Skip to main content
Aquarium Home
Today's Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Guest feeding sharks from basket

Animal Encounter: Sharks and Rays

Feed the sharks and walk among the rays! Join an Aquarium educator and animal care staff for a private encounter at the touch pools of Shark Lagoon.

Animal Encounter: Sharks and Rays

Feed the sharks and walk among the rays! Join an Aquarium educator and animal care staff for a private encounter at the touch pools of Shark Lagoon.

Guest feeding sharks from basket

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Madeline Walden

Spend time with the animals in warm, tropical waters of Shark Lagoon before the Aquarium opens to the public. Help us feed the bamboo sharks their morning meal and then get your feet wet as you step into our touchpool to feed and interact with our rays.

Important Information

  • The touch pool is about 18 inches deep. Water booties and a towel will be provided, and you will get wet.
  • Please wear shorts.
  • Guests must be at least 4’6” tall.
  • You are welcome to use your underwater camera during the Shark and Ray Animal Encounter while under the supervision of Aquarium staff. Please note that underwater cameras are not allowed during regular operating hours. If you would like to use your underwater camera during your encounter, please let Aquarium staff know when you arrive at Shark Lagoon. Your camera must be soaked in fresh water before and after the encounter to eliminate health risks to the animals. You are responsible for testing the effectiveness of your camera’s underwater protection and/or housing before use at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Aquarium staff members are not allowed to take photos using your underwater camera, and the Aquarium is not liable for any resulting damage to the camera from your participation in this program.

Animal Encounter Confirmation Materials

Once you have booked your Animal Encounter, please have each paying participant complete the waiver and release form and bring it with you on the date of your encounter.

Animal Encounter Waiver and Release Form
TICKETS
Purchase your tickets for this program here. Please select an available date from the calendar to book the program.
DATE
Saturdays & Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Book at least 48 hours in advance
COST
$150 per person
$135 per Aquarium member
Aquarium admission included.

Minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 participants per day from the same household.
Guest feeding shark by hand

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Madeline Walden

Fiddler Ray closeup

Fiddler Ray Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Ken Kurtis

Blue spot ray closeup

Blue spot ray Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Ken Kurtis

Brown-banded bamboo shark clustered together

Brown-banded bamboo shark Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Ken Kurtis

Young masked mad feeds rays by hand while wading in a shallow pool

Credit: Madeline Walden / Aquarium of the Pacific

EVENT DETAILS
Saturdays & Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Book at least 48 hours in advance
Purchase your tickets for this program here. Please select an available date from the calendar to book the program.
$150 per person
$135 per Aquarium member
Aquarium admission included.

Minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 participants per day from the same household.
(562) 590-3100, ext. 0 . Pre-registration required at least 48 hours in advance.
Guests must be at least 7 years of age to participate. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Shark and Penguin Encounters offer special options for those with accessibility needs. Service animals may not be present at behind-the-scenes animal encounters. In order that our guests with disabilities may enjoy the Aquarium to the fullest, Aquarium staff members will be made available to hold/walk or kennel the service animal while other Aquarium staff accompany the guest through the tour/exhibit. For more information, please review our service animal policy here. Please call 562-590-3100, ext. 0 to schedule a tour.

Aquarium Discounts

Aquarium coupons at Baker’s through December