Aquarium of the Pacific's First Annual Divers' Day to Offer Free Admission to Certified Divers

On March 17 the Aquarium of the Pacific will celebrate its first annual Divers’ Day featuring free admission for certified divers, booths from various marine and dive related organizations, live equipment demonstrations and more. To enjoy free admission, divers must present valid proof of certification with photo I.D., and the public may also enjoy this event with regular admission.

The California Classic Equipment Divers will feature antique diving equipment and will perform demonstration dives of the US Navy MK V hardhat diving rig. The Historical Diving Society, the Catalina Chamber, and a host of other organizations will feature displays and booths underneath the Aquarium’s 88-foot blue whale model in the Great Hall of the Pacific.

In addition to all of the Divers’ Day festivities, guests can enjoy Pacific Galleries, a journey through the Pacific Ocean, the largest and most diverse body of water, to meet over 12,000 ocean animals representing more than 550 species. Guests will explore three galleries featuring 18 major habitats and 31 exhibits focusing on the waters of Southern California/Baja, Tropical Pacific and Northern Pacific. On their journey, they will encounter seals, sea lions, sea otters, sharks and more.

The fun continues as guests encounter Lorikeet Forest, the Aquarium’s new 5,200 square foot walkthrough aviary filled with dozens of brightly colored lorikeet birds. These friendly birds will land on your arm, shoulders and even head to get a sip of nectar from your hand-held nectar cup.

Jellies: Phantoms of the Deep is back by popular demand and guests will enjoy learning about sea jellies—mysterious creatures with no heart, brain or eyes. Exhibit features more than one dozen species of sea jelly.

Visitors have the opportunity to see weedy sea dragons, which are native to Australia and resemble the plants found in their local waters. The Aquarium of the Pacific is the first aquarium in the world to successfully breed these delicate creatures.

The Aquarium offers daily presentations including Seal and Sea Lion, Sea Otter and underwater dive presentations in the ARCO Tropical Reef exhibit and Blue Cavern Habitat. The Honda Theater also features educational films on sharks, sea jellies and other denizens of the deep.

Aquarium of the Pacific guests have the opportunity to dive deeper into the Aquarium by embarking on a Behind-the-Scenes journey. Adventurers will learn the secrets of the aquarium trade, meet new sea animal babies in their special behind-the-scenes holding aquariums and even have the opportunity to touch and feed some animals. There is an additional fee for the Behind-the-scenes tour.

The Aquarium of the Pacific First Annual Divers’ Day will take place Sunday, March 17 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. The Aquarium of the Pacific is a non-profit education and conservation organization. For more information call 562-590-3100 or visit www.aquariumofpacific.org on the web.