Public Visitation
Hours Today: Open 10:00am - 3:00pmLaurena G. Chambers Gift Shop
Hours Today: Open 9:30am - 3:00pmFounders Day Sunday, September 17 10:00am - 7:00pm Ocean Institute’s annual Founders Day celebrating our Founder, Stan Cummings! Learn about him here: https://oceaninstitute.org/stan-cummings-scholars/. Ocean Institute is excited to open up our doors and welcome anyone and everyone to a day of live music, food, drinks, ocean education, animal encounters, and an opportunity to learn and sign up […]
Community Beach Cleanup in partnership with Join us for a day of fun on the water, beach and surrounding areas to cleanup our natural world. New theme every month with a guest speaker on the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center Historical Wharf 9:00am-11:00am Beach Cleanup and Lunch & Learn 9:00am-10:30am Beach Cleanup 10:30am Free Lunch & […]
Senior Saturdays! Join us on the last weekend every month from 9:00am – 10:00am for Senior Saturdays. Some things just get better with age! Come enjoy the sophisticated side of ocean exploration with special hours for seniors-only. We will open an hour early just for our 55+ age community members to come enjoy our weekend […]
Homeschool DayOcean Institute Homeschool dayThis special weekday event is designed for homeschool families looking for an amazing field trip! This event will be similar to our weekend general admission hours, but with even more educational activities! Your ticket includes access to the following activities: Marine Mammal Characteristics: check out our amazing collection of marine mammal […]
The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series, presented by the Nicholas Endowment, brings interesting innovations, real-world research, exotic experiences, and delightful discoveries to the surface through powerful presentations from an ocean of experts. Speakers present on a variety of topics ranging from ocean researchers, ocean authors, ocean artists, and ocean athletes. Light snacks & refreshments available […]
BIOLUMINESCENCE NIGHT CRUISE 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm Cruises are selling out! Get your tickets today! Bioluminescence Night Cruises are only offered during the summer months. There’s a luminous underwater world just waiting to shine! Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness this curiously beautiful phenomenon.* […]
BIOLUMINESCENCE NIGHT CRUISE 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm Cruises are selling out! Get your tickets today! Bioluminescence Night Cruises are only offered during the summer months. There’s a luminous underwater world just waiting to shine! Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness this curiously beautiful phenomenon.* […]
Community Beach Cleanup in partnership with Join us for a day of fun on the water, beach and surrounding areas to cleanup our natural world. New theme every month with a guest speaker on the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center Historical Wharf 9:00am-11:00am Beach Cleanup and Lunch & Learn 9:00am-10:30am Beach Cleanup 10:30am Free Lunch & […]
SPOOKY SEAS AT OCEAN INSTITUTE Saturday, October 21th 5:00 pm - 10:00 pmCelebrate the spooktacular season with Spooky Seas!Back this year with new family-friendly frights from bioluminescence laser tag to the mad scientist laboratory there's something fun for the whole family to enjoy! Bats & ghouls - come in costume to participate in our costume […]
Senior Saturdays! Join us on the last weekend every month from 9:00am – 10:00am for Senior Saturdays. Some things just get better with age! Come enjoy the sophisticated side of ocean exploration with special hours for seniors-only. We will open an hour early just for our 55+ age community members to come enjoy our weekend […]
Ocean Institute invites you to join us for General Admission! 10:00AM – 3:00PMOcean Institute’s general admission engages the public with our rotating monthly themes! Our rotating monthly themes allow visitors to keep coming back to discover the ocean’s underwater world with our fun, interactive spaces and activities that indulge curiosity. Staff and volunteers stand ready […]
Explore the world between tides!Join the Ocean Institute for a tidepool hike led by one of our expert naturalists. The hike will take us into the rocky Marine Conservation Area located directly behind the Ocean Institute. Families can explore the area and search for snails, crabs, sea stars, and other animals that make the tidepools […]