Cownose Rays
Cownose rays are often found brushing along the sandy, shallow waters of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay, but it’s not unusual to find them up to 72 feet deep in the ocean. Visit the Aquarium’s ray touch pool in the Bay and Ocean Pavilion. Catch them in the morning or afternoon to watch them be fed by an aquarist.
Harbor Seals
Watch the Aquarium’s four male seals, Peter, Piper, Norton and Hector at play. These unique creatures are mammals that breathe air, but are able to hold their breath for almost 30 minutes allowing them to dive depths of 500 feet.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Loggerhead sea turtles are found in subtropical and tropical ocean waters and in coastal waters such as bays, lagoons and river mouths. In the Light Tower Aquarium you can watch as these mystifying 250 to 500 pound creatures swim with fish and other sea turtle species, the Kemp’s ridley, an olive ridley and a green turtle.
North American River Otters
River otters, the largest member of the weasel family, in the United States and Canada are often found in streams, rivers, lakes, estuaries and salt and freshwater marshes. While they spend a good amount of time on land, their webbed feet make them more at home in the water. Meet the Virginia Aquarium’s three male otters: Tippy, Homer and Sheldon.
Sand Tiger Sharks
In its Norfolk Canyon Aquarium, the Virginia Beach Aquarium and Marine Science Center houses three sand tiger sharks, each individual shark identified by unique physical characteristics. These sharks co-exist with other species of sharks as well as other fish and rays.
Blue Crab Corner
Uncover the natural history of the blue crab, appreciate its integration into the local culture and economy and understand the necessity of proper management of this precious resource. Located in the Marsh Pavilion, Blue Crab Corner is a dock structure that holds 750 gallons of crab habitat with viewing points below water through the cylinder’s walls and from within a crab pot inside the exhibit.
Chesapeake Bay Touch Pool
Touch a horseshoe crab, Forbes sea star, whelk, or hermit crab as docents standing by explain their anatomy and behavior. The Chesapeake Bay Touch Pool, home to fun and friendly sea creatures, represents the shallow waters around the famous Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Indonesian Volcanic Island
Learn about Mount Rogers, Virginia’s tallest mountain in Indonesian Volcanic Island. Komodo dragons, the largest lizard in the world, slither around this exhibit while colorful Indonesian finches flutter overhead. One of the exhibit’s highlights is a special viewing area that allows guests to crawl under the exhibit and pop up into an acrylic dome to see these unique animals up-close.
Malaysian Peat Swamp
Experience the humidity and hear the sounds of thunder and dripping water as you come face to face with unusual animals from Southeast Asia in Malaysian Peat Swamp. Snakehead fish, Southeast Asian turtles, Malayan leaf frogs and the rare tomistoma crocodile are some of the animals that live here.
Mediterranean Sea
In the Mediterranean Sea exhibit, discover how when the Coastal Sahara Desert meets the Mediterranean Sea, it creates conditions similar to those of Virginia’s Silurian Period. Minerals left behind when an ancient sea evaporated from a then-scalding desert are located in the Aquarium today. Featured in this exhibit are seahorses, cuttlefish, cobras, scorpions and hedgehogs.
Red Sea
The Red Sea exhibit explores the Triassic Period in Virginia. During this time, Virginia was along a rift zone that led to the creation of the Atlantic Ocean. See colorful live coral in an 8,000 gallon aquarium or walk through a 40-foot tunnel surrounded by a 100,000 gallon Red Sea Aquarium and come face to face with eagle rays and zebra sharks.
Whales: Voices in the Sea
Listen to the sounds of the humpback, sperm, blue, Baird’s beaked, killer, beluga and northern right whales in Whales: Voices in the Sea. Information on the conservation of whales and interviews with scientists about whales are also featured in this exhibit.
Shop the Aquarium Stores
If time permits, stop by Virginia Beach Aquarium and Marine Science Center stores. Located in both the Bay and Ocean Pavilion and the Marsh Pavilion, the Aquarium’s stores carry unique merchandise, local handicrafts and “green” options for eco-friendly gifts and keepsakes.
Food and Drinks at Virginia Beach Aquarium
Grab a snack from the Theater Snack Stand. Located in the Bay and Ocean Pavilion, the Snack Stand offers soft drinks, Icees, popcorn, hot pretzels and nachos. Sandwiches, salads, hot entrees, desserts and a variety of beverages are available for purchase from the Aquarium Café, also located in the Bay and Ocean Pavilion.
- It takes approximately 2.5 hours to see the exhibits in both the Bay and Ocean and Marsh Pavilions.
- The Virginia Beach Aquarium and Marine Science Center are ADA compliant.
- With so much to explore at the Aquarium, make sure you check the schedule posted behind the welcome desk upon arrival for the most up-to-date information about programs and activities being offered during your visit.