For a unique experience that transcends into a special, almost spiritual adventure along with encounters that make you wonder how the great powers created so much beauty in the oceans, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
A gift for a dream
In 1977, Julie Packard—with a background and education in botany and marine biology—and four marine biologists from the Hopkins Marine Station had a dream of converting an old cannery in Monterey into a world-class aquarium. With a generous gift of $50 million from her parents, David and Lucille Packard, and much hard work by Julie and her associates, the vision became a reality. And the privately funded Monterey Bay Aquarium was opened to the public on Oct. 20, 1984 with Julie as its very qualified executive director.
The Jellies Experience
Just about every kind of jelly is represented here in all their magnificent brilliance. The whole experience is mystical and unforgettable. Become hushed with wonder as you watch the purple striped jellies, a translucent wisp of life so beautiful it takes your breath away, do their delightful drifting dance that seems like a performance just for you.
Be observed
When you wander along the 90-foot-long, hourglass-shaped Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit, which holds 326,000 gallons of purified sea water, you’ll see a cross-section of the bay’s major habitats, and you will feel more like the observed than the observer.
A jovial bunch
A 55,000-gallon two-story tank lets the visitor observe playful sea otters underwater and above the surface. They are delightful, interesting creatures that eat up to 25 percent of their body weight in one day. They each run up a feeding bill of about $7,000 per year. Their undoing was their beautiful fur—the thickest of any mammal in the world. At one time they were hunted for their pelts and their population diminished. Since the hunting of otters has been banned, they are increasing in small numbers. They are a joy to watch as they give their lesson in precious good humor and fun. Many are abandoned by their mothers, hurt or survived an oil spill. The Aquarium rescues, treats and has a surrogate sea otter take over care and training of an abandoned or hurt pup until it is deemed fit for release.
Another planet
Just when you think they have done it all, along comes the Vanishing Wildlife exhibit, “Saving Tuna, Sea Turtles and Sharks.” These extraordinary ocean animals face extinction from fishing customs and habitat devastation, and are displayed in the 1 million gallon outer bay venue. Imagine drifting to the bottom of the bay unencumbered without scuba or diving gear and enter into an area of dusky, ethereal blue lights that flood from the tanks onto the walls to enhance the feeling that you are actually walking on the bottom of the sea. Subtle, mellow music enriches the mood.
A lesson in conservation
Take an intimate look at the remarkable, fragile lives of seahorses and the threats they face in the wild. With a head like a horse, a belly pouch like a kangaroo, a prehensile tail like a monkey and the ability to change colors like a chameleon, seahorses are as unique as any fish can get. If all that weren’t enough, their most unusual claim to fame in the animal kingdom is that it is the male that becomes pregnant and gives birth. A lesson in conservation of these threatened delightful fish is well-presented and easily understood.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located at 886 Cannery Row in Monterey. Arrive early, wear comfortable shoes and plan to spend a minimum of a whole day. On Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 8-11), veterans get free admission. For more information, call (831) 648-4800 or visit montereybayaquarium.org.
