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California Coast
Encounter stunning views of the spectacular underwater ecosystems in our very own backyard, from kelp forests filled with vivid Garibaldi fish to rocky reefs blanketed in vibrant pink anemones and colorful corals.
California Coast invites visitors to explore the astounding richness of our own coastal waters. Be dazzled by an enormous window revealing the underwater haunts of eels, anemones, rockfish and take in a series of smaller jewel tanks highlighting some of the area’s most fascinating residents.
Northern California coast
This 100,000-gallon tank replicates habitats of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, from quiet salt marshes to turbulent rocky inlets. Stroll the surface walkway to smell the seawater and witness the filling and draining of tide pools, then head below to see what lives in the sanctuary's strong, nutrient-rich ocean currents.
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Rocky reefs
Our latest addition to the California Coast exhibit is an astoundingly colorful, 2,000-gallon tank filled with vibrant brittle stars, painted greenlings, and rosy rockfish, giving visitors a glimpse into the vast array of fish and invertebrates that thrive in California’s National Marine Sanctuaries.
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Get involved
At the Tidepool Explorer station, visitors can experience what it's like to participate in community science—and learn more about how to protect California's vibrant and vital coastal ecosystems.
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And so much more
Don’t miss our giant Pacific octopus, halibut, and the Southern California Kelp Forest, housing colorful Garibaldis and other fish that glide through strands of giant kelp.
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Steinhart webcams
Be mesmerized by colorful coral reef fish, soaring stingrays, and adorable African penguins—streaming live to your device, 24/7.
Using a novel Past-Present-Future approach, the researchers uncovered the "sea cow effect" on kelp forests.
If you skew more Ursula than Ariel, you’ve swum to the right post. Meet 8 Academy misfits who embody Halloween.
Surf’s up! Get to know the best coast with a bunch of sunny, sandy science activities for beach bums ages 8-11.
Learn more about the Academy's community science program, and join an upcoming bioblitz or biodiversity survey.
Academy biologists will employ their larval rearing expertise to raise the young sea stars to adulthood.
Help us find and document sea stars along the California coast for both the summer and winter solstice
Ready? Set? Snap! This June, help document California's coastal biodiversity by joining a bioblitz near you.