Exhibits
Tide Pool Plaza
Hands On Fun!
Preuss Tide Pool Plaza is home to some of the most spectacular ocean views in San Diego. This stunning outdoor plaza overlooks the ocean and is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. Tide pools are living habitats where all surfaces above and below the water are teeming with life! Tide Pool Plaza gives you the unique opportunity to touch local tide pool creatures like sea anemones, sea stars and sea urchins.
Marine Protected Areas
Did you know there are 124 established Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout California? MPAs are areas set aside to protect and conserve local marine life and habitats. They help make marine life more resilient as they help to increase the diversity, abundance, size, and overall health of species. Two MPAs can be viewed from Tide Pool Plaza and help protect and conserve local marine wildlife and habitats.
Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve stretches from south of Scripps Pier all the way to La Jolla Cove.
San Diego-Scripps Coastal State Marine Conservation Area stretches from north of Scripps Pier to just before the start of Torrey Pines State Beach.
Scripps Pier
Tide Pool Plaza overlooks Scripps Pier, an icon of Scripps Oceanography that supports a wealth of scientific research and serves as a vital teaching tool!
Scripps Pier Walks
During the fall, you can join Birch Aquarium naturalists on an exclusive walking tour of Scripps Pier — which is normally closed to the public. Discover the research conducted at Scripps Oceanography, scoop up plankton and examine samples under the microscope, dissect a squid, learn about local shark research and more!