St. Augustine Aquarium — Attraction in Saint Augustine

My recent visit to the St. Augustine Aquarium offered an experience that was both educational and modestly entertaining, though with clear opportunities for enhancement in certain areas. The facility itself is relatively small compared to major metropolitan aquariums, and its layout reflects a more intimate, hands-on approach designed to engage visitors with close-up encounters rather than grand-scale exhibits. The grounds were clean and generally well-kept, with clear signage directing guests to various tanks and interactive stations, though some areas could benefit from additional shade or seating to accommodate visitors during warmer weather.

The staff were welcoming and demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for sharing information about the marine life on display. Their willingness to answer questions and facilitate touch-tank interactions added a personal touch that younger visitors and families seemed to appreciate greatly. However, during peak hours, it was evident that additional staff coverage could help manage crowds more effectively, particularly around the more popular interactive exhibits such as the stingray touch pool and snorkeling lagoon.

The variety of marine species on display, while not extensive, did include a pleasant mix of native and exotic fish, small sharks, and invertebrates. Informational placards provided helpful facts, although some displays would benefit from more detailed explanations or updated visuals to enhance educational value. The option to participate in snorkeling with fish and rays is a unique feature for an aquarium of this size and is likely to appeal to adventurous guests, though it does come at an additional cost which may not suit all budgets.

In summary, the St. Augustine Aquarium delivers a family-friendly experience that combines elements of education, interactivity, and outdoor exploration in a more personal setting than larger aquariums typically offer. While the experience may not match the grandeur of larger aquatic centers, it holds charm and value for visitors interested in supporting local conservation efforts and enjoying a hands-on encounter with marine life. Those seeking a brief, engaging outing—particularly with children—will likely find it worthwhile, provided expectations are kept in line with the scale and scope of this smaller,...

Very small, friendly staff. It wasn't very expensive. It cost me around $30 for the 3 kids and myself. You enter into a small trailer that was a shop and ticketing. You enter out of the back. The area is all outside so plan accordingly for the weather.

As you exit you the first tent you approach has 4 things to see with 2 more being built the day we were there (2/24/19). There was a small assisted touch thank with 5 different types of creatures that you can one finger touch with the assistance of the staff. In that area there are two other tanks and a shell guessing station. Where you put your hands into a covered box and try to guess what kind of shell it is based on the board they had with the types displayed. The two tanks on display had one with seahorses and one with a puffer type fish.

Then you move onto the biggest tank where they do the snorkeling ($39 includes admission). This tank is large around 50' in diameter and 5' - 6' deep. It has a large variety of fish with a couple smaller but very curious sting rays.

Moving on you walk to the next tent where there is a lower tank about 3' - 4' tall, 25' wide and 40' long. It is separated into two sections with a physical barrier between the two keeping the animals apart. In one side is 3 Nurse Sharks and a small Goliath Grupper. On the other side is various types of sting rays. One large who liked to swim along the side and flap one of his wings out of the water. It was entertaining.

They do a shark demonstration where they teach you about the sharks and the grupper. They also do a feeding and and allow you to buy a ticket to feed them yourself. You purchase the tickets at the snack shack that wasn't open the day we went but there was someone in there selling the tickets. That person told me they were good for 4 pieces of food each however during the actual feeding they were really only good for 2 pieces and one is assisted by the instructor. Not a huge deal but a discrepancy.

There was also two sandboxes where the kids can dig around for shark teeth.

Over all we spent around 2 hours there hanging out for as long as we could. It was cute but could use more...

Your enjoyment of the fledgling St. Augustine Aquarium will be greatly influenced by your expectations. If you're looking for Sea World or the Georgia Aquarium, keep it moving sister! We're not there yet. Not even close. Like most of its watery residents, the attraction is still in its infancy. For starters, there is no permanent structure. Save a few temporary buildings that house the ticket office, gift shop, restrooms and snack bar, the aquarium - as it stands today - is an all-outdoor experience. Each of its five current exhibits is housed in an outdoor compound under large sun shades. You also won't find an impressive abundance of marine life. Three nurse sharks, four sting rays, a school of fish, some gnarly lobster, a tank of sea horses, a couple horseshoe crabs and a handful of assorted fish comprise the aquarium's first residents. It's easy to understand how uninformed visitors left wanting more. But that's not to say the upstart attraction is without its merits. In fact, the combination of quaint, distraction-free atmosphere and knowledgeable, engaging staff made for a thoroughly enjoyable hour for me and my Littles (though longer would have been a stretch). My Curious One enjoyed the touch tank, where a marine biologist was on hand to let him gently stroke and study a horseshoe crab. My Adventurous One immediately negotiated with me for a ticket ($5) to feed the nurse sharks which was, undoubtedly, the highlight of the visit. Had the sign out front read "Future Home of the St. Augustine Aquarium," I feel confident visitors during this soft-opening phase would have appreciated the experience for what it is -- a small taste (or touch, rather) of great things to come. We look forward to visiting again in a year's time to see what the...