Central Coast Aquarium

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

The Education Team has been busy this May! 🌊🐙We’ve taught more than 25 programs for schools across California, connectin...
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

We’re thrilled to welcome the 6th Annual Children’s Business Fair to the Central Coast! 🎉The Central Coast Aquarium is p...
05/26/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome the 6th Annual Children’s Business Fair to the Central Coast! 🎉
The Central Coast Aquarium is proud to host this inspiring event, where young entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life—launching real businesses and showcasing creativity, effort, and imagination all in one vibrant day 💡🌊
📅 Saturday, May 30
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Aquarium & Ocean Discovery Park
Come support the next generation of innovators and enjoy a day filled with creativity, community, and big ideas in action 🚀🌟

🌎🌊 Happy International Biodiversity Day! 🐟🌎We’re celebrating the incredible diversity of marine life found along our loc...
05/22/2026

🌎🌊 Happy International Biodiversity Day! 🐟🌎

We’re celebrating the incredible diversity of marine life found along our local beaches and oceans.Biodiversity keeps ecosystems healthy and our oceans thriving. 🐙

We invite you to be part of it through our new project, where you can help showcase the biodiversity of our local coasts! 🪼

If you take photos of marine life at the aquarium or along our coast, upload them to our iNaturalist project so we can document local biodiversity and contribute observations that help deepen our understanding of our coastal ecosystems. 💙

📱 Join our iNaturalist project and help document local marine life:
👉 https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/central-coast-aquarium-naturalist-network

🌊CALLING ALL ARTISTS & OCEAN LOVERS! 🎨We are hosting a Monthly Magnet Design Competition! Create original artwork inspir...
05/20/2026

🌊CALLING ALL ARTISTS & OCEAN LOVERS! 🎨
We are hosting a Monthly Magnet Design Competition! Create original artwork inspired by the ocean and our local marine life for a chance to have your design turned into an official Aquarium magnet sold in our gift shop.
🏆 Winner receives:
• Featured magnet in our Gift Shop
• Recognition in-store + on social media
• FREE family membership to the Aquarium
🐠 Get inspired by:
Otters • tide pools • sharks • jellyfish • coastal life • ocean conservation • local marine wildlife
🎨 Requirements:
• Must include “Central Coast Aquarium”
• Fits within 2” circle or 2” × 3” rectangle
• Original, family-friendly artwork only
• Digital or hand-drawn welcome
📅 Deadline: 25th of every month
📍 Submit: [email protected]
🔗 Rules & details: http://centralcoastaquarium.org/magnet/

Have you signed up for summer camp yet? We are so excited and thankful for all of our partners that are going to be invo...
05/20/2026

Have you signed up for summer camp yet? We are so excited and thankful for all of our partners that are going to be involved with our camps this summer! Sign up today to dive into the deep and experience guest presentations or events with the Morro Bay Shanty Project, MBARI at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Sea Otter Savvy, the Morro Bay Maritime Museum, and Avila Beach Paddlesports! Sea you this summer 🐠☀️😎

❤️ Give the gift of life and support our community at the Central Coast Aquarium Blood Drive! Join us on Friday, May 22n...
05/15/2026

❤️ Give the gift of life and support our community at the Central Coast Aquarium Blood Drive! Join us on Friday, May 22nd from 9:30 AM–12:30 PM in Avila Beach ❤️
Every donation helps save lives, and donors will be entered in a giveaway and will receive 1 free aquarium admission ticket! 🐠
📍 50 San Juan Street, Avila Beach, CA
📲 Sign up through the link in our bio!

Join us Tuesday, May 26th, from 5:30–8:00 PM for an 18+ adults-only evening of local wine, appetizers, and fascinating s...
05/11/2026

Join us Tuesday, May 26th, from 5:30–8:00 PM for an 18+ adults-only evening of local wine, appetizers, and fascinating science 🍷 🔬

🗣️ Featured Speaker: Morro Bay National Estuary Program brings Nick Soares and Makenzie O’Connor

Nick Soares and Makenzie O’Connor study how changing habitats in the Morro Bay watershed shape fish populations from estuary to creek. Nick’s work shows how shifts in eelgrass beds have driven major changes in estuarine fish communities, while Makenzie’s research tracks steelhead and rainbow trout movement in Chorro Creek and the habitats that support them. Together, their work highlights how connected coastal and freshwater systems support resilient fish populations and guide restoration efforts across the watershed.

🧪 Poster Presentations by Local Researchers:

1. Culturing System for the Native Olympia Oyster Developing an Ultra High Density Larval

2. Understanding the seasonal and habitat variability of microplastic abundance in Morro Bay

Learn, mingle, and explore the aquarium after hours—all in one unforgettable night.
      

Happy Bike Month! The Central Coast Aquarium invites you to ride over to Ancient Owl tomorrow or stop by on your commute...
05/11/2026

Happy Bike Month! The Central Coast Aquarium invites you to ride over to Ancient Owl tomorrow or stop by on your commute home to check out some tidepool animals! Interact with these invertebrates and enter to win free admission to the Central Coast Aquarium!




 
Ancient Owl Beer Garden & Bottle Shoppe

3197 Duncan Rd a, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Tuesday May 12
5:00 – 7:30pm

Join us Tuesday, April 28th, from 5:30–8:00 PM for an 18+ adults-only evening of local wine, appetizers, and fascinating...
04/19/2026

Join us Tuesday, April 28th, from 5:30–8:00 PM for an 18+ adults-only evening of local wine, appetizers, and fascinating science 🍷 🔬

Update: Dr. Chris Lowe is no longer able to attend. We’re excited to welcome Dr. James Anderson, a postdoctoral researcher with the California State University, Long Beach Shark Lab, as our featured speaker.

🗣️ Featured Speaker: Dr. James Anderson — marine biologist and researcher studying shark movement, behavior, and coastal habitat use in Southern California 🌊

Dr. James Anderson investigates the movement and behavior of sharks, with a focus on how juvenile white sharks use Southern California’s coastal habitats. Based at the CSULB Shark Lab, his work combines high-resolution telemetry, spatial modeling, and environmental data to better understand habitat use, social dynamics, and shark–human coexistence, informing conservation and coastal management efforts. Outside of research, he is an avid outrigger canoe paddler, surfer, and fisher who enjoys spending time on and around the ocean.

🧪 Poster Presentations by Local Researchers:
1. Alphabet coding for efficient bioacoustics analysis of humpback whale songs along the California coast
2. Enhancing water quality through denitrification in a recirculating aquaculture system
Learn, mingle, and explore the aquarium after hours—all in one unforgettable night.


Spring camp fun! 🌟🐬🌺 Thanks to everyone who was a part of our spring break camp last week. We played fun games, did awes...
04/13/2026

Spring camp fun! 🌟🐬🌺 Thanks to everyone who was a part of our spring break camp last week. We played fun games, did awesome science experiments, got crafty, and transformed into the funkiest fish! 🐠 Here are some highlights and we can’t wait to see you all at summer camp!

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

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