The Monterey Bay Aquarium is welcoming back the general public. “I think some of the exhibits have never looked better,” one staffer said.

Monterey Bay Aquarium 2021 Season is Open

The Aquarium welcomes back the public with open arms

2021.05.15 – Monterey, CA – The Monterey Bay Aquarium is welcoming back the general public, giving the most popular attraction on the Monterey Peninsula a run-through of health and safety protocols developed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are ecstatic. It’s been a very, very long 14 months,” said Cynthia Vernon, Monterey Bay Aquarium COO.

Vernon was on hand to give a tour of what the aquarium has to offer and what the public can expect as the aquarium opens with some COVID-19 restrictions lifted while others remain in place.

The aquarium had already opened to members only.

“One of the silver linings of the pandemic is we’ve been able to do a lot of maintenance,” Vernon said. “We’ve been sprucing things up, and I think some of the exhibits have never looked better.” Tickets are available online only at https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/ for the general public. The aquarium is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through the end of May. By June 1, the aquarium will be open every day.

Related: Tour the Amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium in California

Watch this video on YouTube

Related: Tour the Amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium in California

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Monterey Bay Aquarium plans to provide the greatest experience it can to visitors while keeping its employees and the public as safe and healthy as possible, where COVID-19 is concerned, starting with how tickets are obtained.

Tickets will not be available at the main entrance, so interested parties must reserve them online in advance for specific entry dates and times while providing contact-less and staggered access to the aquarium to avoid lines and congregating at ticket counters.

Visitors should be prepared for the aquarium experience that will include health questions but will not include asking about vaccination status.

Everyone ages 3 and older are required to wear face coverings that extend over the nose and mouth and go under the chin. Masks with vents, valves, or significant gaps around the face, as well as neck gaiters, scarves, bandanas or face shields will not be allowed.

Guests will be informed of the importance of keeping a social distance from other parties, touring the exhibits in a one-way flow around the facility, taking advantage of hand sanitizer stations and realizing not all areas are accessible yet, such as the auditoriums and other exhibits that tend to attract people closer together.

Aquarium access will be limited to 125 to 175 visitors every half hour to maintain its capacity limits while providing guests with a less crowded experience.

Personnel will be cleaning throughout the day, giving specific attention to high-touch areas. Fresh air circulation has been increased using a positive air pressure system throughout the facility.

The cafe is open and offers contact-less ordering, seating has been reconfigured to allow for physical distance between groups, and volunteers will be available on the open-air, ocean view decks to limit crowding and to highlight ocean wildlife on Monterey Bay.

Vernon said that the aquarium had laid off about 40% of its staff and is slowly rehiring.

It will be seeking to hire 40 to 60 seasonal staff members to take the facility through Labor Day and so far, after conducting two job fairs, finding interested workers has not been a problem.

“We want people to know we are absolutely back,” Vernon said.

Event Website : https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

Additional Information –

The Monterey Bay Aquarium can’t wait to sea you again! They have made some changes to help keep everyone safe and healthy while you enjoy an awesome day at the Aquarium. { Here’s what to expect }

Career Opportunities… They’re hiring!

There is new career opportunities at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Please explore this page, and our website, to view opportunities to join our mission of inspiring ocean conservation.

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More disposable masks in the ocean than jellyfish?

Did you know there could soon be more masks in the ocean than jellyfish? Disposable masks, when not properly disposed, are doing irreparable harm to our oceans and the organisms that live in them.

Learn more by visiting sleep.com/jellyfish

https://www.sleep.com/jellyfish