ocean voyager aquarium

Inside Georgia Aquarium: The Biggest Aquarium in the U.S.

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Georgia Aquarium is the biggest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, whether you measure by the number of fish (tens of thousands) or the volume of water (more than 11 million gallons or 41.6 million liters). It houses over 500 species in 100 habitats with more than 12,000 square feet (1,115 square meters) of viewing windows, and it cost $290 million to build.

HowStuffWorks would like to thank the staff of Georgia Aquarium for their assistance with this article.

Building the Aquarium

Acquiring animals, feeding the animals, georgia aquarium’s correll center for animal health, fish life support, filters and skimmers, education program, funding and running the aquarium, 3 more of the largest aquariums in the united states.

Building the Aquarium, a parking deck and exhibits for all these animals was no small task. In the process, the Aquarium used:

328 tons (297.6 metric tons) of acrylic windows, about the weight of two fully-grown blue whales
290 plumbing fixtures, 200 floor drains and 53 roof drains connected with 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of underground pipe and 5.5 miles (8.9 km) of aboveground pipe
61 miles (98.1 km) of pipe and wire
100,000 yards (91.4 km) of concrete and 2,500 auger-cast piles

The Ocean Voyager exhibit, the largest habitat, holds over half of the Aquarium's water. It is 263 feet long by 126 feet wide by 33 feet deep (80.1 x 38.4 x 10.1 meters), and it holds 6.3 million gallons (23.9 million liters) of water. A skylight over the Ocean Voyager exhibit lets the fish get natural sunlight on clear days.

A special holding pool at one end allows staff to give fish, rays or even babies a separate area from the rest of the exhibit if needed, and veterinarians can examine larger animals inside it. A slow-moving conveyor belt takes visitors through a 100-foot (30.5-meter) acrylic tunnel under the exhibit, letting them view the fish from below.

Other Aquarium exhibits include the 800,000-gallon (3-million-liter) beluga whale exhibit, smaller habitats and touch pools where visitors can get hands-on experiences with aquatic animals.

Many of the exhibits use artificial light, but Ocean Voyager, the beluga whale habitat and the large coral reef all receive natural light.

To initially salinate the water for the marine exhibits, the Aquarium used 1.5 million pounds (680,389 kg) of Instant Ocean® sea salt. Keeping the water salinated requires additional salt that’s added periodically.

To prepare the Aquarium for opening in 2005, staff piped in 8 million gallons (30.3 million liters) of City of Atlanta tap water — enough to fill 160,000 bathtubs — to fill the exhibits. After treating it to remove chemicals and impurities, the staff had to turn this fresh water into salt water for marine habitats.

To do this, they added 750 2,000-pound (907 kg) sacks of Instant Ocean® sea salt, for a total of 1.5 million pounds (680,389 kg). That's the equivalent of more than 920,000 containers of table salt.

Many of the Aquarium's animals came from aquaculture farms, other zoos and aquariums, confiscations, or when animals are deemed non-releasable by the federal government.

When an animal is deemed non-releasable after a rescue and attempted rehabilitation, the animal cannot be returned to the ocean and they need a forever home; otherwise, they are euthanized. Georgia Aquarium has taken in many animals to be housed in their forever home! In several cases, Aquarium staff rescued animals living in unhealthy circumstances, or that would have died without their intervention.

In addition to beluga whales, whale sharks and animals from aquaculture facilities, other live animals brought to the Aquarium include:

A school of tarpon, silver fish that can weigh more than 300 pounds (136.1 kg) when fully grown, rescued from a tide pool
Several species of tropical fish rescued after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confiscated them as an illegal shipment
Bowmouth guitarfish caught by accident by Taiwanese fishermen
All five of the Aquarium’s southern sea otters are rescues that were previously stranded off the California coast.
Local species, like cownose rays, freshwater fishes, and even manta rays native to Florida
Coral, grown for use in the Aquarium rather than harvested from existing reefs
Coral is also brought to the Aquarium from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confiscations.
Many of the California sea lions at Georgia Aquarium are rescues from the coast of California after stranding multiple times in search of food and then being deemed non-releasable.

Feeding the animals at Georgia Aquarium is much more complex than just sprinkling food on the water's surface.

The Aquarium staff prepares meals for all its animals in its commissary, a specially designed kitchen held to higher standards than restaurant kitchens. The United States Department of Agriculture conducts random inspections of the commissary to ensure safety and sanitation.

The commissary has a freezer that holds 20,000 pounds (9,071.9 kg) of food and a refrigerator that holds 6,000 pounds (2,721.6 kg). The Aquarium staff prepares food for the animals every day.

Animal diets, amounts of food and the number of daily feedings vary widely from species to species. Animals eat prepared food based on their native diets. Many get supplements in their food such as vitamins or medicine when necessary. For example:

Leafy sea dragons eat small shrimp called mysids.
Whale sharks eat a special, premade gel food and tiny crustaceans called krill. Whale sharks are filter-feeding fish, and they learned to eat from ladles before traveling to the Aquarium.
Beluga whales get multiple feedings of fish per day, and the largest eats about 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of fish divided among those feedings.
Sea otters eat food-grade fish and clams. The trainers who work with the otters inspect their food for scrapes and cuts where bacteria can grow.

Aquarium specialists have access to the exhibits to feed the animals, but the vast Ocean Voyager habitat presents unique challenges. It's roughly the shape of an hourglass and houses a wide variety of fishes.

Along with the whale sharks are sawfish, bowmouth guitarfish, grouper, manta rays, a green sea turtle and golden trevally. To feed all these fishes, the Aquarium uses a variety of feeding techniques including ladle feedings, hand feedings and a broadcast-style feeding for the smaller fishes. A special broadcast system runs through the exhibit to send food out to those animals.

Feeding the fish high-quality food, customized based on what they eat in the wild and need to thrive, helps to keep them healthy.

Georgia Aquarium's animal health team has a state-of-the-art, on-site veterinary hospital for preventative and interventional medicine for the animals at the Aquarium. It's a 5,800-square-foot (538.8-square-meter) unit with around 10 staff members, and it houses over 20 treatment systems and a fully equipped surgery suite.

The Aquarium partners with the University of Georgia and provides internships to train new aquatic animal specialists. The veterinary staff also researches animal health and behavior and shares their results with other zoos and aquariums.

The laboratory and health facility can run blood tests, examine slides under a microscope and culture bacteria for analysis.

The surgery suite also has a mobile, digital radiography unit that can move anywhere in the facility and can x-ray animals as small as penguins and large as whales. It has an ultrasound machine, an endoscope and machines that allow mammals, reptiles and fish to be anesthetized for surgery.

Georgia Aquarium does preventive medicine protocols for all of its larger animals, including annual exams.

Some animals may receive vaccines, although preventive medicine for Aquarium fishes generally relies on observation and quarantines for all new animals rather than vaccines.

All of the larger animals in the Aquarium learn husbandry behaviors, which makes it easier for veterinary staff to conduct examinations. All veterinary exams are voluntary for the animals through those behaviors.

For example, when a trainer instructs them to, whales will present their flippers or tail flukes for examinations or blood collection. They will also blow from their blowhole onto a plate, which staff can examine under a microscope for parasites or bacteria.

When held, penguins will present their feet for foot checks. This makes it easier for the staff and considerably reduces stress on the animals.

Even though Georgia Aquarium's exhibits hold 11 million gallons (41.6 million liters) of water, the facility recycles almost 99 percent of its water. A treatment and reclamation system cleans and recycles the water, losing only a little to evaporation and the protein skimmers that help remove debris.

Behind the scenes, the Aquarium uses three types of filtration:

Mechanical filtration: removes fine particulates
Fractionation: removes dissolved organic materials
Ozone: plays the same role as chlorine in a swimming pool but is safer for fish

It takes over 500 pumps, 148 sand filters and 82 protein skimmers to filter the whole Aquarium.

Ocean Voyager alone requires 232 pumps and 74 sand filters, which clean about 65,000 gallons (246,052 liters) of water per minute. The life support staff must perform maintenance, including oil changes and filter changes, on all of these pumps and filters.

The life support staff also measures exhibit turnover time — the amount of time it takes for all the water in an exhibit to be filtered and cleaned. The staff's goal is to keep the turnover time under two hours.

Flow rates also affect the dissolved oxygen in the exhibits; the fish will suffocate if there is too little, but too much can be toxic.

All these pumps send water through a series of filters and skimmers. Even though this process is necessary, it needs to be monitored by staff at all times to ensure it’s running properly.

Sand Filters

The sand filters are similar to what you would find in a home swimming pool, but on a much larger scale. The pumps force water through the sand and the sand traps debris. The system can automatically back-wash sluggish filters, and the staff changes the sand periodically.

Protein Skimmers

In a protein skimmer, water from the exhibits passes through the filter, which injects air at a very high velocity. A venturi valve — a tube with a constricted area in the center — breaks the air into microbubbles.

These bubbles have a lot of surface area for debris to cling to. The foam this process creates overflows from an opening at the top of the filter and falls into a collection chamber, which the staff must clean periodically.

This process naturally requires a lot of pumping, which can produce dissolved gasses harmful to fish. So, the system pumps water up into holding tanks above the exhibits and allows the dissolved gasses to dissipate. Then, gravity pulls the water back into the habitats.

Heating or cooling a small amount of water before returning it to the exhibits helps keep them at the correct temperature.

Automated Systems With a Manual Touch

This system sounds complex, but a computer handles nearly all the decisions regarding clean and dirty water.

Several computers connected throughout the building make millions of decisions per second involving tank levels, temperatures and pumping flow. The computers use graphics and data to provide information and feedback to the life support staff.

Even though the system is almost 100 percent self-sustaining, the staff still takes samples from every exhibit daily, analyzes them in a lab and adds any necessary chemicals by hand.

The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system can measure antibiotic concentrations and anything abnormal in the water. The laboratory staff use it for research.

Water chemists evaluate the nitrogen cycle — the breakdown of organic material into nitrogenous wastes — and ammonia levels, pH, salinity and oxygen in water samples from every habitat daily.

An ion photography system measures, dilutes and analyzes samples, recording anything that is positively or negatively charged. The staff also uses a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system for research-based applications.

It's hard to miss the educational focus when you visit the Aquarium. Every exhibit has signs or touch screens with information about its inhabitants. The Aquarium also has education stations to offer additional information to the public.

Touch pools, staffed with employees and volunteers, allow people to touch and interact with some of the Aquarium's animals. In several areas, projectors display information about the animals along walls and floors.

The Aquarium also offers behind-the-scenes tours and animal interactions where visitors can see how the Aquarium feeds and cares for all the animals.

A beluga whale in the 800,000-gallon (3-million-liter) whale habitat. Beluga whales live exclusively in arctic and subarctic waters, so the water in their exhibit is around 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius).

Georgia Aquarium started with The Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus. Marcus wanted to present a gift to the city of Atlanta and the state of Georgia that would encourage education and economic growth.

In November 2001, he announced his plan to build an aquarium in downtown Atlanta. He and his wife Billi donated $250 million toward Georgia Aquarium's construction.

But they didn't do it alone. Marcus and the Aquarium staff visited 56 aquariums in 13 countries to research and gather ideas. They also received financial contributions from corporate sponsors. Even the land was a donation; 9 acres (3.6 hectares) came from The Coca-Cola Company.

With all this financial help, the Aquarium opened debt-free.

Groundbreaking for the Aquarium occurred in May 2003 and opened to the public on Nov. 23, 2005. Construction of the 550,000-square-foot (51,097-square-meter) facility took only 27 months.

In addition to the animal habitats, the Aquarium houses a gift shop and newly renovated cafe. It also has a 16,400-square-foot (1,523-square-meter) ballroom and food-service kitchens.

More than 500 people work at the Aquarium, and over 1,000 trained volunteers donate their time.

Everyone who visits the Aquarium must go through a security check, and guns, knives, matches and lighters are not allowed inside.

Artists and Architects

Built to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards, the design and building of the Georgia Aquarium included:

Heery International, Inc : program manager
Brasfield and Gorrie : general contractor
Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc. : exhibit design
Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc. : architects

While Georgia Aquarium takes the number one spot for largest aquarium in the United States, it's not the only big aquarium worth seeing. Here are three more to visit.

1. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois

Opened in 1930, Chicago's Shedd Aquarium isn't just one of the biggest aquariums in the world; it's also a National Historic Landmark. Each year, two million guests visit its exhibitions, including the 3-million-gallon (11.4-million-liter) Abbott Oceanarium, its re-creation of a Pacific Northwest ocean environment, including beluga whales, sea otters and dolphins.

2. The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland

With a total water volume of about 2.2 million gallons (8.3 million liters), the National Aquarium in Baltimore is one of the largest aquariums in the United States. Its biggest exhibit is the 1.3-million-gallon (4.9-million-liter) Atlantic bottlenose dolphin habitat.

3. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California

California's Monterey Bay Aquarium houses over 81,000 animals from 771 species in 1.9 million gallons (7.2 million liters) of water. Its exhibits highlight the local marine life, with a 343,000-gallon (1.3-million-liter) kelp forest and 55,000-gallon (208,198-liter) sea otter habitat.

Its largest tank is the 1.2-million-gallon (4.5-million-liter) Open Sea exhibit, home to sea turtles and hammerhead sharks.

Frequently Answered Questions

Is the dolphin presentation free at georgia aquarium, why is georgia aquarium famous.

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Georgia Aquarium - Ocean Voyager Cam

Georgia Aquarium

In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, the Ocean Voyager Cam at Georgia Aquarium immerses viewers in a captivating underwater realm. This colossal tank, one of the largest in the world, holds 6.3 million gallons of water and features extraordinary marine life, including majestic whale sharks and graceful manta rays. A 100-foot transparent tunnel allows visitors to walk through and experience the aquatic world from every angle. The live feed lets you observe this magnificent spectacle from anywhere.

The exhibit is designed to closely mimic natural habitats, providing a serene environment for observing the fascinating behaviors of its inhabitants. The panoramic views from the Ocean Voyager tank create a truly immersive experience, making it feel as if you are diving into the ocean yourself.

Georgia Aquarium, among the largest in the world, is home to over 100,000 animals across various habitats. Highlights include interactive touch pools and the AT&T Dolphin Celebration, where dolphins perform remarkable tricks. The aquarium is also deeply involved in global marine conservation efforts, contributing to animal rescue and habitat protection.

The HD live camera streams real-time footage of the Ocean Voyager exhibit, showcasing the stunning marine life and tranquil ambiance of this underwater world. More information can be found on the Georgia Aquarium website .

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A Guide to Visiting the Georgia Aquarium

V isit one of the largest aquariums in the world! The Georgia Aquarium is home to hundreds of aquatic species and thousands of animals. Find out more about visiting the world-class Georgia Aquarium in this in-depth guide.

Visiting the Georgia Aquarium is a fun and educational experience that will bring you face-to-face with some of the world’s most interesting aquatic creatures. This guide will provide you with all the information needed to make your trip to the Georgia Aquarium an unforgettable experience.

Read on to find out what makes the Georgia Aquarium a must-visit Atlanta destination and to get an insider’s guide to making the most of your visit.

About the Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the western hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. This award-winning aquarium is home to hundreds of aquatic species in more than 10 million gallons of water.

A visit to the aquarium takes you from the cold waters of arctic animals to the largest species of fish viewed through one of the world’s largest viewing windows.

Georgia Aquarium Habitats

The aquarium currently has seven main galleries, each reflecting specific ocean environments. Dive in for an adventure through the seas!

Ocean Voyager

Ocean Voyager is the Georgia Aquarium’s largest exhibit. This exhibit has the world’s largest indoor aquatic habitat, a 100-foot underwater tunnel, and one of the world’s largest viewing windows. This exhibit alone contains more than 6.3 million gallons of water and is home to more than 50 species.

This is where you’ll find the whale shark habitat, giant manta ray, and other large fish.

The Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium outside of Asia that houses whale sharks. Naturally, the whale shark exhibit is one of the major attractions.

Just hop on the moving sidewalk an let it take you on a conveyor belt ride through the underwater tunnel while the whale sharks and other giant creatures swim above you.

Dolphin Coast

Dolphin Coast features the aquarium’s pod of common bottlenose dolphins. You can view the dolphins through the viewing window in the lobby and during a show in the dolphin theater.

The dolphin show is a live training demonstration that will educate you on the aquarium’s efforts in dolphin preservation and plenty of fun marine facts. The show is included in your admission ticket, but seating is first-come, first-served. Show times vary, but each show lasts about 20-30 minutes and seating fills up fast.

Sharks! Predators of the Deep

Sharks! Predators of the Deep is the aquarium’s newest exhibit. It’s one of the largest shark exhibits in North America with 1.2 million gallons of water measuring 20 feet deep. You’ll come face-to-face with the ocean’s most recognizable, and most misunderstood, apex predators.

Cold Water Quest

Cold Water Quest is a look at the aquatic animals of the arctic. Here, you can see sea otters, beluga whales, harbor seals, and African penguins. Crawl through tunnels under the penguin exhibit to take a selfie with the penguins!

River Scout

All water from rivers eventually finds its way into the ocean. In the River Scout gallery, you’ll explore the animals found in the rivers of Africa, South America, Asia, and nearby in Georgia. Animals on view include alligator snapping turtles, archerfish, Asian small clawed otters, piranha, and more.

Tropical Diver

The Tropical Diver gallery is a colorful exhibit arranged like a gallery of living art. There are more than 200 species of coral on display with over 90 species represented, including garden eels, colorful reef fish, seahorses, fairy basslets, and jellyfish. This gallery contains one of the largest living reef exhibits in the world.

Aquanaut Adventure

Aquanaut Adventure: A Discovery Zone is a fun exhibit that teaches you what it takes for animals to survive and thrive in the Earth’s harshest environments. This exhibit is kid-centric (but it’s not just for kids!) with a rope bridge, plenty of interactive exhibits, and more than 15 species.

Things to Do at the Georgia Aquarium

Discover more things to do on your visit to the Georgia Aquarium.

The Georgia Aquarium has a Dolphin Presentation and a Sea Lion Presentation. These educational shows are fun and informative. Both shows are included in your admission, but seats can fill up fast, especially for the dolphin show, so you should reserve your seat on the day of your visit.

Have an Animal Encounter

Encounter your favorite marine animals. The aquarium offers encounters with dolphins, penguins, sea lions, sharks, and rays.

You can also go for a dive and swim with whale sharks and manta rays, or do a shark cave dive.

Go Behind the Seas

Take a backstage tour behind the scenes where you get to see the inner workings of the aquarium’s most popular exhibits and come close to the aquarium’s animals from the topsides of the galleries.

Attend Special Events and Programming

The Georgia Aquarium hosts a number of special events and programs throughout the year. You can book a Sleepover and sleep with the fish. There are special family and educational events like Yoga By the Water and Camp H20. And there are adult-only events like Sips Under the Sea.

Shop at the Gift Shop

The aquarium’s gift shop offers all kinds of apparel, accessories, toys, souvenirs, and sustainable gifts. The gift shop is open during museum hours and is only accessible with admission to the aquarium.

Eat at Café Aquaria

Café Aquaria is the aquarium’s dining hall. They offer combo meals with chicken tenders, pizza, or a cheeseburger. You can also grab-n-go a selection of packaged wraps, sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, cheese pizza, snacks beverages, and desserts.

The café opens 30 minutes after the aquarium opens and closes 1 hour before the aquarium closes for the day. There is also a Rotunda Bar that opens at 12 p.m. daily and closes 30 minutes before the aquarium closes.

Visiting the Georgia Aquarium

Address: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

Admission: Tickets to the Georgia Aquarium cost $47.99 when bought the day of your visit, or $42.99 when bought in advance. Tickets are the same price regardless of age, but children ages 2 and under are free.

Get discounted tickets using the Atlanta CityPASS .

Admission to the Georgia Aquarium requires you select an arrival time. You have a 1-hour grace period from your selected arrival time.

Access to the Dolphin Presentation and the Sea Lion Presentation are included in your admission. You can make a reservation for a show on the day of your visit.

Hours: The aquarium is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking: The Georgia Aquarium parking deck is accessed via the entrances on Luckie Street or Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard. Parking for aquarium guests costs $12 with a pre-paid parking pass, and general parking costs $17.

Georgia Aquarium FAQ

Does the georgia aquarium offer discounts.

You can get discounted admission to the Georgia Aquarium by using the Atlanta CityPASS .

How long does it take to go through the Georgia Aquarium?

Most people usually spend 3-4 hours at the Georgia Aquarium.

Is the dolphin show free at the Georgia Aquarium?

The dolphin show is included in your Georgia Aquarium admission at no extra charge!

Is the Georgia Aquarium the largest in the world?

No, it is not the largest in the world, but it is the largest in the western hemisphere.

What is the least busy day to go to the Georgia Aquarium?

Weekdays are usually quieter days at the aquarium. If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, plan to visit the Georgia Aquarium in the middle of the week, Monday through Thursday.

| Save on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

Craving More Atlanta Activities?

If you need more things to do while visiting Atlanta, check out these top posts:

A Weekend in Atlanta with the Atlanta CityPASS: Itinerary
Atlanta on a Budget: 10 Tips for a Cheap Trip
10 Top-Rated Museums in Atlanta You Must Visit
2 Days in Atlanta, Georgia: The Perfect Weekend Itinerary

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to Atlanta, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.

Top Hotel: The Candler Hotel
Great Value: Hampton Inn & Suites Perimeter Dunwoody
Unique Stay: Stonehurst Place

Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner , my favorite flight search engine.
Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
Save on Attractions: Save 44% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS .

Did you find this guide to visiting the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta helpful? Let me know in the comments!

The Georgia Aquarium is one of Atlanta's top attractions. Find out more about visiting the Georgia Aquarium in this in-depth guide.

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DIGITAL NOMAD

Diving with Whale Sharks in the Georgia Aquarium

The shark bumped me before I’d even put on my fins.

“Hello there!” I gurgled into my regulator, then fitted the rest of my gear and dropped below the surface and down to the sandy bottom of the massive blue tank.

Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean Voyager exhibit is unfathomably large—the size of a football field, ranging from 20 to 30 feet deep and filled with 6.3 million gallons of saltwater. What’s more, it’s home to four amazing whale sharks, the world’s largest fish who move through the water like zeppelins on a mission.

A whale shark swims past in Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager exhibit, a 6.3 million gallon tank filled with ocean life (Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic)

We were the small fish in a big pond, and whenever any creature hovered in over us, we dropped down onto the floor and gaze upwards. Gazing up at the highway of fish moving overhead, I felt like an air traffic controller at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. One second, a manta ray with his fully extended 16-foot wingspan came soaring past, showing off his soft white underbelly, the next, a whale shark loomed in from the other direction, eclipsing the shimmering indoor lights and turning my world into a deep ocean dark blue. But those were just the big guys—there were also countless trevally, strange guitarfish, zebrafish, jacks and the rare wobbegong. My favorite of all were the gargantuan groupers (as big as me!) that pouted in the corner while I engaged them in a staring contest.

All the while, crowds of people lined up on the opposite side of the 2-foot thick plexiglass wall, waving at us divers. I waved back, then showed off with a back flip before scurrying back to the wonderful fish that swarmed about.

No matter that this city is “landlocked”, Atlanta’s ocean is one of the most exciting I’ve ever explored. Kicking gently through the blue, I felt like I was back in the Maldives or Palau , where the ocean is endless and the fish rule.

Diving in Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager Exhibit (Courtesy Georgia Aquarium)

Nat Geo Expeditions

Every time a whale shark approached, I wanted to shout “INCOMING!” to the others, but all I could muster was a stream of silvery bubbles. To be this close to the world’s largest (and most interesting) fish was incredible. Up close, whale sharks look airbrushed, as if they had been tagged by graffiti artists with white spray paint. But no—this is their natural pattern, and it is so beautiful.

I have been fortunate to go diving all over the world, but diving at the Georgia Aquarium had my head spinning with glee—I stayed underwater almost 50 minutes, and when it came time to surface, I fixed my eyes on the passing sharks and said goodbye to the gentle giants.

Any certified diver can sign up for a dive at the Georgia Aquarium and non-divers can join any of the special interactive swims and snorkels to get up close and personal with some of the coolest wildlife on Earth. It’s the best way to get wet in Atlanta, and the best way to feel really, really small.

Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager exhibit (Photo by Andrew Evans, National Geographic Travel)

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LIVE WHALE SHARK WEBCAM

Location: Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Source: www.georgiaaquarium.org
Info: Live whale shark webcam at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, United States. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world. As well as the whale sharks, the Ocean Voyager exhibit has four manta rays and thousands of smaller fish.

Georgia Aquarium: The Largest Aquarium in the World

The world’s largest aquarium is located in Atlanta, Georgia. It houses more than 120,000 animals, representing 500 species in 8.5 million gallons of water. There are 60 different habitats with 12,000 square feet of viewing windows, and it cost $290 million to build.

Georgia Aquarium was the result of the vision of one enterprising businessman Bernard Marcus, who dreamed of presenting Atlanta with an aquarium that would encourage both education and economic growth. Marcus was so inspired by aquariums that after visiting 56 of them in 13 countries with his wife, he donated $250 million toward what was to become Georgia Aquarium. Additional $40 million came in as corporate donations. The land was donated by the Coca Cola Company .

Photo credit

The Georgia Aquarium has five separate galleries arranged around a central atrium. They are Georgia Explorer, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold-Water Quest and River Scout. Tanks within the galleries house a diverse population of animals, including whales, sharks, penguins, otters, electric eels, rays, seahorses, sea stars, crabs and a variety of fish of all sizes.

The Ocean Voyager tank, the largest habitat, holds three-fourths of the aquarium's water and the aquarium's central attraction – the whale shark. A slow-moving conveyor belt takes visitors through a 100-foot acrylic tunnel under the tank, letting them view the fish from below. Other aquarium exhibits include the 800,000 gallon beluga whale enclosure, smaller tanks and multiple touch tanks where visitors can get hands-on experience with aquatic animals.

Building and running such a huge complex is no easy task. The organization employs hundreds of staff that take care of everything from feeding the animals to cleaning the tanks, assisted by many dozens of computers that monitors tank levels, temperatures and pumping flow, all of which are critical to animal health and system operation.

Below are some statistics that will give you an idea of the scale of operation in this gigantic facility:

To fill the tanks, the aquarium pipes 8 million gallons of ordinary tap water mixed with 1.5 million pounds of salt to make it saline.
218 pumps, 141 sand filters and 70 protein skimmers keep the tank waters clean and habitable. These pumps move 261,000 gallons of water per minute. The tank turnover time -- the amount of time it takes for all the water in a tank to be filtered and cleaned – is two hours.
To store food for the animals, the aquarium has a freezer that holds 20,000 pounds of food as well as a refrigerator that holds 6,000 pounds.
To treat sick animals, the Georgia Aquarium has a veterinary services and conservation medicine facility in a 5,800 square foot unit with 15 people on staff, and it houses 26 treatment tanks (think hospital beds). The unit is fully equipped with a surgery and radiography unit with endoscopy, ultrasound and x-ray machines.

Sources: Wikipedia , How Stuff Works

UNBELIEVABLE! Through this site I appreciate the world's beauty so much more.

I don't see any sea turtles? Is it possible the world's largest aquarium doesn't have any?? Weird.

They do! one or two I believe.... The last time I went I saw one.

what about marine life park - S.E.A Aquarium in Singapore? 9-12 million gallons of water, 800 species... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Life_Park http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Homepage/ThingsToDo/MarineLifePark

Makes sense to me to have an aquarium by the sea. It would make more sense to have a Zoo in Atlanta at 300 miles from the sea.

that's exactly what I thought

There is a zoo in Atlanta - a pretty great one. http://www.zooatlanta.org/

The one in Singapore is bigger, holds twice as much water

omg that's so pretty

I think the aquarium in dubai is much larger than this.

What to expect at the georgia aquarium.

The Georgia Aquarium is famous for its massive Ocean Voyager exhibit, which features a 6.3 million-gallon tank with a large acrylic viewing tunnel.

This exhibit is home to various marine life, including rays, sharks, and diverse fish. Walking through the tunnel gives you the feeling of being underwater, surrounded by marine animals.

The aquarium has a dolphin exhibit where you can watch entertaining and educational dolphin shows.

The Georgia Aquarium is also known for its penguin exhibit, which houses a large colony of adorable penguins.

Explore the unique ecosystems of rivers and freshwater habitats, featuring a variety of aquatic species found in these environments.

The aquarium has interactive exhibits and touch pools where visitors can get hands-on experiences with marine life, allowing for a more immersive learning experience.

Where to book tickets

Tickets for the Georgia Aquarium can be purchased online or in person at the attraction.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.

When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, during peak days they may sell out.

Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.

How do online tickets work

Visit the Georgia Aquarium ticket booking page , select your preferred date, time slot, and number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.

Once you purchase the Georgia Aquarium tickets, they get delivered to your email address.

There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.

You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.

Georgia Aquarium Ticket Prices

The Georgia Aquarium ticket is priced at US$44 for all visitors aged three years and above.

Infants aged below three years can enter for free.

Ticket discount

Unfortunately, Georgia Aquarium doesn’t give any discounts to kids, students, and elders.

Everyone above three years must purchase their tickets at full price.

Military Discount

Georgia Aquarium offers a good military discount. At the ticket counters, military personnel with valid IDs get a 10% discount on the full ticket price.

Free admission for those in active service is available through the aquarium’s Military Mondays program in November and December.

Georgia Aquarium tickets

Purchasing your tickets for Georgia Aquarium online is a better experience for three reasons:

Online tickets are $4 cheaper because there is no ‘ticketing window surcharge.’
You don’t wait in the ticket counter queue and waste your time and energy.
Tickets on-site are sold on a ‘first-come, first-served basis. Booking your tickets online (and in advance) ensures a guaranteed entry.

The tickets get emailed to you. On the day of the visit, you can Skip the line at admissions and proceed directly to the check-in booth to scan your smartphone ticket.

These tickets get you access to all the exhibits in Georgia Aquarium.

This ticket gives you skip-the-line access to the Georgia Aquarium.

With this ticket, you can get admission to all galleries and exhibits at the Georgia Aquarium.

This ticket lets you visit the Sharks, Daily Dolphin, and Sea Lion Presentations.

Ticket Prices General Admission Ticket (3+ years): US$44 Child Ticket (below 3 years): Free Entry

Georgia Aquarium entry with Atlanta CityPass

Atlanta CityPass is an excellent way to see more for less.

With CityPASS, you will save up to 40% on Atlanta’s top five attractions, making entry to Georgia Aquarium almost free.

Admission to the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola is guaranteed with this discount card.

And you can choose any three attractions from:

Atlanta Zoo
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
College Football Hall of Fame

Once you visit the first attraction, you get nine days to see the other four.

Ticket Cost: US$97

Where is Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium is at 225 Baker Street, across the street from the north end of Centennial Olympic Park.

Address: 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313, United States. Get Directions

It is in Downtown Atlanta, about 18 km (11 miles) from the Atlanta Airport (ATL).

These walking directions can be handy if you plan on walking from your hotel nearby or Downtown Atlanta.

You can reach the aquarium via bus, subway, or car.

The Georgia Aquarium is 1 km (.7 miles) from GWCC/CNN Center Station , which services the Blue and Green line trains.

You can walk the distance in around 15 minutes.

If you are closer to the Red or Gold line trains, get down at Civic Center station or Peachtree Center station .

From both stations, in 15 minutes, you can walk to Georgia Aquarium.

If you prefer a bus to get to Georgia Aquarium, board bus number 32 from Civic Center MARTA bus station or Five Points MARTA station.

If you’re traveling by car, turn on Google Maps and get started.

Georgia Aquarium’s parking has 1,600 parking slots, and they charge $17 per car.

There are several parking lots near the aquarium.

Visitors can directly use the following street address to Georgia Aquarium parking: 357 Luckie Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30313 .

Opening hours of Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium operates with varying opening hours throughout the week.

It is open from 9 am to 6 pm from Monday to Wednesday, extends its hours until 9 pm on Thursdays, and closes at 5 pm on Fridays.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the aquarium opens at 9 am and remains open until 9 am, providing visitors with extended opportunities to explore its diverse marine exhibits on weekends.

Georgia Aquarium is open all through the year.

How long does the Georgia Aquarium take

If you visit with kids who spend more time with the exhibits, attend all feeding sessions, see all shows, etc., you will need four hours to explore Georgia Aquarium.

If you want, you can also turn it into a full-day outing because Georgia Aquarium entry tickets don’t have a time limit.

Visitors in a hurry can quickly browse through the aquarium’s exhibits and attend the must-sees in approximately two hours.

Tip: Check with the Information Desk when you arrive for an updated daily events schedule.

Best time to visit Georgia Aquarium

The best time to visit the Georgia Aquarium is when it opens in the morning at 9 am.

An early visit helps you avoid the long lines, which start around 11 am, especially in summer, during school holidays, and on the weekends.

With fewer people, you get enough time to explore the exhibits independently and take photographs without others in the frame.

Animals in the touch pools are also most active early in the day. As more and more people dip their hands, the sea creatures get tired.

Tip: Buy your tickets online to avoid wasting time in long queues.

If you love wildlife, check out Zoo Atlanta & Aquarium Pass , which gives you access to kid-friendly attractions. You also get a 10% discount code, which you can use (five times!) to get discounts on future purchases.

What to see in Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium’s animals and experiences are distributed in various galleries, which we explain below.

SHARKS! Predators of the Deep

Predators of the Deep is Georgia Aquarium’s newest gallery.

With its state-of-the-art, floor-to-ceiling acrylic viewing windows, this gallery offers excellent visual access to the mysterious underwater world of sharks.

It is one of North America’s largest shark exhibits, and visitors can see the Great Hammerhead Shark, Sand Tiger Shark, Silvertip Shark, and Tiger Shark.

Shark Cage Dive

Shark cage diving is the most fearsome yet fascinating experience at Georgia Aquarium Atlanta.

Visitors wear a wetsuit during the Shark Cage Dive and get into the deep with some of the most fearsome sharks.

The program is two and a half hours long, out of which the dive lasts 30 minutes.

Each dive is limited to eight guests, and at the end of the session, everyone gets a commemorative photo.

Restrictions: Only visitors aged 12+ can participate, and a participating adult must accompany guests under 18.

Cost: $234 per person

Since this is an in-demand activity, it is better to book in advance.

Shark and Ray’s interaction

This activity is milder than the Shark Cage dive because you don’t go down the water in a cage.

In the Shark and Ray interaction at Georgia Aquarium, participants do not swim freely with the sharks but enter the water with the animals.

The program lasts for approximately two hours and includes the following:

An orientation about different shark and ray species.
A behind-the-scenes look at the shark habitat.
An immersive encounter with the animals.

At the end of the session, everybody gets a souvenir photograph.

Restrictions: Participants must be at least 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall and weigh less than 136 kg (300 pounds). A participating adult must accompany guests under the age of 15.

Cost: $100 per person

Visitors can purchase walk-up tickets from the Animal Interactions kiosk at The Georgia Aquarium.

Aquanaut Adventure

Aquanaut Adventure helps kids (and parents!) learn about aquatic life by converting the learning into an exciting adventure.

The gallery offers seven different routes, each an adventure of its own.

Visitors who complete at least five of the seven routes receive the Georgia Aquarium Aquanaut certification.

As Aquanauts-in-training, visitors explore fresh water and marine habitats, learn about related scientific research, marvel at animal survival in extreme environments, and even discover careers in aquatic and marine sciences.

Behind the Seas highlight tour

The Behind the Seas Highlight Tour offers a backstage look at Georgia Aquarium’s most popular exhibits.

Visitors come closer to the animal inhabitants by visiting the areas only aquarium staff can access.

Behind the Seas, the highlight tour lasts 45 minutes and runs every half hour from 10.30 am to 4 pm and every hour from 4 pm to 7 pm.

Visitors can’t wear high heels or take along food, drinks, and strollers on this tour.

Restrictions: An adult must accompany all guests under 18 years.

Cost: $16 per person

You can reserve your spot for this tour at the Animal Interactions kiosk.

Cold Water Quest

As the name suggests, the Cold Water Quest has the iciest waters in the Georgia Aquarium.

This gallery is home to some of the world’s coldest ocean animals, including sea otters, penguins, and more.

A few of this gallery’s highlights are the Southern Sea Otter exhibit, the African Penguin exhibit, and the Beluga Whale exhibit.

Waddle Walk

Waddle Walk is the perfect opportunity to see Georgia Aquarium penguins on their best behavior.

During the Waddle Walk, penguin trainers lead three African penguins on a stroll across the aquarium’s central Atrium, and visitors stand on the side and watch the spectacle.

The 10-minute Waddle Walk happens approximately at 10:40 am, although it can occur any time between 10 am to 11 am.

The Waddle Walk experience is part of the regular Georgia Aquarium entry ticket .

Beluga Interaction

During the Beluga Interaction in Georgia Aquarium, you will get into a wet suit and stand waist-deep in the Beluga habitat alongside the whale trainers.

First, you get orientated on the biology, conservation, training, and care of the animals, and then you get to interact with Georgia Aquarium’s Beluga Whales.

At the end of the session, you get a souvenir towel and a photo.

Restrictions: Participants must be at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall and weigh less than 136 kg (300 pounds). Guests 15 years and under must come with a participating adult.

Cost: $155 plus tax per person

Visitors can purchase walk-up tickets at the Animal Interactions desk.

Seal Encounter

Visitors get behind-the-scenes access to the Cold Water Quest gallery as part of the Seal Encounter at Georgia Aquarium.

During the 30 minutes of learning and interacting with seals, you may even pet one of the seals.

You will get a souvenir photo at your interaction with Harbor Seals.

Restrictions: Only visitors aged 7+ can participate, and a participating adult must accompany guests under 15.

Cost: $70 plus tax per person

You can book this experience at the venue.

Dolphin Coast

Dolphin Coast features the aquarium’s pod of Common Bottlenose Dolphins.

Guests can admire Georgia Aquarium’s dolphins both in the Dolphin Coast lobby and in the dolphin theater.

The Dolphin show happens in the Dolphin Theatre, which can seat 1800 visitors.

Dolphin show

The 15-minute Georgia Aquarium dolphin show is called Dolphins in Depth.

During this show, visitors see dolphins’ natural behavior and witness their beauty, athleticism, and intelligence.

The show time varies daily, typically around 11.30 am, 3 pm, and 5 pm.

Once in a while, times can vary, which is why it is better to confirm once you reach the aquarium.

Since this is a sought-after show, reaching the Dolphin Theater 15 to 30 minutes in advance is better.

Restrictions: Everybody is welcome to attend

Cost: The show is included in the general Georgia Aquarium ticket

Once at the theatre, you can reserve special seats (closer to the front) for $5 per seat.

Dolphin Encounter

During the Dolphin Encounter, visitors go behind the scenes of the Dolphin Theater and meet the dolphins face to face.

You will touch and feed the friendly creatures while participating in a first-hand training session on handling dolphins.

All visitors spend eight minutes beside the water interacting with a dolphin in fun ways. At the end of the session, you get a souvenir photo.

Cost: $80 plus tax per person

When you arrive at the venue, visit the Animal Interactions desk to book Georgia Aquarium’s encounter with Dolphins.

Sea Otter Encounter

During the Sea Otter Encounter, guests enjoy an exclusive tour of the Sea Otter habitat, help prepare a sea otter meal, and participate in an exciting sea otter training session.

After the Sea Otter interaction, participants take home a souvenir photo.

Restrictions: Only visitors aged 7+ are allowed, and a participating adult must accompany guests under 15.

Cost: $65 plus tax per person

You can book this experience at the venue.

Penguin Encounter

During Georgia Aquarium’s up-close-and-personal Penguin encounter, visitors learn about the animals and then get to pet them as well.

After the 30-minute session, you’ll get a professional photo with a penguin.

Guests can reserve their slot at the Animal Interactions desk.

Ocean Voyager

Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean Voyager gallery is home to Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and thousands of other fascinating fish.

Ocean Voyager is one of the most extensive single aquatic exhibits globally. It features an acrylic tunnel and a giant viewing window for visitors to explore marine life.

The underwater tunnel is 30.5 meters (100 feet) long, while the viewing window is 7 meters (23 feet) tall by 18.6 meters (61 feet) wide.

To ensure the safety of marine life and visitors, the walls of the window are .6 meters (2 feet) thick.

Journey with gentle giants – Swim

This Georgia Aquarium experience is the only opportunity in the world where you are guaranteed to swim with Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, etc.

It happens daily at 4.30 pm, and the aquarium provides all the equipment.

The whole session lasts 2.5 hours, during which visitors swim with a snorkel in the Ocean Voyager exhibit for half an hour.

After the session, every participant gets a souvenir photo and an exclusive t-shirt.

Restrictions: Only visitors aged 12+ years are allowed, and a participating adult must accompany guests under 18.

Cost: $260 plus taxes per person

Since this is a unique experience, it is better to book in advance.

Journey with Gentle Giants – Dive

Georgia Aquarium diving is the only opportunity in the world where you’re guaranteed to dive with Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and thousands of other sea creatures.

The journey with Gentle Giants (Dive) lasts 2.5 hours, during which you spend 30 minutes SCUBA diving in the lively waters of the Ocean Voyager exhibit.

On weekdays, the diving session happens at 3 pm, and on weekends, you can choose from two slots – 11 am and 3 pm.

After the encounter, you get a certificate of participation, a shirt, and a photo.

Restrictions

– Visitors must be 12+ years old to attend

– They must have nationally recognized proof of Open Water SCUBA certification and photo ID

– A participating adult must accompany participants under the age of 18

Cost: $360 plus taxes per person

Since only a limited attendance is allowed for this diving session, we recommend booking in advance.

Rebreather Dive Program

Rebreather diving is underwater diving using “closed-circuit” rebreathers.

Rebreathers recycle and recirculate air rather than expelling it into the environment. The main advantages are extended gas endurance and lack of bubbles.

You can opt for Georgia Aquarium’s Rebreather Dive Program if you are a good diver.

The program lasts approximately 4 hours and includes a 60-minute dive in the Ocean Voyager exhibit.

The experience runs for three and a half hours from 10:15 am on Saturday or Sunday.

Restrictions: All Rebreather dive participants must be 18 and older and provide proof of independent Open Water SCUBA certification from a nationally or internationally recognized organization.

Cost: $469.95 plus taxes

Since the Rebreather Dive Program requires you to take some precautions, it is better to book in advance.

River Scout

River Scout gallery visitors explore the diversity of animals found in Africa, South America, Asia, and Georgia rivers.

River Scout at Georgia Aquarium is a themed environment full of waterfalls, logjams, and a simulated meandering North American river that flows over your head.

The gallery features river creatures such as alligator snapping turtles, archerfish, and small Asian-clawed otters.

Here, kids love to watch piranha from up close and see their razor-sharp teeth.

Using the highest quality 3D high-definition projection with special effects, Georgia Aquarium’s 4D Theater helps guests experience the underwater world from an animal’s perspective.

It is one of the most advanced theaters globally, with interactive seats and unique special effects built into the Theater itself.

Showtimes vary and are subject to change, so check the day’s timings when you reach the aquarium and reserve your seat.

Entrance is first come, first served.

Restrictions: None.

Cost: It is included with the regular Georgia Aquarium ticket

Virtual Reality Simulator

Virtual Reality Simulator is in the Atrium next to the Southern Company River Scout Gallery.

During the state-of-the-art motion-based virtual reality ride, visitors get “transported” back in time to see wonderful, prehistoric marine life.

With the simulator’s electronic VR goggles and a motion-rocking VR Transporter, guests swim with a massive Archelon Sea Turtle, marveling at a graceful long-necked Styxosaurus, and come face-to-face with a mighty Ginsu Shark.

*During the simulator ride, guests can’t wear eyeglasses.

Restrictions: Some height restrictions apply

Cost: $11 per person per ride

You can reach the Atrium and purchase a ticket for a simulator ride.

Pier 225 is all about the charismatic California sea lion.

This part of the aquarium transports you to the coast of California for an up-close look at this incredible species.

Under The Boardwalk

‘Under the Boardwalk’ show features Georgia Aquarium’s incredible California Sea Lions.

During the 25-minute show, the sea lions and the trainers display their teamwork in a live training session.

Seating is first-come, first-served. It is better to arrive 30 minutes early to ensure your seat.

Once at the aquarium, you can reserve seats for the Sea Lion presentation.

Restrictions: None

Cost: The Sea Lions show is included with the Georgia Aquarium Admission ticket

Tropical Diver

At Tropical Diver, visitors see living corals and thousands of colorful reef fish presented in an exact recreation of a tropical Pacific coral reef.

Don’t miss the overhead crashing wave.

Kids get excited about ‘finding Nemo,’ Seahorses, Fairy Basslets, Yellow-Head Jawfish, and other sea jewels.

Don’t miss out on the three impressive jelly exhibits, which will mesmerize you.

Georgia Aquarium map

Georgia Aquarium is enormous, and it makes sense to be aware of all the exhibits’ locations.

Knowing the aquarium’s layout is essential to planning and allocating time to the most preferred exhibits if you visit with kids.

A Georgia Aquarium map can also help you find visitor services like restrooms, restaurants, gift shops, etc.

The aquarium no longer prints maps to conserve paper, so you can’t pick them up at the entrance.

It makes sense to download the map or bookmark this page.

The map is also available on the aquarium’s Android phones and iPhones .

Food at Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium’s restaurant, Cafe Aquaria, is open daily.

It starts serving 30 minutes after the aquarium welcomes its first visitor and closes one hour before it closes.

The Rotunda Bar opens daily at noon and closes 30 minutes before the aquarium closes.

At Cafe Aquaria, visitors can choose combinations –

Chicken tenders with fries
Philly cheesesteak with fries
Pizza with fries

Or they can opt for –

Freshly prepared and packaged wraps, sandwiches, and salads
All-beef hot dogs and cheese pizza
Snacks, beverages, and desserts

Sources # Georgiaaquarium.org # Wikipedia.org # Tripadvisor.com # Discoveratlanta.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

Popular attractions in Atlanta

# Atlanta Zoo # World of Coca Cola # Medieval Times Georgia # Illuminarium Atlanta # College Football Hall of Fame # Legoland Discovery Center # Fun Spot America # SeaQuest Stonecrest # iFly Atlanta # Margaret Mitchell House

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This article was researched & written by

Jamshed V Rajan

He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia

The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s biggest, containing eight million gallons of water and more aquatic life than any other aquarium. Sometimes referred to as the Atlanta Aquarium, this is one of the top Atlanta Attractions drawing millions of tourists and locals each year. It is situated on a 20-acre site adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

The aquarium was originally designed around the Whale Shark Exhibit (Four Whale Sharks saved from a shark-burger fate). Other exhibits include Great Hammerhead Sharks, Beluga Whales, and a Manta Ray. In addition, there are almost a dozen Bottlenose Dolphins doing 3 shows a day.

https://www.atlantafamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Georgia-Auquarium.jpg

There are six main exhibits at Georgia Aquarium, each representing a particular environment. The largest is called Ocean Voyager and boasts the world’s second-longest viewing window.

The Georgia Aquarium has over 100,000 aquatic animals from all over the globe that are housed in five different galleries. The first is the Georgia Explorer which is geared towards kids (with touch tanks) and shows wildlife-related to Georgia’s coast. The next gallery named Ocean Voyager contains most of the aquariums fish including the whale sharks. It also has an underwater tunnel and one of the world’s largest viewing windows .

Whale Sharks at Georgia Aquarium

Because they are not mammals, whale sharks technically are not whales, though you wouldn’t know it from their size. They average 18 to 32 feet in length, though some have been reported as large as 60 feet. The longest to be measured with any accuracy came in at 40 feet, 7 inches.

Despite their girth, females Alice and Trixie and males Yushan and Taroko find plenty of room to roam in their 6.33-million-gallon tank in Atlanta, the biggest aquarium habitat in the world and the only one outside Asia where whale sharks are displayed. Like all whale sharks, their mouths are huge, up to 4 feet across, and they feed by swimming open-mouthed through swarms of small fish and plankton.

Ocean Voyager Exhibit

Visitors to the Georgia Aquarium’s Ocean Voyager gallery are dwarfed by the giant gray and white speckled creatures as they swim past floor-to-ceiling windows and a 100-foot-long tunnel that wraps around visitors on three sides. Other giants that keep these big guys company include potato grouper, giant grouper, tarpon, sawfish, blacktip reef sharks, batfish, and wobbegong sharks.

Whale sharks, which are the world’s largest fish, can be found in the Ocean Voyager Exhibit. Even though this fish can grow up to 66 feet, the whale shark is considered harmless to humans. The Ocean Voyager exhibit has over 4,500 square feet of viewing windows and offers a perfect spot to observe fish of all sizes. Watching the world’s largest fish, as well as other smaller fish, float right in front of you has to be the next best thing to strapping on a tank and diving into the ocean.

Cold Water Quest

The second-largest exhibit is the Cold Water Quest featuring animals from the polar regions of the world. This area contains beautiful Beluga whales, sea lions, and the curious-looking black-footed penguins . The River Scout is a regional section that features an overhead river. One of the more fascinating fish in this exhibit include the piranha. The fifth gallery is the Tropical Diver and has many weird forms of aquatic life and includes a marvelous living reef with live coral.

Here you can visit penguins, sea otters, sea lions, and beluga whales. Also known as white whales, the beluga whales are very social mammals and often put on quite a show for the visitors. These whales not only have the ability to swim backward, they are also the only known whales with a flexible neck.

Georgia Explorer

Other exhibits include the River Scout gallery, where animals found in rivers from around the world can be studied and admired. The Georgia Explorer gallery highlights animals located in and around Georgia, including Right Whales that are found off the coast. Each exhibit is intended to obviously entertain, but to also teach the public about aquatic life.

Curious Belugas Play with Georgia Aquarium Visitors

Nico and Maris, two of the beluga whales in the Cold Water Quest gallery, seem to enjoy interacting with visitors, staring back at them through the viewing windows and teasing by twisting and diving then popping up again in a game of hide and seek.

These highly social animals live in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic waters where temperatures often hover close to the freezing point. Born gray, they turn white as adults and grow to 10 to 15 feet in length. The “melon” on their bulbous head enables them to produce sounds that they use to locate each other and objects in the water. These chirping sounds earned them the nickname “Canaries of the Sea.”

The belugas share gallery space with other chilly water lovers, such as California sea lions, sea otters, a giant Pacific octopus and penguins that visitors can see close up through a pop-up viewing window.

Aquarium Visitors Touch and See Close Up

In addition to the beluga and whale shark galleries, the Georgia Aquarium contains three more galleries representing a broad range of earth’s aquatic life.

Tropical Diver: Largest living coral reef exhibit in a U.S. aquarium; thousands of colorful tropical fish, eels, and jellies
River Scout: Freshwater gallery with animals from rivers of Africa, North and South America, and Asia, including otters and piranhas, whose sharp teeth can be seen through a pop-up window.
Georgia Explorer: Interactive gallery with children’s play area; loggerhead turtles; touch pools containing bonnethead sharks, cownose rays, horseshoe crafts, sea stars, and shrimp.

The aquarium also houses an interactive 4D theater, Learning Loop educational program for school children, a ballroom for up to 6,000 people, and the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health veterinarian teaching hospital.

Behind the Scenes, Tours feature views from the top of the exhibits, the vet clinic and surgical room, the commissary and the filtration system.

Home Depot and Coca-Cola Made it Happen

The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 on 9.5 acres of land donated by the Coca-Cola Company, which opened its new World of Coca-Cola museum next door in 2007.

The aquarium cost more than $320 million and was funded through a gift of more than $250 million by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, and his wife, Billi. Sixty exhibits are housed in the 580,000-square-foot building with an exterior designed to resemble a ship breaking through a wave.

In 2010, the aquarium plans to open a $110 million dolphin exhibit, adding an additional 84,000 square feet of space. The 1.3-million-gallon exhibit will feature dolphin shows and opportunities for dolphin encounters with visitors.

The Georgia Aquarium honors CityPass tickets and partners in combo tickets with Atlanta area attractions such as World of Coca-Cola , CNN, Stone Mountain, and the Atlanta History Center, which operates the Margaret Mitchell House . Passes help make Atlanta an affordable vacation destination.

Current hours and ticket prices appear on the Georgia Aquarium Web site.

Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker St. NW Atlanta, GA 30313 (404) 581-4000

Hours: Generally Sunday-Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday 9:00-6:00 pm (Hours Vary) Open 365 days

Best Family-Friendly Attractions Atlanta

Visiting the Georgia Aquarium

March 10, 2014 By Caroline Eubanks Leave a Comment

The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 and has become the world’s largest aquarium in terms of size and the gallons held by the tanks. There are over 100,000 animals from 500 species in 10 million gallons of fresh and marine water. The over $300 million dollar project was supported by Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus.

What to See at the Georgia Aquarium

The aquarium is known for its whale sharks, beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins, and manta rays. There are different exhibits featuring ecosystems from the region and the world. The Cold Water Quest showcases cold-water species from all over the world, including sea dragons, spider crabs, and beluga whales. Georgia Explorer showcases the state’s native species like horseshoe crabs, sea turtles, and shrimp.

Ocean Voyager is the most impressive, and largest, tank and showcases the larger fish like the whale shark, manta rays, and grouper. River Scout features the lovable otters, albino alligators, and even piranhas. The Tropical Diver displays exotic jellyfish, seahorses, and colorful fish swimming through the coral.

Unique Experiences at the Georgia Aquarium

The “Behind the Seas” tour at the aquarium takes visitors to the employees-only area including above the massive tanks. There are specific animal encounters if you want to see your favorite, including sharks and rays, dolphins, penguins, and seals.

If you have your diving permit, you can even go scuba diving in the tanks. The Gentle Giants experience puts you inside the Ocean Voyager tank with the whale sharks for swimming and diving. There’s also a new cage diving experience.

Tips for Visiting the Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium is located at 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30313. It’s open Sunday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets are $36.95 unless you’re an annual member. Members of the military get discounted entry on Mondays. Georgia residents get in free on their birthdays.

You can purchase additional activities like their behind-the-scenes tour or scuba diving with the whale sharks. Guests can also get combo tickets like the Atlanta CityPASS and Georgia residents gain free entry on their birthdays. Book your Georgia Aquarium Skip-the-Purchase-Line Tickets before you go.

Visitors can access the aquarium through the Peachtree Center MARTA Station before walking through Centennial Olympic Park. There’s an official parking deck at 357 Luckie Street and many other paid lots nearby. From the I-75 or I-85, take exit 249C for Williams Street or 248C for International Boulevard and follow the signs.

You can also see multiple places near Centennial Olympic Park in one afternoon, including the College Football Hall of Fame , the Children’s Museum, the Center for Civil and Human Rights , and the World of Coca-Cola .

Where to Eat Near the Georgia Aquarium

Cafe Aquaria is the Georgia Aquarium’s onsite cafe, serving salads, wraps, and hot dogs, including family meal deals. Keep in mind that it can get very busy on weekends.

The area around the Georgia Aquarium has quick-service chains like Chick-fil-a and Johnny Rockets. Other options include the Atlanta Breakfast Club , Kwan’s Deli and Korean Kitchen , and The Yard Milkshake Bar . If you don’t mind walking, the food courts at the CNN Center and Peachtree Center have many options.

Where to Stay Near the Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium has partnerships with 17 local hotels, allowing visitors to bundle their experiences into one price. They include the Loews Atlanta Hotel ( review here ), The Ellis Hotel , and the Reverb Hotel by Hard Rock Downtown Atlanta .

The Embassy Suites Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park is convenient to all of the attractions of Centennial Olympic Park. All rooms are suites, which is great for families, and they have perks like complimentary daily breakfast and afternoon social hour.

The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center is another option, located across the street from the CNN Center’s large food court. The hotel has an in-house restaurant, a fitness center, and comfortable rooms. Both are also included in the aquarium’s rates.

About Caroline Eubanks

Caroline Eubanks is the editor of this website, a Lowell Thomas award-winning travel writer, and the author of This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States. Her stories from the South have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Afar, Thrillist, Roads and Kingdoms, and BBC Travel.

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The innovative way the Georgia Aquarium manages millions of gallons of tank water

The largest aquarium in the U.S. processes more water in a day than the city of Boston. Here’s what it takes.

The innovative way the Georgia Aquarium manages millions of gallons of tank water

Photograph by Wedig + Laxton

It’s 9 a.m at the Georgia Aquarium and the first visitors of the day are just trickling in, but behind the scenes, staff is already buzzing. So are the sea lions. “Sounds like Jurassic Park, doesn’t it?” says John Masson, Georgia Aquarium’s Director of Life Support Systems, nodding towards the cacophony of hoarse barking coming from across the hall. “The sea lions are definitely some of our noisier animals.”

Behind Masson in the life support systems control room, a wall of video monitors displays the many animals (and plants) who call the Georgia Aquarium home: with around 500 species living in 60 different habitats, it’s the biggest aquarium in the United States and the fourth largest in the world. Keeping the aquarium’s creatures healthy and happy is Masson’s primary job responsibility, along with hundreds of other animal care specialists, from veterinarians to microbiologists. And because all those creatures are aquatic, whether partially or completely, a big part of Masson’s job involves water—a lot of water.

“We process more water in a day than the city of Boston,” says Masson. “Twelve million gallons across the whole aquarium.”

Photograph by Rachel Garbus

Visitors to the aquarium enjoy dazzling views of underwater worlds, where giant whale sharks swim overhead and schools of blue tang surgeonfish zip past. On the other side of those underwater worlds, the talented staff at Georgia Aquarium work around the clock to ensure they’re the perfect habitats for the marine creatures who swim, waddle, and splash in them.

Georgia Aquarium is unique not just for its size, but for its location. “Most aquariums are located on the coast, so they can discharge their water into the ocean and get fresh replacement water back,” explains Masson. Georgia Aquarium is landlocked, so there isn’t a ready source of new saltwater, or a place to discharge dirty water. “We can’t exactly dump six million gallons of saltwater into the Chattahoochee River every day and be well thought of in Atlanta,” he jokes.

Instead, Georgia Aquarium operates on what’s called a closed loop: it recycles 98 percent of its water using a complex process of retrieval, cleaning, waste removal, and recalibration. A small amount of water is lost to waste disposal, as well as splashing during dolphin and sea lion shows. “Sea lions are a lot like rowdy dogs,” notes Masson. “It’s very difficult to convince them not to waste water.”

To keep the tanks fresh and clean, water is continuously filtered in and out. Ocean Voyager—the enormous exhibit wrapped over a clear tunnel where visitors can see whale sharks, giant manta rays, and dozens of other animals—replaces all of it 6.3 million gallons in an hour. Fresh seawater is pumped in, while old water is sucked through a series of pipes below the aquarium and transferred to a waste recovery system. A machine called a protein skimmer squeezes out the waste particles, like fish poop and bits of leftover food, which emerge as a dirty foam that goes into the sewer system. You might see the same kind of foam in the ocean, notes Masson, as proteins break down in their natural environment. (“Don’t use it to make a beard on your face,” he cautions.)

The clean water is then “polished:” staff treats the water with ozone and sends it down the pipes to be filtered back into tanks, which are temperature controlled to mimic the natural habitat of each animal. “Our puffins and spider crabs like the cold, so those habitats are set to 52 degrees,” says Masson. “While the South American discus fish like it warmer, around 82 degrees.”

Meanwhile, in the laboratory, a team of environmental scientists takes daily samples to ensure the water is clean and clear of harmful bacteria or other pathogens. “We want the water to be as close as possible to natural sea water,” explains Susan Walsh, senior manager of environment health. Small bottles are laid out on a counter, with color-coded labels identifying the tank from which the sample was collected, and a volunteer uses a pH probe to test them for salinity and alkalinity. Across the lab, environmental analyst Savanna Evans measures the bacteria levels to ensure they’re safe for marine mammals: the U.S. Department of Agriculture allows aquariums and zoos to keep marine mammals but can remove them at any time if health standards aren’t met. Her team also measures air and light quality, to mimic the natural environment of each creature. “Sea turtles need something different than corals,” Walsh says. “We have to make sure we give each one what it needs.”

Georgia Aquarium’s closed loop water system is unusual for aquariums, but it may provide a template for others in the future. Environmental regulators have begun limiting the amount of water aquariums can discharge, so new facilities will look to processes like Georgia Aquarium’s to reuse more water. Masson and his team have developed some innovative water-conservation methods they hope to share with more aquariums, including a way to break down hard-to-remove nitrates using natural bacteria and sulfur. And the aquarium is working with Georgia Tech researchers to design other sustainable practices for its water and waste systems. “I’ve been here 18 years,” says Masson. “And I’m always learning something new.”

A version of this article appears in our April 2024 issue.

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SHARKS! Predators of the Deep®

From fear to fascination, gallons of water, water depth, length of gallery.

Georgia Aquarium’s newest gallery, Sharks! Predators of the Deep®, is one of the largest and most dynamic shark exhibits in North America. Home to some of the most recognizable apex predators in the ocean, this exciting new gallery experience brings you face to face with the most enigmatic and misunderstood creatures in the sea.

Georgia Aquarium’s focus is to provide a fresh perspective on the vital role sharks play in the health of the ocean. Sharks face many challenges, like overfishing and habitat loss — but humans pose the biggest threat to sharks. In this immersive new gallery, you’ll learn more about these top predators and their importance to our world.

With its state-of-the-art, floor-to-ceiling acrylic viewing windows, this gallery offers excellent visual access to the mysterious underwater world of SHARKS!

Georgia Aquarium is proud to announce we have been granted LEED certification for our most recent expansion, including the gallery Sharks! Predators of the Deep!

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.

In This Gallery

Filter by type.

False Pilchard

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sand Tiger Shark

Silvertip Shark

Tiger Shark

Fast Fact A sand tiger shark's spots fade as the animal matures.

Experiences

Get More Out of Your Visit

Jump in on a wide variety of experiences and events that will make your trip to Georgia Aquarium even more memorable.

Shark & Ray Interaction

Suit up and get in the water with some of our sharks and rays in this animal interaction in our Sharks! Predators of the Deep gallery.

Ocean Adventure – Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Ocean Adventure is a great summer getaway that is filled with entertaining shows and activities. Located at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, you can also enjoy swimming in its wonderful beach that is located in-between Zambales and Bataan. Have a fun family bonding as you watch the dolphins and sea lions perform their thrilling acrobatics and exhibitions.

Beyond their featured aquatic life performances is a wildlife presentation as well. Watch an entertaining performance from a bat, bearcat, python, owl and an eagle. Fill your heart with love for nature as they showcase how intelligent these creatures are. An added comical presentation with mascots will educate everyone to better take care of our environment and to help preserve their habitat.

Wild World Animal Shows - Ocean Adventure Subic Bay

On top of the animal performances, they are also featuring fantastic acrobatic shows from international and local performers. Enjoy watching a balancing act by an energetic group showcasing their exciting exhibitions. Dazzle your eyes with glee as it goes up and down while watching the trampoline performers that make funny gestures and comical actions.

Acrobatic Exhibitions - Ocean Adventure Subic Bay

Exploring Ocean Adventure

We’ve been to Ocean Adventure twice and we noticed that they have expanded and added more fun attractions in their theme park during our second visit. They have a brilliant setup where multiple stadiums with different shows are running simultaneously. This allows their guests to feel free to visit each one in any order preferred. The path walks per attraction wide enough to accommodate a great number of visitors.

Sea Lion Statues at Ocean Adventure Subic Bay

Sentinel of the Sea

During our first visit, we can’t help but start with their dolphin show which they refer to as “Sentinels of the Sea.” It’s without a doubt the main reason why people are flocking this place. Seeing these sea mammals perform amazing tricks and outrageous stunts live is definitely entertaining. Our baby even danced to the beat while watching the dolphins do their exhibition moves.

Dolphin Show of Ocean Adventure Philippines

The best parts are when the dolphins jumped very high at random locations and when the trainer was riding one of them while on a Superman pose then getting tossed up in the air.

Sea Lion Marine Patrol

The sea lions are simply adorable. They have the cutest performance with their slapstick comedy. Watch them wave, slide, roll and spin gracefully. Adding color to their show is a satire volunteer who plays the role of a fool that attempts to compete with the performance of one of the sea lions.

The funny finale is about the host doing the act of giving the medal to the volunteer but steering it away from him later to give it to the sea lion. The sea lion then gives him a big tongue split.

Seaside Stadium – Allies of the Ocean

This presentation shows that Ocean Adventure is not just about the ocean creatures but is about loving the environment in general. They have a short skit about proper garbage disposal and taking good care of our environment. The mascots made the illustration much livelier and a few funny acts made the entire presentation more fun.

Environmental Preservation Presentation - Ocean Adventure Subic Bay

On top of that, this is followed by performances from local and international talents. During our first visit, what we’ve seen are trampoline exhibitions from a pair of European performers while during our second visit, the new performers where African acrobats that performed thrilling balancing acts.

Fantastic Balancing Acts - Ocean Adventure Subic Bay

From getting a fun ocean adventure comes another quest for a forest adventure. This section is about showcasing the talents of the wild beasts which can actually be tamed and taught. It was my first time to see a trained bat performing tricks. Trained birds and cats are common but the bat really caught my attention.

They have a special whistle that makes the bat follow the instructions and come back to the trainer. This reminded me of the pied piper but what he’s controlling this time is a flying rat. Most of the animals aren’t really doing any tricks but are just being showcased while the host explains their characteristics.

A native Aeta starts the show by demonstrating how you can create a fire using bamboo parts and how you can cook rice with it. He also brought with him some improvised tools made out of bamboo. During our first visit, he was still wearing his native bahag attire but on our second visit, he was already wearing a t-shirt during his presentation.

Ocean Discovery and Voyager Aquarium

What more could give you a greater adventure from the ocean aside from its replica. A wonderful auditorium was dedicated to having large aquariums where the visitors can better enjoy the beauty of the undersea. The cute and cuddly pufferfish and the dignified knight-looking lionfish are simply delightful to look at. The most mesmerizing of them all is the group of jellyfish.

There’s an exhibit regarding the evolution of the scuba gears. The original ones looked heavy and bulky compared to the slender modern ones. Long hoses from the surface used to be the diver’s source of oxygen which must have been very limiting and riskier as they go deeper. It’s great to see a visual representation of the scuba gear’s innovation through the decades.

Beach Bumming

Don’t forget to bring your swimming clothes because Ocean Adventure has its own beach that is exclusive to their guests. Kids would enjoy playing on its white sand while you swim in its clear blue water. The beach has a decent size and a wonderful view of the nearby coast that is full of lush green trees.

White-sand beach of Ocean Adventure - Subic Bay

It’s very clear that Ocean Adventure has plenty to offer its guests. Definitely, a great place to spend time with family and friends.

OCEAN ADVENTURE ADMISSION PRICES

Admission is inclusive of all Feature Shows and Aquarium Exhibits. Adult – Php 788 Senior Citizen – Php 628 Children 12 years old and below – Php 628 Children under 30-inches – Free Buy tickets online and get big discounts! Check out this link for more info. Call us to inquire about special group rates.

Dolphin, Sea Lion & Marine Encounter Prices Encounter prices are in addition to admission prices listed above Please bring swimwear and a towel For inquiries and advanced bookings, contact Ocean Adventure at (047) 252-9000 Swim with Dolphins – Php 3,700 (for 8 years old and above) Dolphin Beach Encounter – Php 2,400 (for 6 years old and above) Dive with Dolphins – Php 4,250 (Includes diving gear. Please bring your Certification Card) Family Dolphin Experience – Php 10,000 (rate for 4 pax) additional person rate – Php 2,500

* Maximum limit of 6 persons per group

Turtle and Shark Adventure – Php 500.00 per person Dive with Sharks, Turtles and Jacks – Php 1,900 (Includes diving gear. Please bring your Certification Card) Animal Trainer Adventure – Php 5,500 (For 10 years old and above. Inclusive of snacks or lunch at the Ilanin Bay Cafe, Ocean Adventure t-shirt, and a Certificate of Accomplishment)

Ocean Adventure – Subic Bay

Camayan Wharf, West Ilanin Forest Area Subic Bay Freeport Zone 2222, Philippines

Phone: (047)252-9000 Fax: (047)252-5883

Manila Marketing Office 2nd Floor Highway 54 Plaza Building 986 Stanford St. Corner EDSA Wack Wack Mandaluyong City

Phone: (02)706-3344 to 46 Fax: (02)706-0808

If you want to spend overnight somewhere near the Ocean Adventure, you might want to consider booking at Camayan Beach Resort which is located right next to it.

Camayan Beach Resort and Hotel Phone: (047) 252-8000 Fax: (047) 252-2959 Hotline Cellphone: (+63) 908-887-0369 / (+63) 917-726-3510

How To Get There

1st: From Manila , get on NLEx/Pan-Philippine Hwy/AH26/E1/R-8 in A. Bonifacio

2nd: Follow E1/R-8 and N Luzon W Expy to Rizal Hwy in Subic Bay Freeport Zone

3rd: Take Maritan Hwy, Argonaut Hwy, Corregidor Rd and Ilanin Rd to Ocean Adventure Approach Rd in Ilanin Forest West

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Inside Georgia Aquarium: The Biggest Aquarium in the U.S.

Building the Aquarium

Sand Filters

Protein Skimmers

Automated Systems With a Manual Touch

Artists and Architects

1. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois

2. The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland

3. The Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California

Frequently Answered Questions

Georgia Aquarium - Ocean Voyager Cam

Giraffe Habitat Live Camera

Madagascar!

Giraffe Platform Cam

Gorilla Cam

Georgia Aquarium - Puffin Underwater Camera

Elephant Yard Cam

Red Panda - Inside Exhibit Live Webcam

Sumatran Tiger Cub Cam #1

Cheetah Cam

Congo Dome 02

Spider Monkey - Outdoor

Commodores Web Camera

St Ives Harbour

Whitecap Beach Access

Porthmeor beach

Grand Wailea - Maui WebCam

Mevagissey Harbour

Ellis Beach

Double Tree - Biscayne Bay

The Boardwalk Lobster Bisque Cam

Aquarius Web Camera

Penzance Promenade

St Michael's Mount

Richardson Beach South East

Ward Village

Maui Kai Cam

Outrigger Hospitality - Kona, Hawaii LIVE

Monument Cam Harbor view

Aqualina Sunny Isles

Park Shore Waikiki Hotel

A Guide to Visiting the Georgia Aquarium

About the Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium Habitats

Ocean Voyager

Dolphin Coast

Sharks! Predators of the Deep

Cold Water Quest

River Scout

Tropical Diver

Aquanaut Adventure

Things to Do at the Georgia Aquarium

Have an Animal Encounter

Go Behind the Seas

Attend Special Events and Programming

Shop at the Gift Shop

Eat at Café Aquaria

Visiting the Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium FAQ

How long does it take to go through the Georgia Aquarium?

Is the dolphin show free at the Georgia Aquarium?

Is the Georgia Aquarium the largest in the world?

What is the least busy day to go to the Georgia Aquarium?

Craving More Atlanta Activities?

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Diving with Whale Sharks in the Georgia Aquarium

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