Kelp Forest

  • The Kelp Forest exhibit

    The Kelp Forest exhibit

  • Kelp bass

    Kelp bass

  • Pacific sardines

    Pacific sardines

  • Leopard shark

    Leopard shark

  • Diver feeding a wolf-eel

    Diver feeding a wolf-eel

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Discover an underwater forest—at 28 feet, the Kelp Forest is one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world. You’ll get a diver’s-eye-view of sardines, leopard sharks, wolf-eels and a host of other fishes as they weave through swaying fronds of kelp, just like they do in the wild.

Exhibit News

Leopard Sharks
Did you know that leopard sharksAnimal Guide sink unless they’re swimming? Fortunately, being close to the bottom is a good thing, since these sharks like to graze the seafloor for crabs, clam siphons, fish eggs, and the burrowing, hot-dog-shaped fat innkeeper worm.

Did You Know?

  • Our kelp plants grow an average of about four inches a day and require weekly underwater gardening by scuba divers who untangle and trim the fast-growing plants.
  • Don’t be surprised if you see rockfish hanging motionless or even upside down among the kelp blades. These fish can hover without sinking or floating because they have a gas-filled sac called a swim bladder helps them stay put.
  • Pumps push up to 2000 gallons of sea water a minute through the exhibit and a specially designed surge machine creates the constant water movement that kelp needs to survive.
More cool kelp facts

Don’t Miss

Garibaldi swimming in the kelp forest
Look for these cool creatures in the exhibit