Reviews of Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (Zoo)

Emma D.

I’m not even a kid but I enjoyed this place very much. Yes, it’s not as big but interesting and beautiful. I didn’t miss and spot or any information. I did spot the octopus too. I like the fact about starfish that they can have more than 5 arms and then I found a little skinny one with 4 only. It was fun to spend my Saturday here. The staff members were friendly and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this for family visit.

Michael Cellini

A great little stop in a beautiful town. Lots to see and do. There is a Touch Tank for you to touch the sea life. The staff also give informational talks. Not a bad price for about 2 hours of exploration fun.

vickie gould

It's a great little aquarium. The touch tanks were the best part in my option. I also really enjoyed the microscopes and seeing the starfish move. It's pretty crazy to think that they move so slowly. The octopus was of course a highlight. The kelp forest was also super neat. Overall I would come back.

Fernando Corrêa Dias de Souza

In really enjoyed it. The staff members are great and very attentive.

Johnny Park

It’s a small cute place to visit for an hour with the kids but I was hoping to see more types of fishes and sea animals. Jellyfishes were interesting to watch.

Ross Dunn

This cute Aquarium is impressively designed to maximise the beautiful exhibits and the positive impressions of the Salish Sea.

Olga Courtnage

Great museum! Kids learned a few things about octopus! Amazing jelly fish! It was great on a rainy day finishing with hot chocolate in one of the local coffee shops.

Hilary Lovell

Great for kids of all ages. Lots to see and experience. Currently one-way due to rules so take it in and move slowly

Joann M.

Best place to stop with littles right after a long travel journey to the island. Interactive, lots to learn and see! Sustainable ♡ loved learning about the sea around us

Brian Denniston

In town for a course. Probably would have been much better with the kids. But for $20, it was very small and took less than 15 minutes to run through and read the material available. …

Michael Dionne

Really enjoyed my self here. I found the jellyfish almost hypnotising. I didn't get a good look at the octopus they have, but I can't expect that since its an actual animal and isn't on my schedule. All in all I was really impressed, very cool. I love how the fake bathosphere really added a lot to the experiences.

Steve Matthews

We really did enjoy our time here, but it was a fairly solitary experience. We went on a Monday so there were very few people in there and I had expected to have a little more staff interaction to perhaps offer up some interesting facts or point out the subtle details we all tend to miss, but there was very little of that. I was also disappointed that we couldn't fully appreciate the "touch" pools as this seemed to be a pretty extensive part of the experience. I completely understand why and I'm grateful to the aquarium for keeping the animals safe.

OnItAuto Onit

Drove to Sidney for the second time to take my one year old to the discovery centre for his first visit today ( the first time they were closed not sure why Wednesday and Thursday ) anyways we went and was met by a rude woman working the entrance refused to even make eye contact just brushed us off very rudely when we asked if masks were required because we didn’t have masks... I DONT GET IT IF THE VACCINES WORK WHY DO WE NEED MASKS AND IF THEY DONT WORK WHY ARE PEOPLE BEING FORCED TO TAKE THEM... good luck!

Bri Winship

I was expecting just any ol' aquarium and was so pleasantly surprised. The first area you'll see is a gift shop with some of the things you'd expect, but there were many interesting items that were unique, and they were locally and ethically sourced. When you're ready to go in, you enter a sort of elevator themed like a submarine and when the doors close, you see "water" filling in overhead as you "submerge". Then inside, there are so many wonderful things to see - tons of jellyfish included, which are a favourite for me. Can't wait to go back!

Melody Watkins

I love this place. The jellyfish are my favorite part. I think the interactive elements are so wonderful for children and adults too! I can't wait to come back and touch the little creatures!

Lacey E. L. A. Bridges

This is our second visit to the aquarium in two years and we have always enjoyed ourselves whenever we come.

Karissa Furneaux

Love it here it was my 1st time here I was looking after my friend son and I want to get out and in about Vancouver Island sea life we enjoy it Learned a lot definitely will return

Shubham Shoor

Paid $34 for two people. Super fun, friendly staff. Love how the marine gate opens.

Justin Hiscox

This place is so cool lost of learning for young kids and adults. I really enjoyed my day here with my kiddo.

James Hertwig

The aquarium isn't too big, don't expect to spend much more than an hour inside-but they make up for it with lots to see in their small space, unlimited day entry (we took advantage of this) and some of the most friendly staff I have EVER seen within this kind of environment. Our daughter was cranky when we first entered and one of the workers brought out a whale puppet to cheer her up. They also have a one-of-a-kind experience before entering the aquarium. I won't spoil the surprise ????. Hope to return one day!

Matt Compton

Not a big Aquarium by any means, but a really fun experience for the family. The displays, tanks, and exhibits inside were great! Good variety of sealife from the surrounding area.

Sydney R.

Had so much fun here! It was a really great place for kids and had some pretty great interactive exhibits. A little small, but they make do with the space they have very well!

Andrew Finley

The kids love the submarine entry secretly do do I. The place does well to typify the fona of the Salish sea. I appreciate the local commemoration of artifacts of the coast salish people. A gem in Sidney. The volunteers are spectacular.

Susanna Murray

Great educational visit for the family. We loved seeing all the Salsih Sea animals, especially Wanda the Octopus! The kids loved it, and the educators and volunteers were fantastic.

Arshdeep Kaur

Good for kids but took only 10 mins to take the full tour of the aquarium. It is way too small than Vancouver aquarium. $37-$38 was the amount for 2 adults. You would roam around to see the whats ahead and then you see the exit door. …

James Lam

What a cute little aquarium. Went during the old CoVid times so the touch pool was closed but that barely made a jot of difference. …

Cat Woloshyn

The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea was a great place for a small afternoon adventure. The entrance into the aquarium was fun and pretty exciting. I really loved the touching pool and when they fed the eels. The staff were all very friendly …

Nicole Mintiens

Fun and fast family outing that blew our 2.5 year olds mind. He was obsessed with the submarine-elevator experience.

Timothy Dyksterhuis

Neat experience for young and old. More aimed at kids but if you like sea life I definitely recommend it.

Erin Miller

Fun and educational way to spend an afternoon. From the front door to the exit, the staff and volunteers are super friendly and knowledgeable. Huge shout out to Lucy who pointed out things we wouldn't have otherwise noticed and who added a lot of interesting facts to our walk through!

El D

Great place for the kids to visit. Not as big a place so it's safe for the kids to go around without you hovering around them every minute. My daughter normally just checks out anything inside tanks but this one really caught her interest. From the entrance to the very interesting door all the way inside. Great to consider buying annual pass, it's worth it as you also get discount at other affiliated places like Butterfly Gardens and the museum. They are true to their website " This one-of-a-kind aquarium and learning centre offers an interactive, informative and hands-on experience with the Salish Sea through self-guided visits, daily programs". Even my 2 y/o enjoys coming. The volunteers are very eager to share their knowledge and very patient in dealing with kids. Hats off! Will post another picture of the interactive tank. Check it out.

Cynthia van Ieperen

Nice to see ???? local sea life. Only gave 4 stars as touch tank not available right now due to covid. Interpretive staff very knowledgeable and friendly.

Natalie Kelt

This was a super cool spot. We bought a family pass as we will definitely be going back! It's small but packed with lots of great things to see and learn. Our child loved it.

Chris Coates

A lot of fun! We went through twice and noticed things we didn't the first time. Would highly recommend! Staff are exceptional and knowledgable as well.

Rob F

For a small town aquarium this is a great place to visit for both adults and kids. Lots of informative displays and cool fish and sea life to check out and learn about.

flabort

A small but focused aquarium - all the species in the tanks are from local waters, so it isn't super large. But since I am not from this area, I enjoyed it throughout. I got to see one of the tanks go from "lively" to "frenzied" when one of the staff started feeding the fish within bits of squid. The giant Wolf Eel exited her den in the corner to eat from the gloved hand, returning to her corner when she got full and letting the other fish eat. There are covid precautions in place - the "touch tanks" where you could normally reach in and toucb the fish and sea urchins all have signs saying "don't touch... for now", and there's distancing and they aren't letting huge crowds in. Parking wasn't something I was in love with, and my Dad, who was driving, wss even less on lpve with the parking, but overall I really enjoyed the experience.

Joanne O'Connor

Peaceful, magical and educational at the same time..staff knowledgeable and volunteers are in their element..Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a wonderful destination as part of a day trip to quaint and walkable Sidney by the Sea...

Clinton Palmer

I really enjoyed the sea life, staff and atmosphere of the venu. Staff and volunteers are great knowledgeable and friendly people. If your an adult and curious about marine life or have kids, it's worth it. The touch pool is beautiful and the animals almost appear friendly and welcoming. This is a special place for those who love the ocean.

Chanelle Strutt

This place is an awesome stop for vacationers. It's not very big but it has lots of different things to see. The microscopes that let you get a closer look at the textures of star fish, anemone and the like is a pretty neat way to be interactive. There are cool little info classes throughout as well. The touch are was awesome. Lots of info for how small the place is. The staff are all extremely nice and very informative. Great experience and I highly recommend going.

Meagan Taylor

We went with my mum and baby daughter. It's a little overpriced but still worth it in my opinion. There's more to do for school age kids which makes sense. The displays are really cool, local sealife which was awesome. Penny the octopus was out and on full display which was very cool, my daughter has mesmerized by all the bright tanks. Only downer was there is a little area up some stairs with a craft area, microscopes and a little tank. There is an 'elevator' to get up if you have a stroller/wheelchair. It says to ask for a staff member to assist. We asked an older female volunteer who came and pressed the buttons, then said she ''wasnt one of the staff who knew how to use it, sorry' then just walked away without asking for another staff member to help...it was dissapointing and I would worry for people in wheelchairs who couldnt access it as I could remove my daughter from her stroller if I needed to.