The 3 Best Aquariums in Arizona
OdySea Aquarium is home to more than 6,000 animals and is the largest aquarium in the Southwest U.S., but SEA LIFE and Wildlife World also have lots to offer.
Written by Laura Salvas
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you want to immerse yourself in sea life, soak up detailed knowledge, and maybe even stroke some slimy scales, OdySea Aquarium is the most expansive aquarium in
Arizona
with 370 species in its unique exhibits.But there are other amazing aquariums around
Phoenix
with their own draws. SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium is a great fit for young kids and has a cool underwater tunnel, and Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park has tons of land animals and amusement park rides. If you’re struggling to decide which aquarium to visit,
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and travel buddy, Jerry
, has put together a guide to the three top aquariums in Arizona. We’ve laid out admission fees, key exhibits, and conservation efforts to help you choose the best aquarium for your interests. RECOMMENDED
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#1: OdySea Aquarium
Address: 9500 East Vía de Ventura Suite A-100, Scottsdale, AZ 85256
Admission cost: Adults—$41.95 ($27 after 4:30pm), Children (2-12)—$31.95
What makes it special:
OdySea Aquarium
is the largest aquarium in the Southwest, boasting 6,000 animals and 370 different species. Fish, sharks, sea turtles, penguins, octopus, and many more finny friends can be spotted swimming in massive tanks, dangling globe-shaped aquariums, and all around you in a submerged escalator tunnel.Watching sea lions, sea turtles, and sharks glide by as you sit comfortably in a rotating theater may not be an experience you knew you wanted, but the
Osysea Voyageur
is a 20-minute highlight of any visit, and you can later boast about having experienced the world’s only revolving deep-sea exhibit.If gazing at sea life through a thick wall of glass isn’t intimate enough for you, get your hands wet in one of four touch pools by giving a friendly pet to stingrays and sea stars, and enjoy the only Russian Sturgeon touch pool in the world.
Or go a step further and toss on a wetsuit and helmet for a stroll underwater with fish, stingrays, and a shark! OdySea Aquarium offers the up-close underwater encounter
SeaTREK Underwater Helmet Diving
, which can be booked for an additional cost. Typically, the aquarium
offers encounters
with an African Penguin, shark waters, and sloths, but these are temporarily suspended to protect animals from COVID-19. It’s worth checking back before your visit to see if they have re-opened these experiences. Pro Tip Make sure you freshen up in the Aqua Lobby bathroom, previously voted America’s Best Restroom, where live sharks will make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Conservation efforts at OdySea Aquarium
OdySea prides itself on being accredited by the
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
—an honor less than 10 percent of registered animal exhibitors have achieved—for meeting the “gold standard” of animal care. OdySea also is:- A member ofAZA SAFE, which helps protect threatened animal species, and several other like-minded organizations to help protect reptiles, fish, seabirds, and forests.
- Partnered with Arizona State University to actively participate in research studies to help further education on sharks.
- A participant of the Species Survival Program through the OdySea African Penguin Breeding Program.
- A host for local cleanups and helps remove invasive species from the environment.
#2: SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
Address: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir Suite 145, Tempe, AZ 85282
Admission cost: $14.99 (children under 3 free)
What makes it special:
Walking through Arizona’s only
360-degree ocean tunne
l, with sea turtles swimming over your head and sharks whizzing past your shoulders, is a straight-up cool experience. Nestled 15 feet under the water’s surface, you’ll be pleasantly overwhelmed by sea life as you stroll under this 180,000-gallon tank at SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
.The
Bay of Rays
exhibit brings you to a sandy beach complete with palm trees and, of course, stingrays! You can also spot shark eggs, eels, and sneaky fish.Poisonous poissons like the porcupine puffer lurk in the waters of the
Shipwreck Exhibit
with their venomous pals, the two spot turkey fish, rabbitfish, and lionfish—most of which are more deadly than their land-living namesakes. In the aquarium’s newest exhibit, you can learn how to
save and feed a sea turtle
for an added ticket fee. Some exhibits are temporarily closed due to COVID-19, but once that pesky virus goes away, you can expect to get your hands on some sea stars or anemones in the Interactive Tidepool
.Conservation efforts at SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
SEA LIFE Arizona is accredited by the
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
and is part of a global family of aquariums with locations in 17 countries. SEA LIFE boasts that their charity, SEA LIFE Trust, is committed to protecting the globe’s oceans and marine life by helping with the following:- Creating the world’s first sanctuary for beluga whales located in Iceland, which also rescues puffins
- Protecting sea turtles
- Rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing seal pups who are sick or injured
- Creating protected marine areas and reducing litter, particularly through their global beach clean event
#3: Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
Address: 16501 W Northern Ave, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Admission cost: Adults (13+)—$47.00 tax included, Children (3-12)—$27.00 tax included, Children (0-2)—Free. Discounts are available for Seniors ($5.00 off Tuesdays only), AAA members ($5 off with a valid card), and groups of 10+ ($2.00 per person, not to be combined with other discounts).
What makes it special:
Wildlife World
is much more than just an aquarium, with a zoo, rides, and Arizona’s largest showing of exotic animals. Because this park offers so much to see, the aquarium itself isn’t as large as others in Arizona, but it’s still full of cute and curious sea creatures to gawk at!Sunny the sea lion was the first sea lion pup born in Arizona, and he can still be found showing off his star skills in the Shipwreck Cove sea lion shows.
In addition to sea lions, expect to see marine animals such as:
- Black-footed penguins
- Giant Pacific octopus
- Electric eels
- Several breeds of shark
- Sea turtles and snapping turtles
- A rare white albino alligator
Pro Tip You can have a digital photo of up to six people taken with a sea lion and feed them a couple of fish (the sea lion, not your family) for $30 at 11:45 am or 3:45 pm, with additional slots of 9:45 am and 1:45 pm on weekends.
Conservation efforts at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
When visiting any facility that shows animals, you want to make sure they maintain a certain standard of care. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park:
- Is accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums and the Zoological Association of America
- Has in-house breeding programs that help maintain genetic diversity in the zoological population
What is the best aquarium in Arizona?
Now that you’ve read about Arizona’s top aquariums, all located in the
Phoenix
area, you may still be feeling lost as to which venue to visit. Here’s a little help:- OdySea Aquarium offers lots of in-depth and detailed displays and encounters and is quite expansive—appealing to older kids and adults. It’s located inArizona Boardwalk, a tourist destination packed with family attractions and shops.
- SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium is a great choice for families with young kids, as most displays are viewable down to floor level, and it costs a bit less. It’s also located in a shopping center right next toLEGOLAND, and combination tickets are available.
- If your family is having a surf vs. turf debate, Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is home to all sorts of legged, finned, and winged species. See the sea lions you love and appease your partner with panthers.
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What is the biggest aquarium in Arizona?
OdySea Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Southwest U.S., spanning 200,000 square feet and holding more than 2,000,000 US gallons of water in its tanks.
How long should I plan to stay at Arizona aquariums?
It all depends on which location you visit. SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium should take 60-90 minutes to get through, while OdySea Aquarium may require 2.5-3.5 hours. Because Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park has zoo animals and rides in addition to their aquarium, you could spend a couple of hours to all day there, depending on your interests and stamina.
