Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is a marine education facility located beneath the famous pier on California's coast. It displays over 100 species of marine animals from Santa Monica Bay, including leopard sharks and moray eels, in a compact underground space.

The center was founded in 1996 as the Ocean Discovery Center under UCLA management, dedicated to teaching marine biology from the start. In 2003, the organization Heal the Bay took over operations and sharpened the focus on ocean conservation.

The facility takes its name from the bay it helps protect and educates visitors about. You can observe creatures that actually inhabit these waters and learn why they matter to the local marine ecosystem.

The entrance is located beneath the pier, and the path is easy to spot from outside. It is wise to wear comfortable clothes since the space is cool and humid with narrow walkways.

A two-spotted octopus caused an unexpected flood in 2009 by manipulating a drainage valve in its tank. The incident showed just how intelligent these animals are and how they explore and alter their surroundings.