What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Central Coast Aquarium

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Avila Beach, CA
Central Coast Aquarium

The mission of the Central Coast Aquarium is to cultivate a community dedicated to ocean stewardship through education, engagement and action.
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Our family-friendly aquarium is now open, and we are excited to 'sea' you! During public hours, visitors have the opportunity to engage in hands-on exploration at the touch tanks - which are home to dozens of species of marine animals - from the commonly seen purple sea urchins, hermit crabs, sea stars and sea cucumbers to the unique gumboot chiton, abalone and kelp crabs. Our other exhibits inclu

de the red octopus, decorator crabs, flat bottom fish, rock fish, jellies and much more! And don’t miss the chance to get up close and personal with our local shark species during our shark talk and shark touch tank, offered every hour on the half hour! Staff, trained volunteers, and interns are stationed throughout the aquarium, ready to help identify animals on display, answer questions, and engage in conversation about the ocean environment. Donate… https://checkout.square.site/buy/KLW42RB67OGSD32HIBSSPKNA

08/27/2026

Science After Dark with John Lindsey

Thank you to all who came out on Tuesday night for our monthly series of Science After Dark!! This was our biggest night we have had so far, so many sign ups we decided to host outside!

Over 120 guests got to enjoy a talk about El Niño, enjoy beer, wine, appetizers, and local grassy bar oysters in our beautiful Ocean Discovery Park. Also a special thanks to violinist….

As always thank you to our CCA Team for dedicating hours and time to make this event happen and happen beautifully.

If you are interested in renting out this venue space, please contact [email protected] for more details!

08/11/2026

Welcome back students and teachers!👋
As busy Summer schedules wind down and a new school year starts, we can’t wait to kick off new marine science programs at the Central Coast Aquarium!

Join us for weekly homeschool classes, new Big Fish Little Fish themes (with programs now offered every other week!), and a tidal wave of field trip options that will get your students curious about the ocean and excited to learn more!

Visit centralcoastaquarium.org/learn and check out all of our program offerings.

08/10/2026

Happy End of Summer Recap!🌊

What a Summer it has been filled with Marine Science Summer Camp fun! Last week we welcomed our Junior Ocean Explorers, ages 11-14, for a week of coastal adventures, ocean science experiments, SCUBA simulations, deep sea trivia, and engineering challenges.🛠️

The last 8 weeks have been filled with beach time fun, science labs, creative ocean projects, games, sandy feet, treasure hunts and incredible guest presentations. Our camp staff have worked hard to create a welcoming and memorable camp experience for 142 kiddos from over 15 counties! What a huge accomplishment!👏🏻

A huge shoutout to the following partners for sharing their time, resources, passion and unique experiences with our campers: morrobayshantyproject, Morro Bay Maritime Museum Sea Otter Savvy, Avila Beach Paddlesports, Patriot Sportfishing, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Depth Perceptions Diving Services!

Just a reminder that field trips, homeschool classes, and toddler programs are just around the corner as we enter a new school year. Visit centralcoastaquarium.org/learn and join us for more marine science fun!

08/04/2026

Join us Tuesday, August 25, from 5:30–8:00 PM for an adults-only (18+) evening of local wine, appetizers, oyster 🦪, and fascinating science! 🍷🔬

🗣️ Featured Speaker: John Lindsey

John Lindsey is a retired PG&E media relations representative and marine meteorologist with more than 30 years of experience forecasting weather and ocean conditions along California’s Central Coast. His presentation, “El Niño: What It Means for the Central Coast This Winter,” will explore how El Niño develops, what it could mean for our region this winter, and what residents can expect in the months ahead. John is a longtime weather columnist for The San Luis Obispo Tribune and serves on the boards of the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers, Central Coast Aquarium, PG&E Veterans’ Employee Resource Group, and the Lost at Sea Committee. Before joining PG&E, he worked as a marine meteorologist and research scientist with Tenera Environmental and served more than 24 years in the U.S. Navy.

🧪 Poster Presentations by Local Researchers

• Development of a Handheld Instrument to Measure Total Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Seawater for Remote Field Applications

• Spatial Comparison of Dissolved Oxygen at High Tide in Morro Bay, California

Spend the evening exploring the aquarium after hours, meeting local researchers, enjoying great food and wine, and learning about the science shaping California’s Central Coast. 🎟️ Student tickets are $10 off!

07/17/2026

Join us for an engaging Nautical Night at the aquarium, we are excited to hear from Roger Briggs a San Luis Yacht Club Member ⛵ and Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo Board Trustee!
He is a Civil Engineer ⚙️ and had a four decade career in environmental protection, including projects greatly affecting Avila Beach. He is a lifelong sailor, has raced extensively, and with his first mate and wife Marney, sailed down the Baja coast to Mexico and cruised for six months down the Mexican mainland and in the Sea of Cortez. They’ve been members of the San Luis Yacht Club for a quarter century. He will being talking about Avila, the Environment, and Sailing! 🌊
Don’t miss this inspiring evening of science, storytelling, and ocean exploration. Get your tickets 🎟️ at 805tix!!

07/08/2026

Marine Science Summer Camp has been a blast! Spots are still open for all our July Summer sessions. Sign up to join the fun!🌊

07/01/2026

Meet Sushi!

Sushi is one of our newest additions here at CCA. Sushi is a juvenile two spot octopus (octopus bimaculoides). She loves to explore, play and hunt for food, in her free time you may see her in our famous “two spot helmet.” She is currently very small but continues to grow everyday. Two spot octopus are known for there two small blue spots that look similar to eyes. Sushi and the CCA team hopes to see you soon!🐙

The Central Coast Aquarium is open 10am - 4pm everyday of the week (with sushi here everyday).

06/23/2026

Week #1 of our Into the Deep Summer Camp was a hit!🦑 Throughout the week, campers became ocean scientists as they explored creatures of the deep, conducted science experiments and explored our local ecosystems.🌊
They had a blast during ’s musical performance and ended the week with some Summer Time Slip ‘n Slide Fun!

Sign ups are still open for Summer sessions, visit our website and sign up today!

A big thank you to and for giving our campers such a fun week!

06/22/2026

Join us for an engaging Science After Dark talk: SCUBA Diving: A Sport and a Tool for Discovering Nature 🤿🌊
We’re excited to welcome Kim Whiteside, a marine biologist working with a marine consultancy group in San Luis Obispo and a local NAUI Worldwide instructor.
Kim will take us through her dive log, sharing stories from her experiences as a scientific diver, recreational dive leader, volunteer, and lifelong ocean enthusiast. Through her journey underwater, she will highlight how SCUBA diving is more than just a sport. It is a powerful way to observe nature firsthand, deepen our connection to the ocean, and inspire a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors 🐟
Don’t miss this inspiring evening of science, storytelling, and ocean exploration. Get your tickets 🎟️ at 805tix!!

05/29/2026

The Education Team has been busy this May! 🌊🐙

We’ve taught more than 25 programs for schools across California, connecting students with marine science both inside and outside the classroom. It has been incredible to inspire curiosity, foster ocean stewardship, and share our love for the marine world with so many young learners.

As we gear up for Summer Camp in just a few weeks, we’re excited to finish the school year strong with our local school districts and community partners.

Interested in bringing marine science education to your students? Visit our website or email [email protected] to learn more!

CentralCoast

Address

50 San Juan Street
Avila Beach, CA
93424

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18054575357

Website

http://www.centralcoastaquarium.org/

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