HIGHLIGHTS:

Wetlands Gallery - Your adventure begins under a spectacular glass dome, home to freshwater fish, free flying birds (including silly characters), playful river otters, Florida alligators, an extensive indoor mangroves exhibit, and a host of other inhabitants of Florida's wetlands. Climb a giant staircase to the towering mezzanine of the Wetlands Lookout for a bird's eye view of the entire gallery below.

Bays and Beaches Gallery - Maybe you've been to Florida's beaches, but do you ever wonder what's lurking below the surface? Take a walk under a bridge, stroll by the beach, and encounter seahorses, stingrays and spiny lobsters without ever getting wet. You'll see the life of Florida bays and shorelines up-close and in awe-inspiring detail.

Coral Reefs Gallery - Plunge into the awesome underwater world of a 60-foot dive for a one-of-a-kind look at a coral grotto. From clouds of colorful fish swimming in unison, to green moray eels hiding in dark crevices, it's a constantly moving parade of life. Start with a stroll through the Coral Reef Tunnel, then into the Underwater Caves

Dragons Down Under - Located in the Coral Reefs Gallery, this exhibit features two species of exotic sea dragons, "leafy" and "weedy," as well as seahorses, pipefish and trumpetfish. The official Dragons Down Under cast of characters include nine exhibits with over 100 total specimens from all over the world. The stars of the show, leafy sea dragons, hail from Australia. Because the population of these creatures is in decline, The Florida Aquarium is one of only a handful of aquariums and zoos in the world with the special permits to display these unique and beautiful creatures.

Sea Hunt - Sea Hunt includes sharks, as well as seldom-seen hunters like the giant Pacific octopus, cuttlefish - who's colors change with their moods and some very bizarre hunters, like the frogfish and wolf eels. Also on display are the beautiful hunters - the lionfish and the butterfly fish. Armed with different strategies, all these hunters are equipped to seek and capture prey in one of the most demanding environments on earth, the ocean.

Shark Bay - From Fear to Fascination exhibit, featuring ocean predators from around the world, is a favorite of many. It is part of the Sea Hunt Gallery which includes 13 exhibits with over 200 total specimens.  You can also Dive With The Sharks!

Invaders! - Now Closed - But You Can See It Here!  Contained Florida's Most Unwanted Species, drawing the curious to learn about invasive species, why they are here, how they got here, and what you can do to help contain them.  See other closed & past exhibits here.

NEW Aquariumania: "Crazy About Fish Tanks" takes a small-scale view of a passion that dates back to the ancient Egyptians and explores how the hobby has grown in size and sophistication. The $500,000 exhibit features fresh and saltwater tanks and more than 5,000 fish on the aquarium's top level, overlooking the Wetlands Gallery. Not just another display of aquatic creatures, but encouraging stewardship of our indoor aquatic realm.  If you have an aquarium at home, or are thinking about it, this is a must see exhibit!

No Bones Zone - This unique 1,200 square-foot presentation is the Aquarium's first focus on invertebrates (animals without backbones). No Bone Zone is especially designed for the younger marine enthusiast, with low tanks and plenty of hands-on opportunities.  And don't forget our Stingray Touch Tank in our lobby!

Explore A Shore - A perfect aquatic playground for the small fry!

Programs and Services:
The Aquarium facility houses a living collection of up to 10,000 animals and plants in four permanent exhibit galleries: Wetlands, Bays and Beaches, Coral Reef, SharkBay, and Sea Hunt. A series of renovations and additions to the Offshore Gallery was completed in summer 2001 converting it into the Sea Hunt Gallery, and a new exhibit on invasive species, a major issue for Florida, opened in this gallery in spring 2002, but has now closed for renovations and conversion into a Home Aquarium Exhibit to be opened in May 2006. "Dive with the Sharks" and "Swim with the Fishes" public immersion programs were added in 2003 as was a coral propagation farm and public exhibit, funded by a research grant from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). Other current Aquarium research and conservation efforts include Ecosystem Restoration and Education focusing on a small man-made island in upper Tampa Bay, Seahorse Conservation efforts and North American River Otter Reproductive Hormone Study / Rehabilitation. Our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation efforts are done in conjunction with the New England Aquarium. A major renovation and expansion of the outdoor "Explore A Shore" children’s area opened in March 2004.