Central Coast Aquarium

Rashi

2024-02

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Jamie Buck

2023-05

Nice little aquarium. Great for kids. The staff were very accommodating, making sure my busy 3 year old was able to touch all the little critters. It is very small but a great little stop during the rain or to pass a bit of time. $9 a head can get expensive for what it is but I understand what they are doing takes money. We enjoyed it.

Kole Devereaux

2024-02

Great little aquarium! Little prices per person, but hear me out! Supporting a small business like this is going back to a good cause. I think a business like this is vital to protecting our oceans and the great knowledge that surrounds its ocean species! Please do me and them a favor by support them! It may be small, and it may be a quick visit, but it is worth it!

Sunnayna Singh

2021-05

Cute and small. It has been open for 14 years and is apart of the museums for all program. Which if you were not aware of this program it is where card holders of Medi-cal or Ebt can have low cost discounted admission to these places. It is a program that gives those in poverty the chance to learn just like everyone else. Definitely donate to this aquarium. their staff is lovely and so are their marine family. We all should help small places like these grow.I am so glad to have included this Aquarium in my itinerary. My mother, sister and two children loved it as well. Small in size but everything inside leaves the greatest memory.

Janet McMahon - Keller Williams Realty

2019-05

This the smallest yet BEST Aquarium I have ever been too. Loved all of the knowledge of the staff. We were lucky to be there for the shark feeding and the octopus feeding. I would definitely stop in if visiting Avila Beach.

Ross Karmen

2019-05

The staff and volunteers are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They go out of their way to teach you about the marine life in California.It may be small, but the size means that you get more of a chance to learn about each animal rather than rushing off to see the next exhibit. This aquarium is a place to go if you want to truly learn about the ocean rather than only glancing at each animal. Every question is answered in detail and depth leaving both kids and adults feeling like they have left with something of value.

Nicole Rodriguez

2019-05

Megan was awesome. She was very informative and helpful. She let my children ask her many questions about the aquarium and Cal Poly.

B G

2022-05

Tiny aquarium with two rooms and bathrooms. Volunteer working there was a student and really helpful and informative. There is a touch tank.

Cecilia Day

2023-07

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Pyrate Ned

2019-05

Small but very personal and super friendly staff my kids always have a great time there. Great place to support!

Benjamin Conway

2023-05

Super friendly and helpful staff. They truely have professional interest in their work and love what they do which made for an amazing trip. Best part was Rosa the octopus, very cool!!! Will be back again! And affordable price too!!!!

Vic

2024-04

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Victoria Huston

2023-05

We were the only people in the whole aquarium (my husband, daughter and I). We paid the $9 per adult and went into the aquarium. Honestly not much to see, took us less than 10 minutes with a 2 year old to see everything. Went into the gift shop and she choose a shark bath toy that was labeled as $3. The whole basket of these toys say $3, the cashier even went and verified that it indeed said $3 but still wanted to charge us $6 for 1, not going to happen. Then she couldn't figure out how to scan the box of goldfish crackers and looked completely overwhelmed. We just ended up leaving buying nothing which set my daughter off since we told her she could have the toy and goldfish crackers. Pretty annoying experience and won't be going back.

Rose Lewellon

2022-05

A favorite of ours to see when we make it out there!! Next time we hope the octopus is out😂

gloria zaragoza

2022-05

Really cool experience! The aquarium is a good size and for the price not bad. They had a Shark show where they allow you to touch the sharks. Of course after you wash your hands. COVID Friendly! Also, they have a little exhibit where the kids get to touch the starfish, hermit crab, and jelly thing. Awesome experience for the kids!

S D

2022-05

Very small but sweet place. I feel like I made a few friends (fish) there!

Miss Anthropist

2021-05

This place was such a fun visit! Everyone is so kind and touch tanks are always a good time. People complaining about the $8 admission clearly don't see that knowledge has value because the staff is so happy to educate anyone of the interesting sea critters they care for. While the place is small, it still has so much to offer if you find sea life fascinating. Gotta say my favorite are the jellyfish! My friends and I very much enjoyed our time there, thank you! ❤

David Manville

2022-05

Was really excited to come here but was very disappointed at our experience. We knew the hours were until 4pm and we got here at 345 and thought as long as we got here by 4 we would be good to go to have a nice experience with the kids and as soon as we walked in the door the lady said we only had 10 min. The place is very nice yet it’s only 2 rooms, I mean how long did they think we would be here. If they are going to rush people then the they should close doors at 330 so the last people could have a whole 30 min. I get it staff wants to go home but we came before they closed and was super upset that we were rushed so we paid and took a few pictures and left but no education on the local wildlife which is what I wanted for the kids. Left a donation on top of that because the sea life needs to be preserved regardless of the staff and our experience.Very disappointed

Kelly McCay

2023-05

This wondrous gem of the Central Coast offers magical interactive experiences with living local Sealife. Nature lovers of all ages will learn about ocean stewardship through education, engagement and interaction with the animals ~ like petting a young swell shark! Come visit, and leave inspired. Donations always welcomed!

Sara Lin

2019-05

Got to pet a 🦈 shark, see some amazing animals, and learn new things!

B Kahn

2019-05

This place is small - two rooms - but it was actually just the right size for my 3 year-old. After our first visit, we went to lunch and then he asked to return for more. Our visit was in July, and it may not be the same in the winter months, but there was a docent (mostly college students) talking to us and showing us things the entire time we were there, which made it much more interesting. They have touch pools and they feed the animals almost hourly.

Karo Yañez

2020-05

My family and I have been to some aquariums before and this one has given us the best experience ever; it's a small place, yes, but staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, they're happy to share information about the species they have but they do it with such joy and passion, at other places is more about making sure you don't touch what you're not supposed to touch and that's it. The lady that showed us around was very very kind to our 3 y/o and other kids around, that is always a plus!!

brandon rodriguez

2019-05

The facility I noticed was rather small. However!! The aquarium is really fun. My 6 year old had a lot of fun. She got to see giant lobster, a very active octopus, an awesome jelly fish exhibit and small sharks. As feeding time rolled around everyone crowded around to watch how fast sleeping sharks became active in seconds! (Sorry that sounded weird) I'm just saying. My family had a great time.

Peter Willard

2019-05

We were strolling after lunch, and dropped in for a quick tour of this two room aquarium. This place would be perfect for people with very small children. We happened to arrive as a shark encounter began, and were permitted to "pet" a little shark. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, probably college students. We waited around for awhile and were able to experience the feeding of a Giant Pacific Octopus, which made the experience worth $8 for an adult without kids.

maria blakley

2022-05

We loved this little aquarium! My grandkids are still talking about it. My grandson tells everyone he saw a great white shark, lol. They were memorized with the jellyfish tank. Thank you for being there, we shall return.

Rebecca “Becka” Draggoo

2022-05

It's a very small aquarium, we did get to touch a few things, including a shark. So over all the kids got about 45 min. of fun.

Cherry Christenson

2019-05

I went here with an elementary school. This is a small aquarium, but I enjoyed the volunteer-guided tour and the squid "dissecting" class. I don't know if the average visitor gets a guided tour, but I believe one is necessary to enjoy the unlabeled tanks. The aquarium also had a tiny but very nice gift shop.

Alan Villarreal

2023-07

Disappointing. Small, not much to do or see. We spent less than 15 minutes in the aquarium. Save your money and go somewhere else.

Anita Rubio

2023-05

Such a nice educational museum. It was such a quaint place

G. Martin

2018-05

Super fun, small aquarium. Touch tanks are fun. There is a touch tank for swell sharks also. They feed the octopus at 2pm. One of the attendants knows sign language which was very helpful for the 2 hearing impaired visitors. She did a great job. Very interesting horseshoe crabs were in a tank with rays, sharks and a moray eel. Admission is $8.00.