Vancouver Aquarium (Vancouver)

845 Avison Way
Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada
(604) 659-3474
www.vanaqua.org

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is a public aquarium located in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In addition to being a major tourist attraction for Vancouver, the aquarium is a centre for marine research, conservation and marine animal rehabilitation.

The aquarium is recognized for its displays and interpretations. The Vancouver Aquarium claims to be the first facility to incorporate professional naturalists into the galleries to interpret animal behaviours. However, naturalists James S. Bowerbank, Dr. E Lankester, Mr D. Mitchell and Philip Henry Gosse, the creator of the word aquarium, regularly held "open house" events at the world's first public aquarium at London Zoo Fish House at Regent's Park in the 19th century.


Vancouver Aquarium's major galleries are:

Canaccord Capital Exploration Gallery

There’s over 5,000 square feet of new animals to explore such as jellies, barnacles, ribboned seadragons and even mosquitoes. Get hands-on with exhibits by churning water in the barnacle habitat or playing with time on spin browsers that allow you to speed up frames or slow them down so you don’t miss any of the action!

Clownfish Cove

This popular children’s play area, designed for kids eight and younger, has been expanded and gives families even more opportunities to learn and play together. Dress up as your favourite aquatic animal or nurse a ‘seal pup’ back to health in our new animal hospital. Animals are available for up close encounters in special touch pools.

Arctic Canada

Come face-to-face with curious beluga whales in our underwater gallery. Find out how you can join trainers in the habitat with the belugas, by participating in our unique Beluga Encounters Program. Sleepovers with the whales are also available for groups.

Treasures of the BC Coast

Explore the diversity of life found in the underwater world of British Columbia. Watch as the giant Pacific octopus glides silently from crack to crevasse and discover how all of these awe-inspiring exhibits are connected to geographical locations in BC.

Tropic Zone

Blacktip reef sharks and moray eels are just a few of the animals that call the Tropic Zone home. Colourful fish abound in this gallery highlighting warm water creatures from all over the globe. Daily dive shows and shark feeds (twice weekly) are very popular.

Frogs Forever?

Amphibians survived the disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs—but now they may be in trouble. Find our why at our spectacular new exhibit, Frogs Forever?, which uses the latest sound technology and stunning colour to show the plight of the world’s frogs that are rapidly disappearing from the wild.

The Wild Coast

A series of walkways allows visitors to interact with a variety of marine mammals, including Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbour seals, sea otters, and Steller sea lions. Unique shows and experiences feature trainers feeding the always-adorable sea otters, as well as training sessions with the acrobatic dolphins and the boisterous Steller sea lions.

Pacific Canada Pavilion

Featuring a 69,000-gallon (260,000-litres) exhibit highlighting marine life from the Strait of Georgia, visitors come face-to-face with an underwater habitat filled with a vast web of plant and animal life. Divers mingle with thousands of schooling herring, halibut, crabs, kelp, sea stars, and other Pacific fishes.

The Amazon Rainforest

Discover the giant fishes of the Amazon and scan the steamy rainforest jungle for snoozing sloths. Snakes, spiders, birds, and lizards all live in this wondrous gallery. Experience the delight of thousands of free-flying tropical butterflies during the summer months.

BC Hydro Salmon Stream Project

The BC Hydro Salmon Stream Project winds its way from the Aquarium, through Stanley Park and into the waters of Coal Harbour. Salmon returns are anticipated late September – early January each year.

In 2007 the aquarium opened two aquatic exhibits at Vancouver International Airport's international terminal. The 114,000 litre main aquarium houses a rich collection of marine life native to BC, while a smaller but very dramatic exhbit features moon jellies.

Aquarium research projects extend world-wide, and include marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation.

The aquarium is run by a self-supporting non-profit organization. The operation of the aquarium receives no government funding. The property is owned by the City of Vancouver and rented to the Aquarium for $40,000 a year since 1991 (prior to which $1 per year).

In late 2006 the Vancouver Park Board approved the aquarium's revitalization plan, which includes a 1.5-acre expansion to allow for large marine mammal habitats, a revitalized public plaza, a salmon stream, and improved public spaces. As of early 2009, work has not commenced on the expansion plans.

 public aquarium / oceanarium / seaquarium  Add category