From the icy waters of the Pacific Northwest to the heart of Tampa Bay, a new adventure awaits. Today, The Florida Aquarium celebrated the grand opening of The Tide Pool — one of the only cold-water touch habitats on Florida’s west coast. The Tide Pool is a 60-foot-long, 4,000-gallon, cold-water touch habitat that invites guests to discover, touch, and connect with more than 200 marine invertebrates—quadrupling the animals from the previous No Bone Zone exhibit.
Kept at a cool 50 degrees to replicate Pacific Northwest coastal waters, this immersive exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to feel the texture of a red bat star, check out the striking colors of the ochre sea star, and watch the spot prawns in action—all in an environment that looks and sounds like a Pacific coastline.
These expansion plans are made possible through community support, including a $15 million Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) investment and The Tide Pool exhibit supporters Robert R. Sharp & Family and Marvin L. & Betsy Holloway. Together, they are helping The Florida Aquarium elevate its shared purpose through conservation, education, and world-class animal care.