Public Visitation

Hours Today: Open 10:00am - 3:00pm

Laurena G. Chambers Gift Shop

Hours Today: Open 9:30am - 3:00pm

Mermaid Breakfast

DINE WITH MERMAIDS! Join us for breakfast where you will dine with mermaids. After you will experience a dazzling swim show and story time with mermaids from Sheros Entertainment. An experience you and your family will not want to miss! Festival General Admission included with your ticket. Adult(s) must accompany child. Ticket purchase is required. Pricing: Adult: […]

Maritime Festival General Admission

FESTIVAL GENERAL ADMISSION Saturday and Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pmJoin the Ocean Institute for fun interactive hands-on activities that will spark curiosity in Marine Science and Maritime History! Explore our new Chambers Artifact Gallery, which is home to a variety of marine life artifacts. Learn about the history of whaling during our scrimshaw activity, you even […]

Mermaid Swim Show

BE DAZZLED! Mermaid Swim Show Saturday and Sunday 11:00pm, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 3:00pm Join our friends from Sheroes Entertainment as they dazzle with an amazing mermaid swim show. Join the show and get your own mermaid craft. An experience you and your family will not want to miss! Festival General Admission included with your ticket. Adult(s) must accompany child. Ticket […]

Cap’n Jack’s Pirate School

"School" is back in Session! Saturday and Sunday 2:00pm Cap’n Jack’s School for Lil’ Scallywags has some new lesson plans for his pirates-in-training! Suitable for ages 8-12 years old.  Adult(s) must accompany child. Ticket purchase is required. Pricing:  Adult: $20 Child (8-14): $40 Exclusive Plush Package Add-on! Skip the lines in the gift shop and add-on to […]

Pirate and Mermaid Ball

DATE Saturday, September 10th 6:00PM to 10:00PM ADDRESS Ocean Institute 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point Avast Ye! An Invitation to a Special Event!  Ahoy, me hearties! Ocean Institute invites you to celebrate all things maritime at our inaugural Pirate and Mermaid Ball.  Specialty libations, appetizers galore, games and challenges for booty and bounty, and merry […]

Distinguished Speaker Series: David Grant

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 that align with our monthly themes. Admission includes light snacks and refreshments.  Distinguished Speaker: David Grant […]

Mermade Market

Wednesday NOV. 2 10am - 6pmThursday NOV. 3 10am - 6pmFriday NOV. 4 10am - 6pmSaturday NOV. 5 9am - 5pm2022 Mermaid Market Hosted at Ocean Institute! "Mermade Market is a hand curated marketplace with a mission to bring incredible finds from amazing creators to our customers! Our vision is to bring together likeminded lovers […]

Whale and Marine Life Tour!

Ocean Institute 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point

Join our crew for an experience you will never forget. Your 2-1/2-hour adventure aboard the RV Sea Explorer, Ocean Institute’s 65’ research vessel, takes you miles beyond the Dana Point Harbor jetty in search of  marine mammals such as migrating Blue whales; large schools of playful Dolphin; the impressive sunfish known as Mola; and sleek […]

General Admission!

Ocean Institute 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point

Ocean Institute staff and volunteers stand ready to guide visitors through a wide range of experiences. From squid dissections , sounds of the sea, to a horn shark touch tank, intertidal touch tank, and artifact exploration.Ticket must be purchased for all individuals (adults and children). Pricing Adults: $15.00 Seniors: $10.00 Kids: $7.50  Members receive free […]

Community Beach Cleanup – Stand Up to Trash

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 & […]