• Sea Star Feeding

    Sea Star Feeding

    General Admission Add-on Experience! Have you ever wanted to hand-feed a sea star? Join us for this interactive feeding experience at 12:00 pm where you can prepare their food alongside our staff and hand feed a sea star with this up-close encounter you won't forget! The sea star feeding is a two-part experience, the preparation...

  • Sea Shanty Sunday

    Sea Shanty Sunday

    Join Queen Anne's Blouse on the Spirit of Dana Point at Ocean Institute’s Maritime Village! This is your opportunity to dress, talk, and sing like a pirate. Bring your family and friends and enjoy singing along to classic and original sea shanties based on our fascinating maritime history.  Get an introduction to the life of a...

  • Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tour

    Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tour

    Go behind the scenes with us! Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Ocean Institute? Join us on our immersive Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tour to learn all about what it takes to run an aquarium! This tour takes you beyond the eyes of the public to our husbandry prep...

  • Guided Snorkel Tour

    Guided Snorkel Tour

    Explore the ocean with us! Join our semi-private guided snorkel tours and explore the stunning marine life of Shaw’s Cove! Meet at the beach where your expert guide will lead you through Southern California’s beautiful kelp forests. Enjoy 45 minutes in the water as our guide introduces you to the beauty of Southern California’s kelp...

  • Guided Snorkel Tour

    Guided Snorkel Tour

    Explore the ocean with us! Join our semi-private guided snorkel tours and explore the stunning marine life of Shaw’s Cove! Meet at the beach where your expert guide will lead...

  • Kayak Tour

    Kayak Tour

    Explore the ocean from the water! Join the Ocean Institute for a two-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point harbor. One of our expert naturalists will teach you about...

  • General Admission

    General Admission

    Engage with our immersive, hands-on exhibits and rotating themes! Our rotating themes allow visitors to keep coming back to discover the ocean’s underwater world with our fun, interactive spaces and...

  • Squid Dissections

    Squid Dissections

    Add-on experience for General Admission! Dive into a hands-on experience suitable for all levels of curiosity with our squid dissections! Join our expert guides who will lead you through an...

  • Sea Star Feeding

    Sea Star Feeding

    General Admission Add-on Experience! Have you ever wanted to hand-feed a sea star? Join us for this interactive feeding experience at 12:00 pm where you can prepare their food alongside our staff and hand feed a sea star with this up-close encounter you won't forget! The sea star feeding is a two-part experience, the preparation...

  • Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tour

    Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tour

    Go behind the scenes with us! Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Ocean Institute? Join us on our immersive Behind the Scenes Aquarium Tour to learn all about what it takes to run an aquarium! This tour takes you beyond the eyes of the public to our husbandry prep...

  • Sunset Sail

    Sunset Sail

    Experience California from the perspective of an early tall ship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines, and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the majesty of sailing the seas aboard a tall ship. During the summer, enjoy sailing later in the day to take in California's majestic...