Life on the Bay

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The Aquarium sits perched on the edge of Monterey Bay. Our ocean view decks offer a great vantage point to spot wildlife, from sea otters to humpback whales. In our Marine Mammal Gallery, you'll find life-size models of whales and dolphins swimming overhead, and learn about life on the bay.

Beneath the Bay

Beneath the surface of Monterey Bay is an enormous canyon that is 60 miles long and two miles deep (deeper than the Grand Canyon). It’s home to extraordinary deep sea creatures and alien life forms that we’re just beginning to understand.

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Did You Know?

Monterey Bay is part of a National Marine Sanctuary stretching from near San Francisco to south of San Simeon—a distance of about 5,300 square miles.
More than 30 species of marine mammals live in or pass through the bay, ranging in size from the four-foot-long sea otter to the hundred-foot-long blue whale.
Ever-popular harbor seals and sea otters are year-around residents of Monterey Bay and are visible right from the Aquarium decks.
There are 94 kinds of seabirds found locally, including the California brown pelican and the snowy plover.

Sail with Us

Become a marine scientist for a day as you work alongside Aquarium naturalists aboard the Derek M Baylis, a 65-foot sailboat designed for ocean research.

Learn more about our sailing adventures

Celebrating 25 Years of Ocean Conservation