Aquarium of the Pacific

Join us on a double-deck yacht as we explore one of the most distinctive sections of our coastline and experience the wonders of the Southern California Urban Ocean. In this place of high intensity, massive ships from around the world slip past whales on their way to the nation's two biggest ports. Here windsurfers and sailboats glide by sea lions and offshore oil islands.

Guided by commentary from an informed Aquarium educator and an experienced boat captain, you will see plump seals lounging along the breakwater, pelicans and gulls pursuing commercial fishing boats looking for a snack, and sea lions competing with one another by the docks for the catch of the day.  Learn what makes the Southern California Urban Ocean one of the most amazing segments of the entire World Ocean, a focal point of intense interaction between humans and the sea that can be experienced nowhere else.

Availability:
4:00 p.m. Saturdays through Labor Day weekend 2010.

Of Special Note:

The tour is 2-2 1/2 hours and meets at Dock #2 15 minutes prior to departure.
Beverages and snacks are available for purchase on the boat.
Part of the ship is open-air; tours go out in all weather. Please dress accordingly.

Urban Ocean Photo Contest

Southern California’s coast is one of the most intensely used segments of the world ocean. We depend on the ocean for food, a place to live and play, a transit way for commerce, jobs, a waste disposal site and for its natural resources. We also share our Urban Ocean with a diverse and unique assemblage of animals that depend on the sea for food and shelter. While these uses currently coexist with relatively little conflict, we must do what we can to ensure the Urban Ocean will be available for us and the natural wildlife for generations to come.

Help us celebrate and protect our Urban Ocean! Join us on the Urban Ocean: World Port and Sealife Cruise, photograph this amazing section of the sea and then submit the photo that you think best depicts our Southern California Urban Ocean. Photographers of all levels are welcome to share their best shots of our Urban Ocean. Simply upload your photo to our Aquarium of the Pacific Flickr Group and tag them with uoc201009 to enter. Aquarium staff will judge entries. Entry deadline is midnight September 5, 2010. Grand prize will be a chance to meet one of our Aquarium animals face to face and participate in a feeding session on an Animal Encounter*!

For inspiration, join us on the Urban Ocean: World Port and Sealife Cruise. For official contest rules, download this pdf.

*Animal Encounter prize excludes Dive Immersion program.

Map of approximate route:

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