Clearwater Marine Aquarium
At Clearwater Marine Aquarium, visitors can enjoy seeing and learning about rescued dolphins, sea turtles, otters and other marine animals. They’re living their best lives under the care of experts at this research and rehabilitation facility because they can’t survive in the wild. The CMA’s Manatee Rehabilitation Center allows the aquarium to accept and care for the influx of manatees in need of restorative care who are recovering from the effects of seagrass and habitat loss.
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A famous dolphin’s lasting legacy
A celebration of one of these animals, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin named Winter, drew attention to the center and helped it develop into the amazing place it is today. Winter starred in two popular movies, “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2,” about her rescue as a baby in 2005 and how she learned to use a prosthetic tail made for her because she’d lost part of hers when she was tangled up in a crab trap. Winter died in 2021, but her legacy lives on. At the aquarium today, visitors can experience a musical, 360-degree virtual reality tribute to her.
Meet the aquarium’s residentsThe Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex, with its five pools and numerous floor-to-ceiling underwater windows, is home to several Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. But dolphins aren’t the only stars of the show. Meet sea turtles, nurse sharks, North American river otters, Great White Pelicans (they’re twice as big as the brown pelicans common in Florida), a variety of stingrays and many other species of fish.
Boat toursThe aquarium offers rides on covered tour boats, including one where visitors can learn about the local environment through the creatures collected in a net from the grass beds and sand flats of Clearwater Bay. Another tour teaches visitors about the local wild dolphin population, and a sunset cruise is also available.
AccessibilityManual wheelchairs are available to rent on a first-come, first-served basis at the Guest Services desk on the third level of the aquarium. A $5 rental fee and refundable $50 deposit are required.
In order to better welcome visitors with sensory issues, Clearwater Marine Aquarium has partnered with KultureCity. Visitors can view a social story before their visit, and once they get to the aquarium, they can borrow a sensory bag and take advantage of quiet zones in the attraction.
Getting thereClearwater Marine Aquarium is at 249 Windward Passage in Clearwater, just north of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway, which connects downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach. It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except for a handful of holidays. The on-site parking garage offers ample parking.
TicketsTickets can be bought online which include access to exhibits and viewing of animals. Food is available at the Shark Bites Café.
Animal care and guided tour experiences are available for an extra charge like the Dolphin Experience, the Shark Care Experience, and a behind-the-scenes walking tour. The schedule of presentations and other information is available online.
Hours
Monday 10 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–5 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–5 PM
Thursday 10 AM–5 PM
Friday 10 AM–5 PM
Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday 10 AM–5 PM
Guest Reviews
We absolutely loved this place! The dolphins were amazing to see, the staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. The place was clean, and the dining place there was delicious. We also loved the facts about winter and the movie dolphin tale! Seeing her prosthetic journey and props from the movie was incredible. Happy as well to have been able to see hope healthy and thriving! I see they truly care about their animals here, and I have never been to a better aquarium!
It is a very nice place to come with family and friends. Great people, kind, courteous and, willing to help. I will mention that I wish they had information with some background on the animals in display, or QR codes. This way we could scan and they can update info digitally improving guests experience. Having Christmas trees in May was a little surprising but we saw it with humor. There is plenty of parking with easy access to entrance. There is an elevator for wheelchair and strollers. Bathrooms are clean. The eating area ( indoors) was very clean and the food was great. The team on the boat was knowledgeable with lots of safety in mind and professional. The boat was clean and in good shape but the prop used for safety demonstration was so old it was hilarious. I recommend a visit to Clearwater Marine aquarium if you are in the area and highly recommend the boat tour.
The staff was very nice and helpful, it’s a small aquarium you’ll see everything in one visit which I like. You get your moneys worth I purchased my tickets on Groupon. I fed a dolphin which was fun for like 160$ I think I paid todo that. Stuff like that is extra of course but at least you feel good spending knowing that all the money goes to taking care of the animals. I believe all of the animals are rescued.
At first when we got there we were disappointed bc it was hard to see the animals in the first few aquariums. When we went downstairs and looked around more, we saw there were aquariums where you could easily see the beautiful animals! The shark was very difficult to see and there were no Manatees. It was awesome to see the dolphins, otters, stingrays, seals, and turtles! And more! We loved that they were taking care of hurt animals. It felt good to support their mission! The people were very nice, and it was a great family experience. It wasn't super fancy, but we enjoyed it. I recommend going if you are near!
Wonderful First Time Visit. Lots of animals to see The staff and volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable when I asked about certain animals. Fun interactive facts boards for kids and adults. Great viewing of Dolphins, Otters, Stingrays, Sea Turtles, fish and even a few unexpected finds like a possum and a couple tropical birds and water fowl. I'd highly recommend checking it out. Spent at least 2 hrs. $15 parking.
Standard Amenities
Number of Rooms: 6
Total Square Feet: 24,700
Largest Room: 7,200
| Room | Square Feet | Theater | Classroom | Banquet | Reception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Terrace | 5678 | 100 | 250 | ||
| Jacobson Ballroom | 7200 | 300 | 650 | ||
| Window of Wonder | 4500 | 120 | 300 | ||
| Private Facility Buyout | 24700 | 2000 |
General Information
- Family-friendly
- Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
- WiFi available
Discounts
- Florida Resident Discount
- Group Discount
- Military Discount
- Senior Citizen Discount
- Student Discount
Accessible Features
- Accessible parking
- Accessible restroom
- Wheelchair-friendly inside walkways
- Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
- Wheelchair Accessible Parking
- Wheelchair Accessible Restroom
Rates & Times
- Time to Experience Activity: 2 - 3 hours
On-Site Facilities & Services
- Restaurant
- Restrooms