A Guide To Sea Life Aquarium, Arizona

Updated May 07, 2023

| 4 min read

If you’re into marine life and aquatic sceneries, then you shouldn’t miss out on Sea Life Aquarium. With nine locations in the United States, it has become a household name in interactive aquariums. If ever you find yourself in Arizona, you’ll be in luck since Sea Life Aquarium has a location here. Located in Arizona Mills mall in Tempe, a popular family-friendly entertainment strip in Arizona, Sea Life Aquarium is a great place to bring your children. You and your family can come close with a plethora of underwater critters through several interactive exhibits and activities. Aside from the usual underwater attractions at an aquarium, Sea Life Aquarium Arizona is proud to be taking part in the conservation and protection of marine life. If you’re thinking of taking a trip to Arizona soon, you might want to add Sea Life to your itinerary. Our guide to Sea Life Aquarium, Arizona below will help you out.

Things to do / Highlights

Source: Photo by user StarsApart used under CC BY 2.0

Meet sea creatures

There are several ways you can see the many different sea creatures at Sea Life Aquarium. You can see majority of them at the ocean tunnel, which is one of the aquarium’s biggest attractions. Imagine yourself literally walking under the sea with schools of fish casually swimming above and around you. Here’s where you can get up close to sharks from great whites to all sorts of breeds. Another special creature you should watch out for is the green sea turtle. Each Sea Life Aquarium has its own rescued sea turtle as part of its conservation program, and for Arizona, they’ve been named Ziva and Cora.

Interactive Tidepool Experience

For your kids who are a bit more adventurous, the Interactive Tidepool Experience is a great option for them. Here you can get to actually touch some of the critters of the sea through what they call the touch pools or rockpools. If you’re game enough, you can feel the texture of a starfish, a sea anemone, or a sea urchin. This is especially great for your kids who are probably curious about these creatures they’ve only read about and they will learn about it first-hand.

Educational talks and feeding demos

Aside from going on a self-guided tour of the aquarium, be sure to check out some of the educational talks and feeding demonstration programs held at various times during the day. You can learn about seahorses and their way of life at the Seahorse Roundup held at the Temple of Seahorses. You can also watch as the resident aquarists feed the majestic sharks at the ocean tunnel during JAWsome Shark Feeding. Speaking of aquarists, have some questions for them about their work and the sea creatures? Feel free to shoot during the designated Ask an Aquarist times.

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Things to buy

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There is a gift shop at the end of the aquarium where you can buy souvenirs like keychains, toys, mugs, and plushies of your favorite sea creatures. The gift shop is accessible by the public so you don’t need a ticket to enter should you wish to buy some gifts or memorabilia.

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Travelers tips

Source: Photo by user CWaterhouse used under CC BY 2.0

Accessibility

Sea Life Aquarium offers all-around accessibility for disabled guests at all parts of its facility. The restrooms are also accessible for wheelchairs and also offers baby changing stations as well. However, the facility doesn’t rent out wheelchairs. You can do so outside at Arizona Mills Guest Services, which is next to the Food Court. There are also additional restrooms available here. With regards to strollers, the aquarium strongly advises against bringing them into the facility unless absolutely needed. It’s important to remember that the facility follows a standard policy when it comes to the sizes of wheelchairs and strollers.

Food and drink

Unfortunately, food and drinks brought from outside are not allowed inside the aquarium. There is no cafeteria or snack store at the facility either. So if you are visiting the aquarium, best to have your meal before or after your visit. Alternatively, general admission tickets permit re-entry so you can go out to have your meal first then simply just go back inside. The best and nearest place to eat is the Arizona Mills Food Court which is just outside the aquarium.

Aquarium decorum

Just as with a museum, an aquarium also has its own set of rules and decorum to observe while inside its premises. First of all, flash photography is strictly prohibited as this may cause harm to the sea creatures. Of course, you can take as many photos as you like, but always turn off the flash when doing so. Spot the well-lighted areas and you can take some good photos there.

While inside the aquarium, observe the no running policy. It’s an aquarium, not a playground. Too much shouting and noise may also disturb the animals. Also, refrain from excessively tapping the glass as this too may bother the animals. Overall, just remember to have fun without disturbing the daily routine of the aquarium and its resident critters.

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How to get there

Source: Photo by user Brandon Hunt used under CC BY 2.0

By car

Arizona Mills, where Sea Life Aquarium is located, is a large shopping mall in Tempe, Arizona so it’s not difficult to find. It sits at the corner of I-10 and Baseline Road so it’s a very busy area. The best way to reach the place is by car - either drive a private one or you can hail an Uber or Lyft for your convenience.

If you’re coming from the east, take the US60 Superstition Freeway and exit at Priest Drive south, Exit 172. If you’re coming from the north, west, or south, take the I-10 Maricopa Freeway and exit at Baseline Road, Exit 154. Simply follow the signs leading to Arizona Mills.

By bus

Alternatively, you can also take a Valley Metro bus to get to Arizona Mills. Just remember to take the following lines: 48, 56, 77, 108. The bus will actually drop you right in front of Sea Life Aquarium so it’s more convenient.

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How to book tickets

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The most advisable way to get tickets at Sea Life Aquarium is to book online. This will save you 2 USD and will let you skip the line at the entrance. Tickets purchased online are priced at 17.95 USD for adults and 12.95 USD for children as compared to 19.95 USD and 14.95 USD for the walk-in prices, respectively. You can also purchase your tickets via third-party tour websites. Keep in mind that general admission gives you unlimited time inside and permits re-entry to the facility if you wish to check out the other attractions of Arizona Mills. Speaking of other attractions, combo tickets are also available for those who wish to check out LEGOLAND Discovery Center, which is the facility next door to the aquarium.

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Sea Life Aquarium information

Source: Photo by user StarsApart used under CC BY 2.0

Sea Life Aquarium

Address: Arizona Mills, 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir Suite 135, Tempe, AZ 85282, United States
Official website: Sea Life Aquarium Arizona
Department of tourism: Arizona
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 7pm; Sun: 11am - 6pm
Price: From 19.95 USD

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