It’s no secret that the waters off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands are teeming with incredible sea life and reefs just waiting to be explored. But not everyone feels comfortable snorkeling, and even fewer are scuba certified. Whale watching tours are great, and seeing a sea turtle lounging on the beach is truly incredible, but sometimes you want to get up close and personal with the sea life that live in the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. That’ s why a visit to the Maui Ocean Center is a must on any Hawaiian bucket list — whether you live on Maui, are island hopping from a neighboring island, or taking a once-in-a-lifetime Hawaiian vacation.
Let’s dive in and learn more about this incredible attraction:
Rated as a top family attraction by Zagat surveys and various other travel review sites, the Maui Ocean Center is one of our favorite indoor destinations in Hawaii perfect for a rainy (or hot) day!
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
The 3-acre marine park is the largest tropical aquarium in the Western Hemisphere and features the largest collection of living corals in the United States.
Smart Destinations/Flickr
There are more than 60 exhibits which showcase everything from tropical reef fish, stingrays, and green sea turtles to sharks, octopus, eels, and sea jellies — but no dolphins or whales, per a Maui County ordinance prohibiting the exhibit of these creatures.
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
The enormous aquarium and oceanography center is also home to an amazing exhibit called The Open Ocean — a 54-foot acrylic tunnel that offers 360-degree views of marine life, including manta ray sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish.
James Darpinian/Flickr
The tank is a whopping 750,000 gallons — the largest in Hawaii.
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
Also of interest? The Maui Ocean Center’s Aquari-Om events, where guests an RSVP to take part i a guided yoga session in the aquarium!
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook Click here for more information.
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
Maui Ocean Center is located in Maalaea Harbor, and provides spectacular ocean views. However, 75 percent of the aquarium is located indoors, making this destination the perfect spot to get out of the rain — or heat — for a few hours.
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
What are you waiting for? Plan your visit to this mesmerizing destination as soon as possible!
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
The Maui Ocean Center is located at 192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Maui Ocean Center, The Aquarium Of Hawaii/Facebook
Smart Destinations/Flickr
James Darpinian/Flickr
Click here for more information.
Have you ever visited the Maui Ocean Center? What about Hanauma Bay or Molokini Crater, two of the state’s best snorkeling destinations?
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