Heal the Bay Aquarium is a marine education facility operated by the environmental nonprofit Heal the Bay, located beach-level beneath the historic Carousel at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. The aquarium focuses on the marine life and coastal waters of Southern California, housing approximately 100 local species including giant sea bass, halibut, leopard sharks, moray eels, sea hares, horn sharks, and swell sharks. A 2,200-gallon Under the Pier exhibit is a centerpiece, and visitors can explore simulated tide pools and get hands-on with sea cucumbers, urchins, and hermit crabs in open touch tanks. A colorful watershed mural illustrates the journey of water through the Santa Monica Mountains to the sea. Admission is just five dollars for adults and free for children under 12. Open to the public on weekends, the aquarium draws nearly 100,000 visitors annually and serves as an inspiring introduction to Southern California's coastal ecosystems.
