Life on the Bay
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 the Marine Mammal Gallery, you'll find life-size models of whales and dolphins swimming overhead and opportunities to learn about life on the bay.
- Location
- First floor
- Ecosystem
- Coastal waters
- Live cam
- Monterey Bay Cam
In this outdoor haven, you can connect with the marine life thriving in Monterey Bay. From anemones to sea stars, shorebirds, and sometimes a curious sea otter, the Great Tide Pool is a natural habitat that brims with life right off our back deck!
A coastal resident often seen on wharves, jetties and docks, the western gull dresses in spectacular white plumage with a dark slate-gray mantle.
Featured animals in this exhibit
Humpback whale
Humpback whale
Humpback whales have the most complex and varied songs of any whale species.
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Brown pelican
Brown pelican
This majestic bird has a distinctive large pouch that hangs from the lower half of its long, straight bill.
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Harbor seal
Harbor seal
Awkward and cumbersome on land, harbor seals maneuver with grace and agility in the water.
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Risso's dolphin
Risso's dolphin
Like a battered boxer, the bulky, blunt-headed Risso's dolphin bears lots of scars.
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National Marine Sanctuary
Monterey Bay is part of a National Marine Sanctuary stretching from Marin County to Cambria—encompassing a shoreline length of 276 miles (444 km) and 6,094 square miles (15,783 km2) of ocean. Learn more about Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Cool facts
Marine mammals
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 sixty-two-foot-long humpback whale.
Seals and otters
Ever-popular harbor seals and sea otters are year-round residents of Monterey Bay and are visible right from the Aquarium decks.
Seabirds
There are 94 kinds of seabirds found locally, including the California brown pelican and the western snowy plover.
Related videos
2 hours of wild Monterey Bay
Live cam
Monterey Bay Cam
Watch our live web cam of Monterey Bay and look for otters, birds, and sailboats on Monterey Bay.
Keep exploring
Animals & the ocean
Deep sea animals A to Z
From football-sized giant isopods to transparent jellies that glow, the deep sea is brimming with life.