From a mesmerizing loggerhead sea turtle to schooling fish, snapping shrimp, and a massive 60-pound Giant Pacific Octopus with a new multi-angle habitat, the new exhibition is designed to connect visitors more closely with the ocean’s many layers, sounds, and mysteries.
Replacing the longtime Hall of Fishes with a more immersive and ever-changing experience, Living Seas marks the largest capital project in the aquarium’s history. Although Birch is smaller than its counterparts in Monterey and Long Beach, it continues to punch above its weight. In 2024, it welcomed a record 565,000 guests, and this new exhibition is expected to draw even more.
The new gallery features an expanded open ocean habitat where schooling fish glide in hypnotic patterns alongside a rescued loggerhead sea turtle. The tropical coral reef exhibit has been rebuilt to be four times larger than its predecessor, showcasing Birch’s commitment to highlighting fragile and climate-impacted marine ecosystems. A new mangrove root display rises from the walls, bringing visitors up close to the complexity of coastal wetlands.
One of the highlights of Living Seas is a habitat for a 60-pound Giant Pacific Octopus, now viewable from multiple angles. The animal’s enclosure was tripled in size to give the intelligent and elusive creature more space to move, offering visitors a better chance to watch it in action.
The exhibit also includes a newly enhanced kelp forest equipped with hydrophones that capture and broadcast the ambient sounds of ocean life. Visitors can listen to the clicks and snaps of animals like the famously loud snapping shrimp and gain a deeper understanding of just how lively the underwater world truly is.
A live-feed camera system now streams footage from beneath the nearby Scripps Pier, giving a real-time glimpse into the natural conditions just offshore. At night, the view sometimes sparkles with bioluminescent organisms. The gallery also includes space for temporary displays so that the aquarium can respond to seasonal changes and special discoveries. One such recent display featured the rare, 11-foot oarfish found off the local coast, which quickly became a crowd favorite.
With Living Seas, Birch Aquarium has created a space that not only captivates the eye but also deepens the visitor’s sensory and emotional connection to the ocean. It’s a bold and timely reinvention that honors the natural rhythms of the Pacific while engaging the public in the mission to better understand and protect it.Ìý
A live-feed camera system now streams footage from beneath the nearby Scripps Pier, giving a real-time glimpse into the natural conditions just offshore. At night, the view sometimes sparkles with bioluminescent organisms. The gallery also includes space for temporary displays so that the aquarium can respond to seasonal changes and special discoveries. One such recent display featured the rare, 11-foot oarfish found off the local coast, which quickly became a crowd favorite.
With Living Seas, Birch Aquarium has created a space that not only captivates the eye but also deepens the visitor’s sensory and emotional connection to the ocean. It’s a bold and timely reinvention that honors the natural rhythms of the Pacific while engaging the public in the mission to better understand and protect it.Ìý
Living Seas is now open and included with general admission. Advance reservations are recommended.Ìý
Birch Aquarium is located atÌý2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. For more information and to make reservations, visit .
