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This vibrant tropical tank contains glinting tarpon, bonnethead sharks, fluttering rays, and many other fish. A scuba diver hand-feeds them five times daily, narrating his task via an underwater microphone.

Underwater galleries afford incredible views of the likes of dolphins and beluga whales swimming through the Oceanarium’s vast pool. It is bordered by rocky outcrops and towering pines in an amazing re-creation of the Pacific Northwest coast.

Gain a daring diver’s perspective of whitetip reef, blacktip reef, sand-bar, and wobbegong sharks. The massive Queensland grouper and fearsome Lionfish happily hold their own amid the predator school.

Oceanarium staffers hold daily discussions about the beluga whales, sea otters, and gentoo and rockhopper penguins in their charge. Twice daily there are also chats covering a changing roster of fish from the aquarium.

Themed tanks holding over 300 species of fish include Ocean Coasts, Tropical Waters, and Africa, Asia, and Australia. An Australian lungfish known as “Grandad” is a celebrated resident, having lived here since 1933.

This 3,600 sq ft (334 sq m) special exhibit gallery is located on the mezzanine level of the Oceanarium and features changing exhibits focused on aquatic animals.

Demonstrating the huge seasonal tides of the world’s longest river, this exhibit presents a year in the life of the Amazon flood plain. Look out for the ferocious red bellied piranha.

Get up close and personal with Chilean rose tarantulas, African bullfrogs, and red-tailed boas in handler-controlled encounters, twice daily.

Here, staffers guide visitors through touch tanks that imitate the tide pools of the Pacific Northwest coast. Seize your chance to stroke a starfish or tickle an anemone. Check times on arrival.

Four or five times a day trainers put the belugas and dolphins through their paces. Children are chosen from the audience to reward the animals’ intrepid feats (such as tail-walking, and vocalizing) with tasty treats.