The Shark Lagoon is a highly-rated outdoor exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, known for its hands-on interaction and educational displays. Key Highlights
Interactive Touch Pools: A major draw where visitors can safely touch several species of sharks and rays.
Large Predators: The deeper pools house impressive large shark species and rays, viewable from above and through large windows.
Family-Friendly Environment: The campus-like layout includes an amphitheater for educational presentations, a gift store, and an outdoor café. sharks lagoon campus
Accessibility: The entire exhibit is fully wheelchair accessible with spacious walkways and elevator access. Visitor Consensus
Educational Value: Reviewers frequently praise the "Twilight Tuesdays" and other special programs for providing free or discounted family fun that is both entertaining and informative.
Atmosphere: It is often described as a "hidden gem" within the larger aquarium, offering a more relaxed, outdoor experience compared to the indoor galleries. The Shark Lagoon is a highly-rated outdoor exhibit
Duration: Most visitors recommend spending at least 2–3 hours at the aquarium to fully experience the lagoon and surrounding exhibits. Expand map Primary Exhibit Nearby Attractions Shark Lagoon - Aquarium of the Pacific
Consider the "Sharks Lagoon Campus" at the Bahamas Marine EcoCentre. Opened in 2019, this facility turned a former hotel swimming pool into a multi-million dollar education hub.
Results:
This proves that a Sharks Lagoon Campus is not just an environmental asset but an economic engine for coastal communities.
Young students learn that not all sharks are man-eaters. They touch the smooth skin of a White-spotted Bamboo shark and feel the sandpaper-like dermal denticles of a larger species. The lesson? Sharks are fish, not monsters.
For older students (high school and university), the lagoon functions as a living lab. Daily tasks include: Consider the "Sharks Lagoon Campus" at the Bahamas
As of 2025, the next evolution of the Sharks Lagoon Campus is hybrid. AR goggles are being tested that overlay digital data onto the live animal. When a student looks at a shark, they see:
This turns a passive viewing experience into an interactive data visualization lab, bridging the gap between biological sciences and data science.