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Life of a Drifter

 Step into the world of some of Puget Sound's most mysterious and beautiful creatures

Ring of Life

You can literally step through this exhibit – it’s a beautifully lit, 12-foot high acrylic ring filled with luminous moon jellies. Watch in wonder as they gently propel themselves through the water, floating up, down and around the ring. 

Giant Pacific Octopus

Take a close look at one of the most elusive and fascinating sea creatures found in Puget Sound: the giant Pacific octopus. This exhibit is designed in two sections connected by a large transparent tube– watch as the octopus moves from one section to the other, giving you a chance to observe its many busy arms, and perhaps even gaze into one of its intelligent eyes. This exhibit is also home to creatures that share a habitat with the giant Pacific octopus in the wild, such as sea stars, anemones and, occasionally, rockfish. 

Closer Look Table

A rotating exhibit space highlighting a small selection of local species. Depending on the season, this is a chance for you to get up close and personal with plankton, fish and invertebrates.
 

Creatures you're likely to see

Moon Jelly

Jellies have been around for hundreds of millions of years!

Plankton

Some of the world’s smallest living creatures!

Other Exhibits

Sea anemones
Life on the Edge

Life on the Edge is your chance to get up close and personal with the many fascinating creatures that dwell in the tide pools of Washington State’s outer coast and Puget Sound’s inland sea.

Salmon fry
Salmon

Seasonally, salmon make their way from the open ocean to freshwater—most often, the streams in which they were born—to spawn. It’s an amazing journey for an animal that’s critically important in a variety of ways.

Underwater dome exhibit
Underwater Dome

Be surrounded by Puget Sound's sea life!