The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is a public aquarium on the Sidney waterfront focused entirely on the marine environment of the local Salish Sea — the inland sea that includes the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Rather than importing exotic tropical species, the centre displays the animals and ecosystems that exist immediately offshore: giant Pacific octopus, wolf eels, lingcod, moon jellies, sea stars, and the various invertebrates of the rocky intertidal zone.
The displays are thoughtfully designed for all ages. Touch tanks let younger visitors handle sea cucumbers and hermit crabs under the supervision of interpretive staff. The jellyfish gallery is particularly striking. The centre also carries out local conservation and public education work, and staff can often explain what's currently happening in the seasonal marine environment just outside the door.
Admission is charged and the centre is compact — a visit takes one to two hours. It sits right on the waterfront near the marina, making it easy to combine with a walk along the pier.