Description

The Aquarium of the Bay at PIER 39 facility proudly showcases 300 feet of crystal-clear acrylic tunnels containing 700,000 gallons of meticulously maintained bay water, providing a habitat for approximately 20,000 animals, ranging from octopi to impressive eight-foot native seven-gill sharks. Visitors are treated to captivating displays of jellyfish and have the unique opportunity to interact with bat rays, skates, and the fascinating "splash zone" animals. Over its fifteen-year history, San Francisco's spectacular Aquarium of the Bay has welcomed over seven million guests, including more than 100,000 school children.
Your exploration of the Aquarium of the Bay begins in "Discover the Bay," where you'll encounter the distinctive ecosystems that support a wide variety of marine life. Through eight exhibits featuring over a thousand aquatic animals, you'll gain insights into the creatures that call the Bay their home.

Exhibit highlights include:
- 'Beauties of the Bay': visit San Francisco Bay’s most colorful animals, including the bright orange Garibaldi (the California State Marine Fish), green Moray Eels and rockfish of varying colors, in the first exhibit on the right.
- River Otters
- Swirling school of anchovies - did you know that lateral lines on anchovies’ bodies serve as sensory organs? This enables the animals to sense where the school is moving, to help stick together and avoid predators.
- 'Bay Babies' from newly hatched Skates to juvenile perch and other fishes, explore underwater newborns. San Francisco Bay is a nursery ground to many fish species.