Undersea spectaculars found on 5 continents

The underwater world is vast. Sea creatures have always been curiosities, and aquariums provide the opportunity to explore and learn from intriguing marine life without getting wet.

CALIFORNIA

Monterey
In a converted cannery building overlooking the central California coastline, the aquarium houses more than 350,000 sea creatures and plant life. A local favorite, sea otters, play in their two-story exhibit while leopard sharks, sardines and other fish swim in a 335,000-gallon kelp forest tank. Hands-on tidal pools offer opportunities to touch sea stars and rays.
More information: Call 831-648-4800 or go to montereybayaquarium.org.

ENGLAND

Brighton
In a charming English Channel seaside town, the Sea Life Center, formerly the Brighton Aquarium, was the first visitor attraction aquarium in the world. It opened in 1872, and the Victorian-style building and tanks have been preserved. The entry point by the Brighton Pier dates to the 1920s. It has more than 150 species in 57 displays.
More information: Call 0871-423-2110 or go to sealife.co.uk.

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town
Located where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, at the southern tip of Africa, the Two Oceans Aquarium showcases the best of both bodies of water. Seven exhibition galleries consist of the Atlantic Ocean gallery, the Indian Ocean gallery, the Cape Fur Seal exhibit, a predator exhibit, a kelp forest exhibit, the Sappi River Meander Exhibit and an activity center. Those with a Professional Association of Diving Instructors open water certificate can scuba dive with ragged-tooth sharks in a 528,500-gallon tank.
More information: Call 27-21-418-3823 or go to aquarium.co.za.

AUSTRALIA

The Sydney Aquarium on Darling Harbor features many of the creatures found around the Australian continent. An enormous tank features the aquatic life of the Great Barrier Reef and interactive touch pools resemble Sydney’s seaside rock pools. Three underwater walkways let visitors see the brilliantly colored fish, turtles, rays and sharks from below. Duckbilled platypuses, dugongs, and Fairy penguins are some of the other popular wildlife on display.
More information: Call 61-2-8251-7800 or go to sydneyaquarium.com.au.

ILLINOIS

Chicago
The John G. Shedd Aquarium, open since 1930, houses thousands of river, sea and lake inhabitants. A 90,000-gallon Caribbean coral reef greets guests in the central rotunda, from which other exhibition halls break off. The exhibit halls aim to feature the natural habitats of the creatures on display from places such as the Amazon, the North Pacific and the wild reefs of the Philippines. An Australian lungfish is the world’s oldest fish in an aquarium, at more than 80 years old.
More information: Call 312-939-2438 or go to sheddaquarium.org.

CHINA

Qingdao
The Qingdao Underwater World and Aquarium was the first public aquarium in China. Opened in 1932, the attraction has four main areas showcasing undersea life. Large tanks offer near 360-degree views of fish and sea life. The Mermaid Show, the Dance with Sharks and the Underwater Ballet shows are crowd favorites.
More information: Call 0532-8287-8218 or go toqdunderwaterworld.

MONACO

Monte Carlo
Founded in 1910, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is in the side of a rocky cliff along the Mediterranean Sea. Mosaic floors and stunning views of Monaco and the Côte d’Azur welcome guests. Upper floors house collections of animal skeletons, model ships and other sea fauna from the early 20th century, including a whale skeleton. The lower-level aquarium has 4,000 species of fish, a shark lagoon and a coral garden. Famous oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau directed the museum for more than 30 years.