Seaside Aquarium — Attraction in Seaside

I am giving this review 2 stars instead of 1 because it was enjoyed by some kids, but this acquarium was otherwise rather depressing. I visited on a weekend when it was packed with visitors making the experience cramped and chaotic. The small area designated for feeding seals is fun, but there are so any seals packed into an extremely cramped space and the handwashing station poured cold water making it difficult to adequately clean off the fishy seal food smell from hands.

The sea urchin tank was painful as I watched children with unwashed or inadequately washed hands touching the sea urchins, several times in areas other than the spines, what I understood to be the only permitted part for touching. The attendant was keeping a close eye, but toddler hands are freaky fast and there should have been announcements upon the approach of each new child and/or frequent reminders to not touch certain parts versus waiting until those parts were poked by toddler fingers.

Each tank/habitat was depressing with little effort in making an aesthetically pleasing habitat. I don't recall seeing aquatic plants, or if there were, twas' insuffcient. I've seen more charming fish tank habitats in chinese restaurants.

The octopus exhibit, a small dark exposed pool in the middle of the room, seemed cruel for the octopus. The octopus was so exposed in a crowded and cramped space with screaming children. I felt sad for every creature in this space.

Although I observed children enjoying the acquarium, I would not return unless the habitats were more inviting for these creatures. For instance, aquatic plants and a little treasure chest scene would be nicer to look at and fun for kids.

I otherwise feel like I am watching these creatures looking out longingly from...

This place should be closed down.. The place is to small for what they have. All the fish look depressed and cramped into little 3x3 tanks. Some are even smaller tanks estimated probably 1x2. A quick Google search would show you that eels love to swim and hide in the day. These eels hardly have enough room to stretch out, let alone swim and there's nothing for them to hide in.. . Then you have the 6+seals. Poor things are confined to an area space about the size of a small bedroom with a bathroom attached(it extends a little to the back/left side of where people can see). That's not enough room for 1 seal to play, exercise and swim in, definitely not enough room for 6+.. None of these animals deserve this kind of life. They live in such a poor living conditions. I won't ever support a place like this again. How sad and sickening.. Whatever people can make money off of though right?! Attached is just one of the many small tanks. Some have more lifeless looking fish inside than just these few as shown :( Might I add that none of these tanks have really anything in them big enough like rocks for them to hide or to feel safe in. Looking at pictures from other reviews, it looks like the same eel- in the same spot as the picture I took. He literally hasn't even changed positions. Not cool.. For the people who say this place is great .. Take the rose colored glasses off and look at the bigger picture here. I'm mind blown that anyone would give this any more than one star. I'd give it a negative if I could. I will make the one star worth it by saying that the kids working register were nice. Seaside aquarium owners really need to do something or let them go somewhere where they...

I visited this place last summer around the 4th of July, at first I thought it was cool but it really wasn't. It was very, very sad. All of the fish are put into really tiny tanks, there's nothing really in there for them to interact with and all of them look miserable. There's about 1-2 octopi and one is also in one of those very small and tight tanks, and another one is in a deep, touch pool, type tank. He was swimming around and constantly going against the walls, despite the tank being so deep there was barely any water. The place is dark and very damp and it's just horrible.

The seals, there are 11 of them by the way, don't get fed during the summer by the employees or anyone, they only get fed by the customers who come in and buy food to feed them, however the seals are fighting over who gets the fish, so obviously this is not enough for them. There tank is very small and looks very green and murky, I feel bad for these seals.

It's just really sad to see, especially since the ocean is right there in front of this aquarium. Id suggest not going, it's just really horrible and it's not very "pleasing" to look at. All these animals should either be released, if they were taken from there homes, or put into a sanctuary, especially since the seals seem to be born in captivity. They deserve space to swim and play, and deserve to be fed and not constantly begging for food. I recommend not going or giving them the money to keep...