The world's most impressive public aquariums — from Georgia's whale sharks to Okinawa's manta rays — ranked by species diversity and exhibit quality.
The Great Barrier Reef duelling tanks and the dugong resident 'Pig' and 'Wuru' — two of the world's only aquarium dugongs — make Sydney Sea Life one of the most biodiverse aquariums in the Southern Hemisphere.
The largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere holds 10 million gallons of water — home to whale sharks, beluga whales, manta rays, and 100,000 animals across 60+ exhibits. The Ocean Voyager tunnel is unmissable.
Seven levels of marine environments house dolphins, sandtiger sharks, electric eels, and Australia's most replicated coral reef exhibit. The immersive rainforest canopy and Atlantic coral reef are exceptional.
The extraordinary central ocean tank at Lisbon's Oceanarium immerses visitors in a complete open ocean environment of hammerhead sharks, sunfish, and tuna — designed by Peter Chermayeff for EXPO 98.
The Pacific Ocean ring of fire tank at Kaiyukan is 9 metres deep and 34 metres wide — whale sharks and giant manta rays swim in a tank encircled by 14 other habitat rings representing Pacific ecosystems.
One of the world's largest indoor aquariums, Shedd houses 32,000 animals across reef, river, and ocean habitats. The Abbott Oceanarium dolphin and beluga show and Wild Reef shark-snorkeling are standouts.
The Straits of Malacca habitat at S.E.A. Aquarium features a panoramic viewing panel 36m wide and 8.3m tall — one of the world's largest — housing manta rays, goliath grouper, and sawfish.
The Kuroshio Sea tank at Churaumi is the world's second-largest aquarium panel — displaying whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of fish in a 7.5 million litre showcase of Okinawa's extraordinary Pacific biodiversity.
Canada's largest aquarium is a research and rehabilitation centre for sea otters, belugas, and Pacific Northwest marine life. The Amazon Gallery and Arctic Canada sections are remarkably immersive.
Where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, Two Oceans displays the unique confluence of cold and warm water marine biodiversity — ragged tooth sharks, Cape fur seals, and the spectacular kelp forest exhibit.
Opened in 1984 as a model for sustainable marine science communication, Monterey Bay's kelp forest tank, sea otter rescue program, and deep sea exhibit are benchmarks for responsible aquarium design.
One of the world's largest suspended aquariums — a 10 million litre tank visible through the Dubai Mall — houses over 33,000 aquatic animals including the world's largest collection of sand tiger sharks.
“Sydney Sea Life Aquarium”
Currently ranked #1. Where will it be in 7 days?