Central Coast Aquarium

Fantastic experience: We could not love this little aquarium more! Everyone was so knowledgeable and friendly. We were there for the pier feeding and it made all the fish get very active. The crown jewel is Mitch, the octopus. He is fabulous. Thank you for curating such a nice little exhibit.

Fantastic experience: Everyone there was so friendly and informative. It's a very small space, but it's a nice quick stop to check out.

Fantastic experience: For younger kids, this place is awesome! Staff was friendly. The touch tanks are very cool. It's small. But for $10, it's all good.

Fantastic experience: Amazing! Informative and friendly staff, all the animals had a lot of personality and the aquarium had a wide variety of sea life as well for how small it is. Will definitely return.

Fantastic experience: A great community educational resource with a mission on informing the public on the local kelp forest and marine ecosystem. Great staff, excellent small exhibits. A resource for kids, school age kids education, summer camps and more including learning after dark.

Negative experience: We’re not sure why this place is worthy of 4 stars. Two rooms of tanks makes a questionable “aquarium.” Guess we’re spoiled with being close to Sea World and Aquarium of the Pacific.

Fantastic experience: My girls took one of their homeschool classes this week. They loved it so much! The staff does a wonderful job with these! I asked my daughter to write up something she learned and she was able to communicate well about lateral lines! Thank you!

Negative experience: I did not mind the size and the staff was nice. However they have some medium sized sharks and large fish in tiny tiny tanks, much too small. These larger animals should be moved to bigger tanks or a different facility.

Fantastic experience: Hosting our wedding reception at the Central Coast Aquarium was truly a dream come true! Working with Christy was an absolute pleasure. She was incredibly helpful in coordinating everything and worked seamlessly with our wedding planner to ensure everything was set up and taken down without a hitch. The option to book a private tour during the event was a unique and special touch. The venue itself is breathtaking, and the raised cement area for the DJ was perfect. Overall, the aquarium made our wedding day something we never thought possible. We are eternally grateful to them for creating such an unforgettable experience. Even if you’re not planning an event, we highly recommend visiting the Central Coast Aquarium. It’s a hidden gem and a truly magical place.

Positive experience: This aquarium is really small. It equates to the size of an apartment living room with a wall, dividing it in half. There were some leopard sharks, and there was the opportunity to touch the top of one. There were a few other tanks that held jellyfish, starfish, and larger fish the size of my forearm. I gave it 3 stars because it does have live animals and technically it is an aquarium, but I didn't give it more than that because the prices, despite our economy, do not match the experience. $10 per adult, $8 for 3-12 years old, and under 3 years is free. I paid $40 to get my family in, and it took us 5-7 minutes to slowly mosey through everything they had to offer, I felt like I got robbed.

Fantastic experience: Nice weather

Fantastic experience: If you want to support your local community and have a really fun activity for the kids, then this is a great place to go. Your ticket is good for the whole day so we love going to aquarium then to playground and back-and-forth. it will occupy my four year old for half a day.

Fantastic experience: Cute little aquarium right on the beach. They let you hold and pet some of the sea life. It is small but still worth it. Where else can you hold a star fish or pet a small shark.

Fantastic experience: Fun for the kids

Fantastic experience: Great little aquarium! Little prices per person, but hear me out! Supporting a small business like this is going back to a good cause. I think a business like this is vital to protecting our oceans and the great knowledge that surrounds its ocean species! Please do me and them a favor by support them! It may be small, and it may be a quick visit, but it is worth it!

Fantastic experience: Friendly with in and out options. They changed their feeding times daily but they have a great leopard shark feeding talk.

Negative experience: Disappointing. Small, not much to do or see. We spent less than 15 minutes in the aquarium. Save your money and go somewhere else.

Fantastic experience: The kids loved it and all the workers were amazing

Fantastic experience: informative, fun, fascinating, educational. and they are helping to save the environment

Fantastic experience: Super friendly and helpful staff. They truely have professional interest in their work and love what they do which made for an amazing trip. Best part was Rosa the octopus, very cool!!! Will be back again! And affordable price too!!!!

Positive experience: Nice little aquarium. Great for kids. The staff were very accommodating, making sure my busy 3 year old was able to touch all the little critters. It is very small but a great little stop during the rain or to pass a bit of time. $9 a head can get expensive for what it is but I understand what they are doing takes money. We enjoyed it.

Fantastic experience: Small local aquarium but it has really good chances of interacting with the animals.

Negative experience: We were the only people in the whole aquarium (my husband, daughter and I). We paid the $9 per adult and went into the aquarium. Honestly not much to see, took us less than 10 minutes with a 2 year old to see everything. Went into the gift shop and she choose a shark bath toy that was labeled as $3. The whole basket of these toys say $3, the cashier even went and verified that it indeed said $3 but still wanted to charge us $6 for 1, not going to happen. Then she couldn't figure out how to scan the box of goldfish crackers and looked completely overwhelmed. We just ended up leaving buying nothing which set my daughter off since we told her she could have the toy and goldfish crackers. Pretty annoying experience and won't be going back.

Negative experience: So many dirty tanks and so few fish……overall super neglected. Skip it. Who is in charge of this sad place?

Fantastic experience: This wondrous gem of the Central Coast offers magical interactive experiences with living local Sealife. Nature lovers of all ages will learn about ocean stewardship through education, engagement and interaction with the animals ~ like petting a young swell shark! Come visit, and leave inspired. Donations always welcomed!

Fantastic experience: If u really like the beach take the tour at the aquarium. It's less than $15 a person and they have different types of tours.

Positive experience: It's a very small aquarium, we did get to touch a few things, including a shark. So over all the kids got about 45 min. of fun.

Fantastic experience: Really cool experience! The aquarium is a good size and for the price not bad. They had a Shark show where they allow you to touch the sharks. Of course after you wash your hands. COVID Friendly! Also, they have a little exhibit where the kids get to touch the starfish, hermit crab, and jelly thing. Awesome experience for the kids!

Fantastic experience: Two tiny rooms. Great service

Positive experience: Very small but sweet place. I feel like I made a few friends (fish) there!

Negative experience: Very small and staff was not helpful.

Fantastic experience: Small facility with limited hours, but the staff are great and definitely make the visit well worth the time spent.

Negative experience: Was really excited to come here but was very disappointed at our experience. We knew the hours were until 4pm and we got here at 345 and thought as long as we got here by 4 we would be good to go to have a nice experience with the kids and as soon as we walked in the door the lady said we only had 10 min. The place is very nice yet it’s only 2 rooms, I mean how long did they think we would be here. If they are going to rush people then the they should close doors at 330 so the last people could have a whole 30 min. I get it staff wants to go home but we came before they closed and was super upset that we were rushed so we paid and took a few pictures and left but no education on the local wildlife which is what I wanted for the kids. Left a donation on top of that because the sea life needs to be preserved regardless of the staff and our experience. Very disappointed

Fantastic experience: Cute little aquarium, you get to pet some of the sea life, good service!

Positive experience: Tiny aquarium with two rooms and bathrooms. Volunteer working there was a student and really helpful and informative. There is a touch tank.

Fantastic experience: This is a cute quick stop with the kids. The aquarium is only two small rooms but include a touch tank and a few "shark encounters" where you can pet the swell sharks at designated times.

Fantastic experience: We loved this little aquarium! My grandkids are still talking about it. My grandson tells everyone he saw a great white shark, lol. They were memorized with the jellyfish tank. Thank you for being there, we shall return.

Negative experience: Went couple of months ago and staff was not friendly. Rushed us out

Positive experience: Not much to see (2 stars). However, the staff is very nice and helpful and there are some animals that can be touched (5 stars).

Fantastic experience: A favorite of ours to see when we make it out there!! Next time we hope the octopus is out

Fantastic experience: This place was such a fun visit! Everyone is so kind and touch tanks are always a good time. People complaining about the $8 admission clearly don't see that knowledge has value because the staff is so happy to educate anyone of the interesting sea critters they care for. While the place is small, it still has so much to offer if you find sea life fascinating. Gotta say my favorite are the jellyfish! My friends and I very much enjoyed our time there, thank you! ❤

Fantastic experience: Cute and small. It has been open for 14 years and is apart of the museums for all program. Which if you were not aware of this program it is where card holders of Medi-cal or Ebt can have low cost discounted admission to these places. It is a program that gives those in poverty the chance to learn just like everyone else. Definitely donate to this aquarium. their staff is lovely and so are their marine family. We all should help small places like these grow. I am so glad to have included this Aquarium in my itinerary. My mother, sister and two children loved it as well. Small in size but everything inside leaves the greatest memory.

Positive experience: It was a little bit smaller than we expected but to hung different fish made it up for it. Our kids enjoy a lot seeing and touching the sharks, stars...

Fantastic experience: The tour guides were very knowledgeable about each species and their environment, fun experience.....

Fantastic experience: Small but fun for a quick visit.. super volunteer staff there to help! Check out the shark encounter..

Fantastic experience: We had a great visit! The docents were friendly and engaging, and we got to watch the moon jellies at feeding time! Definitely worth the visit.

Fantastic experience: Very nice place to stop by and learn more about the local species. They even allow you to touch certain animals.

Positive experience: Very small but the guide is knowledgeable and quick to fill you with information on the sea life at this aquarium. Cute little place with a gift shop at the end.

Positive experience: Love that we can see some sea life, but it's very small

Fantastic experience: The docents are educational professional and entertaining.

Fantastic experience: Such a fun time with the grandkids today. This is a small aquarium but clean and the volunteers were really nice and informative with their presentations. We will be back again!

Fantastic experience: You can get a discount with an EBT card. We had a very positive experience. It's small but good quality. It was perfect for us.

Positive experience: A cute mini aquarium, super friendly staff. Able to touch some small things, can get hand stamps and come back later for the feedings.

Fantastic experience: Small, but worth the trip

Fantastic experience: My family and I have been to some aquariums before and this one has given us the best experience ever; it's a small place, yes, but staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, they're happy to share information about the species they have but they do it with such joy and passion, at other places is more about making sure you don't touch what you're not supposed to touch and that's it. The lady that showed us around was very very kind to our 3 y/o and other kids around, that is always a plus!!

Fantastic experience: What a great visit with my grandson's preschool. They rotated the students through three separate stations, with age appropriate presentations, hands on demonstrations, and great timing. Everyone had a swell time!

Positive experience: Fun atmosphere, knowledgeable people but could be more for the price

Fantastic experience: Totally awesome shark breeding experience. Awesome to pet living swell sharks and see their offspring. The jellyfish and horseshoes crabs are pretty cool.

Fantastic experience: Great knowlegable staff! They are smart, friendly, and shared tons of knowlege with us while they fed the sharks, a skate, eel and crabs. They are an asset to the aquarium for sure!

Fantastic experience: Small but very personal and super friendly staff my kids always have a great time there. Great place to support!

Positive experience: Small, but clean and the docents are really kind and knowledgeable. Worth $8 and an hour of your time.

Positive experience: Small aquarium with a couple of touch tanks. Good for small children.

Fantastic experience: Nice little aquarium. Good,for kids. Not overwhelming. Love the jellyfish tank.

Negative experience: To high of price for how little marine life was in there

Positive experience: It's pretty neat in there, it's just small. A cool place to take the kids for a second if you're in avila.

Fantastic experience: Even though it was rather small, they we not lacking in things to wow you and entertain you. They honestly had things that I had never seen before in big aquariums. This place was more personal and it is affordable!

Positive experience: Tiny little aquarium. We had a good time chatting with a worker there about octo p******. I guess Google doesn't like the plural of octopus.

Fantastic experience: Cool little aquarium. Watching the octopus get fed was so cool. Support this small aquarium.

Positive experience: I went here with an elementary school. This is a small aquarium, but I enjoyed the volunteer-guided tour and the squid "dissecting" class. I don't know if the average visitor gets a guided tour, but I believe one is necessary to enjoy the unlabeled tanks. The aquarium also had a tiny but very nice gift shop.

Positive experience: The facility I noticed was rather small. However!! The aquarium is really fun. My 6 year old had a lot of fun. She got to see giant lobster, a very active octopus, an awesome jelly fish exhibit and small sharks. As feeding time rolled around everyone crowded around to watch how fast sleeping sharks became active in seconds! (Sorry that sounded weird) I'm just saying. My family had a great time.

Positive experience: Small but cute. My daughter got to touch several things from urchins to swell sharks. Got to watch the fish/shark/moray eel/horseshoe crab get fed.

Fantastic experience: This the smallest yet BEST Aquarium I have ever been too. Loved all of the knowledge of the staff. We were lucky to be there for the shark feeding and the octopus feeding. I would definitely stop in if visiting Avila Beach.

Fantastic experience: Awesome place, all this time living in LA, didn't know about this funfilled aquarium!! My kid got a chance to disect a squid... so cool!!! And the beach is right across!!

Positive experience: It's a two room aquarium but they have a fair variety of fish, crabs, and an octopus. Fun items in the gift shop that are fairly priced and not too expensive. We were told that all the creatures other than the Horseshoe crabs are local to the Pismo Beach area.

Negative experience: Many restaurants' fish ranks are better than this.

Positive experience: cool little aquarium, a bit pricey for what it is though. I paid quite a bit to get six people in.

Positive experience: Megan was awesome. She was very informative and helpful. She let my children ask her many questions about the aquarium and Cal Poly.

Fantastic experience: The staff and volunteers are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They go out of their way to teach you about the marine life in California. It may be small, but the size means that you get more of a chance to learn about each animal rather than rushing off to see the next exhibit. This aquarium is a place to go if you want to truly learn about the ocean rather than only glancing at each animal. Every question is answered in detail and depth leaving both kids and adults feeling like they have left with something of value.

Fantastic experience: We were strolling after lunch, and dropped in for a quick tour of this two room aquarium. This place would be perfect for people with very small children. We happened to arrive as a shark encounter began, and were permitted to "pet" a little shark. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, probably college students. We waited around for awhile and were able to experience the feeding of a Giant Pacific Octopus, which made the experience worth $8 for an adult without kids.

Negative experience: I don't know why there are so many 5 star ratings, for $8, this aquarium is a complete ripoff. The total exhibition area is probably smaller than 300sqft, it took me 10 seconds to walk through the whole area. Employees are friendly but the admission fee is not justified. Walk around this place, it doesn't worth even 8 cents.

Fantastic experience: This place is small - two rooms - but it was actually just the right size for my 3 year-old. After our first visit, we went to lunch and then he asked to return for more. Our visit was in July, and it may not be the same in the winter months, but there was a docent (mostly college students) talking to us and showing us things the entire time we were there, which made it much more interesting. They have touch pools and they feed the animals almost hourly.

Positive experience: Nice little aquarium right on the beach. Not enough to hold teens attention for more than 8 minutes. Sadly since admission was 8$ per kid 1$/minute was too much. They should really drop the admission price.

Negative experience: Very small place. Didn't take longer than 30min to check out the place.

Positive experience: It's more of a 10 minute trip. There isn't mush to see, just a couple of sea creatures. The people there are great and very happy. They have a octopus feeding that tourist can see and also little shark feeding.

Fantastic experience: Cute little aquarium! It's very small but still a fun stop. It's worth the price and has some interesting animals. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the animals.

Fantastic experience: Super small, but awesome for the little ones. You can interact with the sharks here as well.

Positive experience: Kinda pricey for such a little aquarium , more for schools than public

Positive experience: Very cute little Aquarium. Only 2 rooms. I don't think it is worth the $8.00 they charge person. We won't go again.

Fantastic experience: Love the education given to our group

Fantastic experience: Great resource for county and Avila Beach. The staff is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Joan the octopus is delightful!

Positive experience: It's very small but very clean and the little ones love it

Negative experience: So here is how my experience went. From the outside it looks like it was half finished. So, my girlfriend and I walk in to see what this place is all about. Upon opening the doors we were greeted by a very friendly employee, so far so good... and then she said that our total was 16 dollars. I stood flabbergasted for about 5 seconds and paid the large admission so that we could enjoy the experience. As we turn the corner (after paying a whopping 16 dollars) we see what appears to be 3 Walmart brand two square foot tanks and a somewhat larger tank. The place looks like it was thrown together at the bottom of a basement. I was absolutely floored. I started laughing out loud that I had just paid to see less than what my local Petco has to offer. The worst excuse for an aquarium ever. We were out within 3 minutes and 46 seconds, and immediately burst into laughter. This place is a joke, don’t waste the energy to even think about going here. This place will be

Fantastic experience: I bring a lot of kids here ,( I am a school bus driver ) and they absolutely love it ! The young man that is always there , is really great with the kids , and they learn a lot about what’s in our area etc ...

Positive experience: We went primarily to see the recent addition of a Pacific red octopus. Definitely worth it.

Fantastic experience: It’s a small aquarium but worth the stop. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable of all the animals they had on display. I was there while they were feeding the sharks and fish, they have live feedings through the day. Your admission fee is good for the whole day, so watch a fish feeding walk down the street to the beach, park, or one of the many nice restaurants in the area and come back for another feeding.

Positive experience: Lots of animals, but exhibits don't have any information (no signs). Pretty small as well

Negative experience: The two stars are for the nice staff. But very pricey for what the aquarium offers. I suggest you make a price that's fit for a child. Everyone two and over is 8 bucks unless you're a senior citizen. We were done in 20 minutes.

Positive experience: Two room aquarium with 11 exhibits that showcase the native species on the central coast. They have a feeding every couple of hours, very informative. Staff are really friendly and helpful.

Fantastic experience: Exceptionally quaint and pretty little Beach town. The locals are friendly and happy for you to be there. Sometimes during the season it is quite crowded but usually it's not too bad.

Fantastic experience: Super fun, small aquarium. Touch tanks are fun. There is a touch tank for swell sharks also. They feed the octopus at 2pm. One of the attendants knows sign language which was very helpful for the 2 hearing impaired visitors. She did a great job. Very interesting horseshoe crabs were in a tank with rays, sharks and a moray eel. Admission is $8.00.