Expansion brings the biodiversity of the Coral Triangle with sharks, rays, reef fish, corals & mangroves to the Pacific Northwest
The Seattle Aquarium is thrilled to share that the new Ocean Pavilion expansion is opening on August 29! Guests can purchase tickets today and be among the first to experience the Pacific Northwest’s largest tropical reef ecosystem as we finish welcoming animals to three new immersive habitats.
“It’s incredible to see this vision brought to life after more than two decades in the making,” Bob Davidson, President and CEO of the Seattle Aquarium, said. “We wouldn’t be able to celebrate such an historic occasion without the dedication and tireless work of thousands of people throughout the years, helping take the new Ocean Pavilion from vision to reality. Now that we’re here, I’m just so excited for people to come inside and experience the magic for themselves.”
When they walk inside, guests will discover the wonders of a reef ecosystem in the Coral Triangle—a region in the Indo-Pacific so rich in biodiversity that it’s referred to as “the Amazon of the ocean.” For the first time, guests will come face to face with 3,500 extraordinary animals and plants, including sharks, rays, schooling fish, seahorses, mangroves, nearly 30 species of coral and so much more.
The Ocean Pavilion will also tell a story about Earth’s one ocean from state-of-the-art digital storytelling. Guests will come away with a deepened understanding that all waters are connected; that our fate and the ocean’s are one and the same; and that together we can make a difference for the ocean we all depend on.
“Our mission has always been to inspire conservation of our marine environment and that hasn’t changed,” said Davidson. “We need to take a global approach and think beyond our Pacific Northwest shores. We have one world ocean and to protect it, we need to understand how we’re all connected.”
The rooftop of the Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion will connect to the city’s Overlook Walk, scheduled to open this fall. When completed, it will help connect Pike Place Market to the waterfront in a way the city of Seattle has never seen.
The Seattle Aquarium will hold media previews inside Ocean Pavilion on August 27 and 28 ahead of the opening date on August 29. You can schedule a tour with Tim Kuniholm (t.kuniholm@seattleaquarium.org) and Emily Malone (e.malone@seattleaquarium.org) by emailing them directly or by emailing the press room inbox at pressroom@seattleaquarium.org.
About the Seattle Aquarium:
Founded in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium is a conservation organization working to regenerate the health of Earth’s one ocean. We work among global leaders to advance animal wellbeing, marine and ecosystem science, public policy, field conservation, education, and species recovery programs that benefit the ocean. Help support the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
On the web: SeattleAquarium.org
On Facebook: facebook.com/Aquarium.Seattle
On Instagram: instagram.com/seattleaquarium
On Youtube: youtube.com/seattleaquarium
