Explore a tropical underwater wonderland at Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion

If you can’t swing a trip to Hawaii or Bali this year and still want a tropical environment, head to the Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion. Here you’ll come face-to-face with a leopard shark, spotted eagle rays and a host of colorful tropical fish to put you in an island getaway mood.Opened just several months ago, this expansive 50,000-square-foot building is unlike any other setting in North America. It’s a welcome addition to the Aquarium, increasing its campus by nearly 50 percent. And visitors are flocking there en masse.

Photo courtesy of the Seattle Aquarium

The Ocean Pavilion houses 3,500 sustainably sourced tropical fish, invertebrates and plants, representing 100 plus species. They hail from various ecosystems of the Coral Tringle, a region so biodiverse it’s called the “Amazon of the ocean.” Its waters flow around parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor Leste, boasting a surface area of 2.3 million square miles. And more than 600 reef-building coral species and over 3,000 species of reef fish are found here.

Photo courtesy of the Seattle Aquarium

When you walk towards the Pavilion’s entrance, look up for a sneak peek of the largest exhibit. Via an oculus or circular window, you’ll be able to see a reef ecosystem with a slew of fish. It’s a great way to get visitors psyched to enter the Pavilion. Or if you choose not to pay the admission, it’s a no-cost view into another world.Inside the Pavilion, you’ll automatically gravitate to “The Reef,” a floor-to-ceiling viewing window spanning 30.5 feet across and 23 feet tall. This dynamic exhibit is an underwater canyon that arcs overhead, offering multiple viewpoints – above, across and below – creating a spectacular multi-story habitat.The Reef contains nearly half a million gallons of salt water, full of fascinating creatures swimming among vibrantly hued coral, mangroves and other plants. Look for the spotted eagle rays that glide around like soaring birds. Or the bowmouth guitarfish, a type of ray with a longbow-shaped mouth and guitar-shaped body. Definitely prehistoric looking!Then there’s the Indo-Pacific Leopard Shark, one of the stars of The Reef, who likes to show off its gymnastic skills by doing somersaults. Once abundant in the Coral Triangle, these sharks are nearly extinct. The Seattle Aquarium and other partners around the world founded the ReShark Coalition a few years ago. The aim is to restore healthy shark populations, starting with the Indo-Pacific Leopard Sharks in Indonesia.

Photo courtesy of the Seattle Aquarium

It’s easy to spend much time sitting on a bench or glued to the glass beholding the wonders of this exhibit. Stick around for one of the talks or presentations given by Aquarium staff and volunteer interpreters. Don’t be surprised if you see a diver swimming around, equipped with a microphone to explain about ocean conservation and animal care.As you make your way to “One Ocean Hall,” glance upwards at the glass fish hanging from the ceiling. They’re handblown by Lummi artists Daniel Friday. Indigenous art is highlighted throughout the Pavilion, honoring the Coast Salish people.“One Ocean Hall” is a large central atrium area with 360-degree video and interactive displays spotlighting different marine ecosystems worldwide. Imagery is projected across the floor and walls, taking you into the habitats of marine creatures. You’ll feel like you’re immersed in an underwater world, as you see a kelp forest, bioluminescent life, coral spawning and more.

Nearby is “At Home in the Ocean,” another habitat area, where you can get an up close look at interesting species like clownfish, seahorses, vivid anemones and little garden eels popping up and down in the sand. There’s even a chocolate chip starfish!

Little ones will particularly enjoy exploring the “Coral Reef Encounter.” Here they can crawl through a colorful tunnel with interactive and tactile exhibits that show what it might be like to live on a coral reef. They can even see what it’s like to be a clownfish, all snuggled up within the tentacles of an anemone in a cushioned nook. Everything’s kid size and a touch screen outside the tunnel allows users to select the theme inside, change the lights and displays.Upstairs is the Archipelago, where pools of water contain an Indonesian shoreline mangrove forest above the surface and a coral reef below where starfish lie. The mangroves thrive in salt water and actually improve the water’s quality. Coral reefs rely on their purifying ability to keep the water healthy. And fish like the plants’ roots, as they create lots of nooks and crannies where they can find shelter.

Also on the second floor is the Animal Care Center. Both are visible via windows and hopefully soon staff will give presentations about all that happens here. Meanwhile, you can watch the staff as they’re hard at work treating the creatures that live in the Pavilion without having to transport them elsewhere.

Connected to the Animal Care Center is the Jelly Nursery where visitors can see live jellyfish at all stages of development, floating within a blue water milieu.

Each of the habitat areas and displays in the Ocean Pavilion have touch panels to help you learn about their tropical occupants. And hands-on activity stations give you an appreciation for the importance of these habitats.

Throughout the building, you’ll find plenty of volunteer interpreters providing insight to visitors about caring for the numerous creatures and the upkeep of the habitats. These individuals are fonts of knowledge for any and all questions and are clearly passionate about helping visitors discover how we each have an important role in restoring ocean health.

The Ocean Pavilion is a significant element in the effort to revitalize Seattle’s waterfront. It connects famed Pike Place Market to the waterfront promenade with part of its roof serving as an elevated public park and walkway. Take the elevator or the stairs (for a cardio workout!) to enjoy the wonderful panorama of the city’s waterfront. Then stroll along the walkway with its garden of native plants and artwork. There are some fun slides and climbing areas for kids.If you’re still craving more underseas exploration, the other half of the Seattle Aquarium is full of highlights with exhibits showcasing local creatures, a touch tank and underwater observation dome. Popular with visitors are the jellies and giant octopi, along with the marine mammals, including the playful sea and river otters and fur and harbor seals.

www.seattleaquarium.org