Nicholas Sonntag Marine Ed Centre

It was really fun we even got to touch some of the creatures. I highly recommend. The aquarium was amazing, having a big punch packed in to a small space. The staff was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Admission price is great. We spent a few hours here. Wish we lived closer, as we could then visit all the time.nThank you!

What a gem of a place! If you are visiting, please don't skip over the Tide pools Aquarium. Even though it is a small exhibit space, it's packed with interesting displays of marine life, a touch pool and staffed with very accessible, and very knowledgeable staff. I watched my kids 17, 14 and 12 all revert back to curious 5 year olds. We spent a good hour and a bit there just looking at all the neat marine life, asking questions and got to watch a crab hunt, break open a clam and have it's lunch. And this experience is super affordable!

TidePools Aquarium is a small but fascinating collect-and-release aquarium that focuses on local marine life from Howe Sound. It has about 30 exhibits showcasing over 70 species, including fish, invertebrates, and plants from habitats like rocky reefs, eelgrass beds, and kelp forests. The touch tanks and scavenger hunts make it especially fun for kids, while the knowledgeable staff and volunteers add depth with stories about the animals and ecosystems. I liked that everything here is community-driven and sustainable—the animals are collected by divers and later released back into the ocean. It feels more like an educational experience than a tourist attraction, which makes it unique.

A wonderful experience! The staff was great with kids, very knowledgeable and kind. We got to touch different types of sea stars and sea urchins, as well as see other creatures like eels, crabs, and sea slugs. It's really cool and interactive! They are a catch-and-release aquarium so the animals change from time to time. Plus, the organization supports conservation and education efforts on the coast

I was really impressed by the volume and variety of critters to be found in this small aquarium. The staff member or perhaps volunteer? was so informative, and totally accessible for questions while also providing lots of space to explore on your own. Money well spent for about 45 minutes of entertainment and education.