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OdySea Aquarium

Displayed in unique architecture designed to evoke the waves its residents call home, OdySea Aquarium is a vast indoor aquarium located among the mountain views of Scottsdale, Arizona. It features over 6,000 sea creatures gliding through 2 million gallons of water.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of sea animals such as jellyfish, sea horses, sea turtles, rays, and various species of sharks and fish. The aquarium also has interactive exhibits, a theater, and ever-changing special events, so there’s always something new to come back to.

The aquarium opened in the summer of 2016, and has since been voted the Best Indoor Attraction in Arizona for multiple years.

OdySea Aquarium also provides educational opportunities for visitors to learn about marine life and conservation. It’s involved in several conservation programs, aimed at protecting and preserving marine life and their habitats, alongside raising awareness of marine life’s unique needs and current challenges. Some of the programs include:

Species conservation: The aquarium actively participates in breeding programs for endangered species such as sea horses, jellyfish, and sea turtles.

Education and Awareness: The aquarium provides educational experiences and programs to raise awareness about the importance of marine conservation and the impact of human actions on the ocean.

Research: The aquarium supports research initiatives to better understand marine ecosystems and improve conservation efforts.

Sustainable Practices: OdySea Aquarium is committed to sustainable practices, such as using environmentally friendly products and reducing energy and water usage.

An Immersive Experience

Photo: Merrit Thomas

Admission to the aquarium will gain you access to new experiences at every turn. First, try the thrilling touch pools where you can feel the spines of anemones and shake fins with rays (though perhaps not literally – respect the living creatures and keep your greetings respectful and light as they swim by!).

Then, watch the otters dive and twist at Otter Banks while you learn more about the adorable and fascinating Gizmo, Peanut and Pepper from their caretakers.

Descend into the deep on one of the five ‘submarines’ of OdySea Voyager, the world’s only rotating aquarium experience that sends visitors on an educational tour through a stunning variety of seascapes, resting comfortably on ‘below deck’ as the views and information comes to them!

Get back to the surface on the escalator of the Deep Ocean exhibit, a ride that will transport you through an otherworldly glass tunnel that gives you an up-close and unparalleled view of the movements and beauty of the deep sea and its exotic creatures.

Exotic Encounters and Add-Ons

Want to get even closer to the marine action? Pop on a special breathing helmet and hop in the water with the sharks! No, it’s not a movie – it’s SeaTREK! This literally immersive experience is a guided dip among Zebra sharks and Honeycomb Whiptail stingrays, guided by experts who both keep you safe, and get the critters stoked about your company with a guided krill feed.

After you dry off, head over to the Sloth Encounter and come face to snoot with the rainforest’s most laid back friend, the sloth. Learn about conservation efforts and maybe even feel those famous claws grasp your paws!

Tickets to these encounters are extra, but the experiences are priceless.

Special Events

Always keep your eyes on the rotating events OdySea has to offer.

Are you looking for a special way to spend your Valentine’s Day? Spend it with OdySea during their Dinner + Aquarium CraySEA in Love Valentine’s Date! Featuring exclusive tours, a delicious dinner and dessert, and even live music to really set the romantic tone, this event is sure to be a memorable bonding experience for you and your mate.

Prefer a more active experience? Strap on the tennies and get ready for the 5k Jaws for a Cause AquariRun, benefitting the OdySea Aquarium Foundation and its conservation efforts.

The Basics

The park is open every day from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (except on Tuesdays, when it closes at 6 p.m.), with tickets ranging in price depending on the experience you want to have. General aquarium entry is around $44, discounted to $29.95 for entries after 4:30 p.m. daily, but if you want to visit any other attractions in host site Arizona Boardwalk such as Butterfly Wonderland or Pangea: Land of the Dinosaurs, those tickets can be bundled for extra savings.

Get tickets for general admission and all other encounters here!