The Aquarium of the Pacific on the Rainbow Harbour waterfront is one of the better aquariums on the West Coast. It focuses on the marine ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean across three climate zones — the warm waters of Baja California, the cooler waters of the Northern Pacific, and the tropical waters of the coral triangle. The jellyfish gallery and the shark lagoon are the standouts.
The aquarium is large enough to take most of a day if you take your time, and it handles crowds better than many comparable facilities. There are outdoor exhibits and a lorikeet aviary as well as the main indoor galleries. It gets busy on summer weekends, particularly with families — a weekday visit is preferable.