Aquarium of the Pacific

10/15/2026

The deadline for the 2027 Aquarium of the Pacific CELP Scholar Program is approaching. Applications close Tuesday, October 20 at 5 p.m.

The Community, Equity, Learning, and Persistence (CELP) Scholar Program supports Southern California community college, undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students pursuing ocean-related STEM fields. Each scholar receives $10,000, along with networking opportunities, professional development sessions facilitated by program alumni, and a growing community of peers. The program aims to broaden participation in marine science and bring a greater variety of lived experiences to the work of ensuring a healthy, sustainable ocean for everyone.

If you work with students who would benefit, please share. Learn more and apply:

The Aquarium’s CELP Scholar Program seeks to broaden participation in marine sciences, help more students find their own community in STEM, and support students’ persistence in the field.

10/15/2026

Trick or treat under the sea! 🎃

Bring the whole family to Scarium Family Night on Friday, October 23, from 6:30-9PM for a frightfully fun night at the Aquarium:

👻 Spooky self-guided scavenger hunt
🍬 Trick-or-treating throughout the Aquarium (goodie bags provided!)
🪩 Monster mashups from our DJ
🧛 Vampire magician shows
📸 Photo stations, kids activity booths, and so much more!

Costumes are encouraged! Please keep them family-friendly and leave full-face masks, toy weapons, and flashlights at home.

🎟

Join us for a frightfully fun night for the whole family at the Aquarium’s Scarium Family Night.

10/13/2026

Since 2007, Aquarium of the Pacific volunteer scientific divers have partnered with the Reef Check Foundation to survey kelp forest sites along the Southern California coast, recording the presence and abundance of fish, invertebrates, and algae. This year, the partnership expanded to Reef Check Hawaiʻi’s coral reef monitoring program. Our AAUS trained divers completed training in Reef Check’s standardized coral reef protocols and participated in two monitoring surveys in Kona, Hawaiʻi, with in water leadership from Reef Check Hawaiʻi’s scientific divers.

Standardized surveys at the same sites over time give scientists and resource managers a clearer picture of species abundance, habitat condition, and ecosystem resilience, information that can lead to more effective management and stronger protection of these habitats. We aim to return to Kona annually to keep contributing to that record.

Thank you to Brad Giles and the Reef Check Hawaiʻi team for their partnership and guidance.

Read more:

Aquarium volunteer scientific field divers are engaging in projects along the Southern California coast and now Hawaiʻi. The Aquarium of the Pacific has partnered with the Reef Check Foundation to collect data to better understand ocean health, specifically in kelp forest and coral reef ecosystems.

10/13/2026

Parker's having a good hair day, like if you agree. 👨‍🎤

10/08/2026

Happy World Octopus Day! 🐙

Read through to learn 8 fascinating facts about these brilliant, eight-armed creatures.

What do you want to learn about octopuses? Drop your questions in the comments, and we’ll ask the experts to respond!

10/07/2026

New jellies have arrived! 🍳🪼

Step into Jelly Dreamscapes to marvel at the egg-yolk centers of our new fried egg jellies. They’re only on exhibit this month, plan your visit today at pacific.to/visit

10/07/2026

Book your group of 10 or more to see jellies! 🪼
Bring your crew to Jelly Dreamscapes and get lost in glowing galleries of mesmerizing jellies, including limited-time species you won’t want to miss.

Visit with your group up to 100 at a discounted rate! Dates available Monday through Friday.

10/06/2026

With an ongoing marine heatwave, you may encounter marine animals that are sick, injured, or deceased. The best way to help is to keep a safe distance and call the experts trained to respond:

🦭 Seals and sea lions (LA County): 800.399.4253
🐢 Sea turtles: 562.506.4315
🐋 Entangled whales and dolphins: 877.767.9425
🦆 Injured birds: 866.767.2473

We're also watching something historic: the first recorded nesting of olive ridley sea turtles in California! If you see sea turtles, tracks, or a possible nest on the beach, please report it immediately.

Notice a healthy animal that seems out of place for SoCal? Send a photo or description with the location and date to [email protected]. Screenshot or save this post to keep these numbers handy!

Visit pacific.to/rescue for the full list of SoCal rescue contacts.

10/05/2026

100° days mean extra shower time for the Lorikeet Forest residents, and maybe an epic photoshoot. 🌈💦🦜

Photos by Animal Care Specialist Michelle

10/02/2026

MEET...DUKE! 👑

The votes are in, and our puffling officially has a name! Duke is a royal nod to his parents, Baron and Pumpkin, and a fitting title for a little puffin with such an important future ahead of him. With especially valuable genetics, Duke could help support a healthy and diverse horned puffin population in accredited zoos and aquariums for years to come.

Thank you to everyone who voted, donated, and shouted out your favorite names in the comments.

Come say hi to Duke in our Diving Birds habitat! 🧡

Photo by Robin Riggs