and foreign.

History

An earlier incarnation was the Clearwater Marine Science Center, sited on Clearwater Beach. The city council approved the plan for the downtown building in 1992. Construction was funded largely on borrowed money set against overstated attendance and ticket forecasts.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include loggerhead sea turtle, Māori wrasse, blue speckled grouper, spotted unicornfish and giant southern stingrays.

Exhibits

The exhibit sequence follows a water droplet from a freshwater spring out to the Gulf. Displays include a wetlands area under a glass atrium, a mock beach, and a reef community in a 500,000-gallon tank.

Things to do

Things to do include Wild Dolphin Cruise, Penguin Encounter, SeaTREK, Stingray Feeding and Sloth Encounter.

Conservation and approach

Education work includes summer camps and school visits. Half the state's coral has vanished over 250 years, and SCTLD is now killing corals across the inshore reef tract, affecting 22 stony coral species to the point of total mortality.

What the venue says

• outdoor water play area
• Park with ease — on-site, off-site, and valet options available.
• Full wheelchair and ECV accessibility across all main habitats and exhibits, with elevator access to upper levels and a convenient designated drop-off area.
• Step-free/automatic push-plate doors at entrances, designated accessible restrooms, and wheelchair rentals available on-site.
• Reviewers and official guidelines note accessible viewing angles, rest seating areas throughout, and modified sensory/sound elements where appropriate. Service animals are welcomed.