Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Vancouver

...aquariums and zoos worldwide the Vancouver Aquarium highlights its advantages as a world saver. In 1996 Vancouver vowed to never again capture cetaceans from the wild, and only obtain cetaceans from other facilities if they too were captured before 1996 (unless a rescue animal). They also claim a commitment to research and conservation, and there are certainly a few signs around the place letting you know their thoughts on the matter. There are also ...
...undoubtedly the main attraction at Vancouver Aquarium. Its not just the absurdity of their names (go on say it, belloooooooga) its well, the absurdity of them. These odd lumpy creatures are an arctic whale and are quite possibly the most fascinating animals I have ever seen. Dolphin faced, white, with a face that seems to smile at you, there are four to be found at Vancouver Aquarium. The Belugas put on a show a couple of times a day, and also do ... more

I've been to a few aquariums in my time, never the first thing on my itinerary but I often end up in them. There's one in Osaka (Japan) that I think is the best I have been in yet, but you know what? It doesn't have Beluga whales.

Officially Canada's first public Aquarium, it opened on June 15, 1956. Along with most aquariums and zoos worldwide the Vancouver Aquarium highlights its advantages as a world saver. In 1996 Vancouver vowed to never again capture cetaceans from the wild, and only obtain cetaceans from other facilities if they too were captured before 1996 (unless a rescue animal). They also claim a commitment to research and conservation, and there are certainly a few signs around the place letting you know their thoughts on the matter. There are also options for you to support them in their quest with suggestions of "adopting an orca". I considered but there's just not enough room in my bathtub, frankly with the way I have been eating there's hardly enough room for me these days. Smart remarks aside I will say that the aquarium here does seem to care about their animals and they all seem well treated for animals that cant escape. The aquarium also does get involved in local fish related good causes such as shoreline cleanup. I assume the fact that the aquarium is accredited by the American Zoo & Aquarium Association, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums and the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums means they don't buy and sell fishes on the black market and make them dance with rings in their noses. At least I hope so.

Currently the aquarium covers approximately 9000 m² and has a total 9.5 million litres of water in 166 aquatic displays, though expansion plans are underway once the destruction of Stanley Park is agreed upon. Out the front of the aquarium is Haida artist Bill Reid's killer whale sculpture, "Chief of the Undersea World", which was a gift to the aquarium in 1984. Makes a nice posing spot.

As you walk inside there's a photo stand set up, you know the kind. You pose against a blue background and they add your picture to a suitably fishy looking background and sell it to you at extreme rates. I think these ones go at two pictures for $14.

Beluga whales are undoubtedly the main attraction at Vancouver Aquarium. Its not just the absurdity of their names (go on say it, belloooooooga) its well, the absurdity of them. These odd lumpy creatures are an arctic whale and are quite possibly the most fascinating animals I have ever seen. Dolphin faced, white, with a face that seems to smile at you, there are four to be found at Vancouver Aquarium. The Belugas put on a show a couple of times a day, and also do a training session in front of the public. I haven't seen the show but I have seen the training session, which features the whales practicing with their trainers, just as you might suspect by the name "training session". A commentary is given, along with lots of warnings about not sitting too close or you might get wet, which is something you don't want to happen in Vancouver winter! The belugas live on the outside deck of the aquarium, next to the canteen so you can sit and have your lunch while you watch them swim about. Then as you take the stairs down you enter into the underwater beluga viewing area, the tank is one-way glass and you can watch them ripple through the water. Nice comfy seats sit in front of the glass and a webcam shows you what is going on upstairs. Not only here, but placed around the aquarium, are interesting little fact cards on the animals. One you will see by the belugas is how to tell a male from a female.

Once you have had your fill of staring at the belugas there are quite a few other worthy attractions at the aquarium. Along with the belugas a few of them are outside, such as the sea lions. Next to the Sea Lion enclosure is a giant scale. If you are having a bit of a day where you are feeling a bit larger than usual then this is the scale for you, though be warned everyone can see your weight. The scale compares your weight to a sea lion, something to make you feel a bit lighter! There are daily Sea lion talks, and again warnings about not standing to close - that sea lion makes a giant splash!

Something that also seems to enjoy making a splash are those cute little sea otters. These are just about the cutest things you have ever seen. On my first visit one of them seemed to be going crazy and was swimming around like a mad sea otter on caffeine or as my friends and I used to say - behaving like a frog in a sock. There are four of these cuties and daily talks and shows. They are also located outside with a Perspex wall so you can see them underwater as well.

But with any Vancouver activity after a while of being outside you notice it's a bit cold, so lucky everything else is inside!

The first place I tend to end up is in front of the dolphins. After walking down some stairs there is a glassed in section to peek at them. The first time I went I was with a friend who had never seen a dolphin before. I myself am pretty used to those cute little bottle nosed dolphins and in my mind tend to associate all dolphin kind with the cute bottle nosed dolphins. To my surprise a funny looking speckly grey dolphin (Pacific white sided dolphin) swims around in Vancouver Aquarium, just in case the dolphin reads this I don't wish to be too rude, but lets just say I bet it has a "nice personality".

Nearby is a children's play area, a few games and an "animal hospital", they wouldn't let me play in it so I huffed off. I considered drinking a beer in front of the kids in a "yea well you can play with the stuffed fish but I can drink beer" kind of way but the security guard was already giving me a bit of a look, and I don't think he was checking me out in "you look hot today" kind of way.

Closed the first time I went but opened the next was the jellyfish exhibit. Lots of flouro lighting and funky glass tanks makes this a visually stunning room. You can learn the different stages a jellyfish goes through, something most of us have always wondered about. This room also has some freaky little glass bowls where you can stick your head into tanks and see freaky little animals up close. Ugh.

Off this room is another kiddies play area, well signposted that you can't enter without a child. I tried to make my friend duck down and act several years younger but she just refused and made some muttering comments about me acting a few years older…

Downstairs you will find an Amazon room. This place is pretty interesting and heated up a little and steamy. This little section is home to some pretty odd looking creatures and some piranhas (hence my earlier decision to behave in front of the security guard) and an alligator! This area is well done with a walk through garden section, featuring several colored ibis. Just off the garden section is a snake section. On one visit no doubt noticing that I hate snakes a friendly little volunteer (who randomly seem to wander the aquarium) made sure to point out allll the snakes in the tanks.

Most of the other exhibits are your standard fish style, we see Nemo and like everyone else make appropriate "I found him" comments, a shark, a tortoise and many many many fish. Not necessarily all in the same tank as the shark. Most tanks have a bit of information either on them or nearby.

Lets go shopping!
It's a sad fact but I always get excited about souvenir shops. The thing is though that now I have been to so very many every souvenir begins to look the same, especially to my poor little nephews who receive the bulk of my purchases. I was very disappointed with the shop here. Some cute things sure but without the stamp of Vancouver Aquarium, or even Vancouver, I could have bought this stuff from anywhere. There were a few things stamped with my request but they were heavy items like glasses, or plastic glasses, which were ugly. A wide selection of t-shirts were available, but again mostly without stamping on them. There are a lot of toys and kids jewellery and cute clothing here but again, purchase it anywhere. On both visits I went with out of town tourists who are heavy shoppers and on both occasions we all left with no more than a postcard, we were willing to be fleeced but it wasn't to be.

Lets do Lunch!
I don't eat seafood so those little creatures are safe from me, but if you are the seafood eating kind there's a lunch stand to distract you. A decent enough menu, burgers, quiches and cakes amongst other things, nothing outstanding but you aren't likely to starve either. High-end price for what it is, but to be expected at museums/aquariums worldwide.

Lets Pay!
Adults $18.50
Seniors/ Youths (13-18)/ Students* $13.95
Children (4-12) $10.95
Children 3 years & under FREE (accompanied by an adult, its not a babysitting centre)

Or you can get a membership
Adult $46.00
Child $28.00
Senior/Student/Youth $37.00
Family* $110.00
Membership gets you (the member) unlimited entry for a year and one free ticket for a friend. It also gets you 10% discount in the shop, at the canteen and on entry for friends.

Lets get Directions
The Aquarium is located right at the start of Stanley Park, so about a 20-minute walk from downtown. The walk takes you along the water and through the start of the park so is quite a pleasant one. There is also a bus that stops right behind the Aquarium that leaves from downtown.

There is also pay parking in Stanley park and a parking lot in front of the Aquarium. Lots of the roads in Stanley Park are one way so keep an eye out for signs.

On a side note whilst in Stanley Park have a look around; it's a beautiful big park just outside of downtown Vancouver. Whether walking, driving or bussing it the park is well signposted so it's an easy find.

Lets go to an Event
The aquarium also hosts occasional events, include a sleepover with the belugas. I think that I'm too young to sleep with the fishes just yet..

Lets go in Winter
Winter hours 9:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Lets go to the world wide web
Website: http://www.vanaqua.org/home/
If you like to plan in advance this site also has a map, available to download in a variety of languages.

Lets finish up!
If you think you are never going to make it to Vancouver Aquarium, those crazy belugas have their own web cam http://www.vanaqua.org/belugacam/index.html

And if you consider that really, I just wasn't informative enough and you want to know more you can contact the aquarium at
P.O. Box 3232
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6B 3X8
Phone: (604) 659-3474
Fax: (604) 659-3515
guestrelations@vanaqua.org

*all prices are in Canadian dollars, because Vancouver is in Canada.
 

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