Aquarium Of The Bay

Tapping into the curiosity of what lies beneath the waves of the infamous San Francisco Bay is Aquarium of the Bay, a nonprofit marine nature center owned and operated by The Bay Institute that is dedicated to inspiring conservation of San Francisco Bay and all marine environments.

Aquarium of the Bay provides its 600,000 annual visitors with the opportunity to dive into San Francisco Bay -- without getting wet. More than 20,000 aquatic animals can be found at the Aquarium, ranging from Bay Pipefish, San Francisco Bay's seahorse relative to Sevengill Sharks, the largest predator in the Bay that can grow to more than 13-feet long and weigh up to and over 400 pounds.

Visitors explore three major areas, featuring exhibits within exhibits, at Aquarium of the Bay:

Discover the Bay, featuring San Francisco Bay's most colorful animals, juvenile fishes, a swirling school of anchovies and videos and information on the importance of the estuary;

Under the Bay begins with a new and mesmerizing jellies exhibit, featuring Moon Jellies and Pacific Sea Nettles. Visitors then enter the first of the Aquarium's two iconic, crystal clear tunnels, filled with animals including "Bubbette," a 300-pound Sea Bass, sand-burying Pacific Angel Sharks, a rainbow of colored Rockfish, sex-changing Sheephead, Wolf Eels and many more. The lair of the Giant Pacific Octopus follows, featuring the problem-solving and visitor-favorite animal, as well as some of its underwater neighbors, including Dungeness Crabs, Spot Prawns and a Deep Sea Isopod.

Touch the Bay gives visitors the literally hands-on opportunity to experience what leopard sharks, bat rays, skates, feel like, as well as sea stars and other invertebrates in a touch pool that recreates California's rocky coastline. Land-dwelling animals with climate change messages to be shared, including Pacific Tree Frogs, California Kingsnakes, Blue Tongued Skinks, Pink Toed Tarantulas and more can be found in the PG&E Bay Lab. With an interactive station featuring hands-on science experiments and ongoing naturalist-led presentations and animal encounters, as wel

Located literally steps away from San Francisco Bay, fresh water is pumped into the Aquarium daily, including its most iconic experience, where guests explore crystal clear acrylic tunnels, surrounded by sharks, rays, octopuses and fish of varying size, shape and color.

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