Heal the Bay Aquarium
Heal the Bay Aquarium and its collection
Heal the Bay Aquarium, opened in 1996, is a zoo in Santa Monica, United States.
It was previously called the Ocean Discovery Center and was run by UCLA up to 2003. It now serves as Heal the Bay's site for marine education, advocacy and community science, with programming centred on marine conservation, pollution prevention and environmental education. Over 100,000 visitors come each year, about 15,000 of them students.
Animals and collection
Animals on show include moray eels, rockfish, wolf eel, spiny lobsters and swell sharks.
Exhibits
Its exhibits include Touch Tanks, Rocky Reef, Kelp Forest, Shark Nursery and Sea Jellies.
Things to do
Things to do include Virtual Aquarium, Angler Outreach Program and Aquadoption.
What the venue says
- hands-on exhibits
- Heal the Bay Aquarium Parking Notice The City of Santa Monica has begun construction at the Santa Monica Pier. As a result, our loading zone is currently unavailable. Guests may still park in Lot 1 North, but should be aware of potential construction-related blockages. Lot 1 South remains fully open and available for parking.
Images of Heal the Bay Aquarium
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Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Smart Destinations, CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Jeremyse at English Wikipedia, public-domain, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Jeremyse at English Wikipedia, public-domain, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Jeremyse at en.wikipedia, public-domain, via Wikimedia Commons 
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Jeremyse at English Wikipedia, public-domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Opening hours
| Days | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sunday | 12:00 | 16:00 |
Hours can change on public holidays. Check with the venue before travelling.
The Aquarium is closed on September 19, 20, 26, and 27, 2026.
Admission
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults and Teens (13+) | 12.00 USD |
| Children (ages 4-12) | 5.00 USD |
| Students & Older Adults (65+) | 10.00 USD |
| EBT Cardholders | 6.00 USD |
Facilities
- Mobility equipment loan
- Parking
- Immersive media attraction
Exhibitions & events
No upcoming events
No temporary exhibitions or scheduled public events are published for Heal the Bay Aquarium at this time.
Location & map
1600 Ocean Front WalkSanta Monica
United States
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Frequently asked questions
No frequently asked questions yet
We have not published any questions and answers for Heal the Bay Aquarium.
Animals
Photographs show each species in general. They were not taken at Heal the Bay Aquarium.
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hermit crabs
Exhibits
- Touch Tanks
- Rocky Reef
- Kelp Forest
- Shark Nursery
- Sea Jellies
- Under the Pier
- Sharks
On site
- Acuario del muelle de Santa Mónica 50 m from the centre of the site