The Birch Aquarium in San Diego, California, is the aquarium of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. The aquarium sits on a bluff and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It is home to over 60 habitats, simulating the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, the warm waters of Mexico, and many more. The aquarium’s interactive exhibits also educate the public on the ongoing research at the Scripps Institute.

  • How many fish are housed in the Birch Aquarium?
    • Over 5,000 fish are housed in a variety of habitats and exhibits.
  • What is the Hall of Fishes exhibit?
    • The Hall of Fishes takes visitors on a journey from the cold northern waters of the Pacific Northwest to the warm Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
    • The highlight of the exhibit is a rescued loggerhead sea turtle.
  • What is the Giant Kelp Forest exhibit?
    • The Giant Kelp Forest is a 70,000-gallon, two-story tank.
    • It features marine life such as moray eels, leopard sharks, and the endangered black sea bass.
  • What is the Expedition at Sea exhibit?
    • The Expedition at Sea exhibit introduces visitors to the RV Sally Ride, the newest research vessel in the Scripps fleet.
    • The exhibit showcases what life is like aboard a 238-foot research ship.
  • What can visitors experience at the Something About Seahorses exhibit?
    • Something About Seahorses allows for up-close encounters with seadragons, which are bred at the aquarium.
  • What is Elasmo Beach?
    • Elasmo Beach is a large outdoor tank featuring local sea life from San Diego’s shores, including rays and leopard sharks.
  • What can visitors do at the Life on the Edge exhibit?
    • The Life on the Edge exhibit is based on local tidal pools and allows visitors to interact with marine life.
    • Guests can touch starfish, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, lobsters, and more.
  • What is the history of Birch Aquarium?
    • The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has maintained an aquarium since its inception in 1905.
    • The first standalone aquarium was built in 1915 with 19 tanks, the largest holding almost 230 gallons.
    • The Scripps Aquarium-Museum opened in 1951 as a three-story, 18-tank facility.
    • The current Birch Aquarium opened in 1992 after a $10 million fundraising effort.
    • Today, over 460,000 visitors come to Birch Aquarium annually.
  • What ongoing programs and education opportunities are available?
    • Aquarium visits are self-guided, with group tours available for groups of 10 or more.
    • Themes for tours include the Ocean Discovery Experience and the Shark Discovery Experience.
    • Kelp Tank Dive Shows allow visitors to watch divers feed sharks and eels while answering questions.
    • Visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences with live animals in the Explore It exhibit.
    • The Think Tank exhibit features engineering challenges for guests.
  • Are there educational programs for adults?
    • Yes, the Perspectives Lectures feature Scripps scientists presenting research from around the world.
  • What educational programs are available for children?
    • Birch Aquarium offers summer camps for children ages 5-15, with a mix of classroom learning and seashore activities.
  • What off-site programs are available?
    • All off-site tours are guided by aquarium naturalists and include:
    • Snorkeling with local leopard sharks.
    • Full-day whale watching trips.
    • Full moon pier walks and tide pool explorations.
    • Grunion runs to observe the unique fish spawning event.
  • What is SEA Days?
    • SEA Days (Science, Exploration, and Adventure) are monthly activity days where visitors can speak to oceanographers about current research.
  • Where is Birch Aquarium located?

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