Seymour Marine Discovery Center

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is located just north of Santa Cruz on the bluffs of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary which stretches 200 miles from Cambria to San Francisco Bay. This facility teaches the vast diversity of the lush Monterey Bay, one of the richest marine habitats in the world.

This research facility was closed to the public for many years and in 200O they opened to the public. In addition to being able to learn about marine habitat, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center teaches the importance research has in preserving the oceans and wetlands.

They have both indoor displays where you can touch a shark and an outdoor display of both blue whale and humpback whale skeletons. Learn about the sea otter, elephant seals, and harbor seals. You can learn the difference between a sea lion and a seal, as well as the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise. Dolphins being the second most intelligent non-human animal next to the orangutan.

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center has summer day camps for all ages and field trips for grades K-5, middle school, high school, and college level. No reservation required. $11-$8 based on age and student status. Open Wednesday through Sunday. This is a good venue to combine with Santa Cruz Whale Watching.