South Pacific Aquarium
Temporarily Closed
The South Pacific Aquarium is temporarily closed for restoration and repair of critical animal-care structures, habitats and life-support systems. Our goal is to extend the life of this aging, saltwater aquarium for another two decades and care for ocean animals into the future. Read more here.
Massive sharks. A blue hole with divers’-eye-view. Cage dives. A tropical lagoon, a stingray cove. The South Pacific Aquarium is an oasis of warm-water marine beauty, with vibrant fish, inspiring sharks and stingrays. Dive in.
(NOTE: We also have a Pacific Seas Aquarium, home to turtles and eagle rays.)
Discover the South Pacific
Aquarium Habitats
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Feeding sharks
(Carefully.)
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Feeding time in the Outer Reef is a complex dance. Above the surface are half-a-dozen aquarists, each with a different kind of feeding pole and fish.
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The cheeky crevalle jack are distracted while the nurse sharks get just the right amount. Finally, everyone’s happy.
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Cleaning
underwater.
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How do you clean a shark tank? You get trained divers on your team and set them to work.
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While one diver watches the sharks around them, the other scrubs windows and rockwork. And aquarium visitors get to watch it all!
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Science
behind the scenes
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Behind the scenes at the South Pacific Aquarium is a complex network of pipes, filters, temporary habitats and more.
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Water is pumped up from Puget Sound, filtered and warmed, then treated again after it leaves the aquarium so it’s clean for the local environment.
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Protecting The Ocean
THE THREAT: Ocean animals are in danger – from humans. Our plastic chokes and starves them. Our oil spills engulf them. Our boats and nets shrink their populations. And our carbon dioxide is warming their world.
TAKE ACTION: Choose reusable items over single-use plastic. Drive less, recycle more. Pick up pet poop and avoid pesticides. Eat sustainable seafood. And speak up. Together we can protect the ocean.