Made famous by the Dolphin Tale movies, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is all about rescue, rehab and release. All of the animals on public display are rescues that couldn't survive on their own in the wild. In addition to its famous dolphin residents, you'll also find sea turtles, pelicans, otters, sharks, stingrays and more. Injured animals are treated on-site in the world-class marine hospital. Yes, it's an aquarium, but it's also so much more!
Meet Rescued Animals
The animals at Clearwater Marine Aquarium have conditions that require them to live at CMA full time, which means you can visit them any time of year.
Exhibits:
- The new Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex is currently home to our resident Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and Rough-Toothed dolphins. Hope, Nicholas, Izzy, Rudolph and Rosie. This extraordinary complex has five pools and holds 1.5 million gallons of filtered water from Clearwater Bay. With numerous floor to ceiling windows, including the Kate Tiedemann & Ellen Cotton Main Pool and Window of Wonder, guests have the opportunity to view and engage with our rescued residents in a whole new way. Explore Winter's Rescue Walk and Exhibits and discover incredible new underwater views.
- Otter Oasis is home to North American river otters Walle and Boomer.
- Rufus Beach is the aviary and home to the resident great white pelicans. Ricky, who played the part of "Rufus" in Dolphin Tale, can be found here along with three other pelicans.
- Stingray Beach is home to cownose stingrays. This shallow pool gives you the opportunity to hand-feed our stingrays. During stingray presentations, you'll learn the techniques to use if you should encounter a stingray in the wild.
A Working Animal Hospital
Clearwater Marine Aquarium exists to rehabilitate animals from sickness or injury and release them back into their natural habitats whenever possible. Most cannot be released due to a variety of reasons, so you'll see them in permanent habitats and learn their rescue stories.You'll also see a number of animals currently undergoing rehabilitation in the working animal hospital. Aquarium staff and volunteers give presentations and talks throughout the day at various habitats and exhibits.
At the Surgical Suite, you'll have the opportunity to witness the work of medical professionals. Everything from routine physicals of resident otters to emergency surgeries on injured sea turtles takes place right here.
Location
The aquarium is located minutes away from Clearwater Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast, a 90-minute drive west from Orlando. It's an indoor and outdoor facility with air-conditioned areas inside and open-air sections outside. Enjoy sunshine and views of Clearwater Bay from the harborview deck and stranding deck.
Hours & Parking
Hours vary by season and the aquarium is generally open later on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours are subject to change. Garage parking is available and seasonal rates apply. Check out the our travel guide for up-to-date information.
Nearby Lodging
To get the most out of your stay in Tampa Bay, we recommend finding lodging near Tampa Bay's top attractions like Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Use this map to find the right lodging for you:
Tickets & Visiting the Aquarium
Visits to the aquarium, and in turn ticket sales, help fund the work of the aquarium and its rescue and rehab efforts. There are several ways to visit the aquarium, including daily admission, a membership or with Tampa Bay CityPASS® tickets. Children 2 and under are free. CityPASS® tickets include admission to the aquarium, plus 4 other top attractions at a savings. Reservations may be required.
Header image courtesy of Clearwater Marine Aquarium