Seattle Aquarium

Window on Washington Waters

The minute you enter, there it is. A giant aquarium. It is like a window into Elliott Bay. A natural gathering spot, kids plunk down for frequent interpretive shows while adults grab a place on the bench.

Modeled after Neah Bay’s rock blades, the aquarium is filled with salmon, colorful rockfish, vibrant sea anemones and other native Washington marine life.

Divers appear in this exhibit three times daily: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. They wear masks with microphones. They see you, and answer your questions, while playing with fish and information.

Life on the Edge

There are two large tidepools in this central exhibit. One represents the quieter waters of Seattle’s inland sea, and the other represents the more lively outer Washington coast.

Visitors can reach into these water exhibits to feel live seastars, urchins, sea anemones, kelp and more. Naturalists stand by to help teach how to touch sea creatures and to answer questions.

Large video screens help show the life and characteristics of the amazing creatures who thrive in the harsh, ever-changing conditions of Washington’s tidal zones.

Life of a Drifter

This three-part exhibit gives you a chance to see Puget Sound creatures in new, close-up ways:

• The Ring of Life is a 12-foot-high glass “donut” teeming with dozens of Moon Jellies.
• Giant Pacific Octopus is a multi-species exhibit to introduce visitors to a mysterious and shy creature.
• The Wet Table: A Closer Look, is a 13-foot long wet table that contains a seasonally changing array of Puget Sound animals.

Underwater Dome

The Underwater Dome is one of the aquarium’s largest exhibits. Accessed by two short tunnels, the dome is an undersea room, with 360-degree views of Puget Sound life within a 400,000-gallon tank.

Witness fishy behavior. Some dart, their scales reflecting filtered sunlight from over head. Predators glide menacingly. Bright-colored rockfish peek out of crevices. Sturgeon prowl the bottom for leftovers.

The highlight of the day is at 1:30 p.m. when aquarium scuba divers feed the fish. There’s also an informational session with aquarium staff to explain the dome and its inhabitants.

Pacific Coral Reef and Ocean Oddities

The Pacific Coral Reef exhibit features a 25,000-gallon community tank with a variety of colorful warm-water fish in a large, man-made coral reef.

A series of smaller exhibits around the main tank give visitors a closer look at other reef inhabitants. Some tanks feature living coral; video screens describe reef life and the dangers humans pose to the delicate habitat.

One of the exhibits features fish found only in Hawaii.

Perhaps you will be there to see one of the four weekly tank-cleaning and fish-feeding sessions by aquarium divers.

Birds and Shores

The Shorebird display showcases birds living on or near Northwest beaches. The Oystercatcher’s bright red beak makes it is a real attention grabber.

NorthWest Shores exhibit reveals three habitats. Learn how birds use their unique characteristics to overcome challenges to live and thrive in Pacific Northwest environments.

Marine Mammals

This may be the most action-packed part of the aquarium. Always-entertaining sea otters, harbor seals and fur seals are absolute highlights, and draw quite a crowd as they swim and dive.

View the otters and fur seals at the surface, or go below the surface in an underwater mammal viewing area.

Daily feeding and training sessions are at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

River Otters Video

This video will give you an idea of the languid hours of a pair of river otters.