FIRST LOOK: Join us for an undersea adventure at SEA LIFE Florida!
There's a new way to learn and play for families in Tampa Bay as SEA LIFE Florida at LEGOLAND Florida Resort officially opens to all guests!
We were there on opening day for the “kelp” cutting and explored the entire exhibit twice, so we can take you on a deep dive to help you map out your best day ever with your kiddos. So let's dive in…and explore this NEW immersive, undersea adventure designed just for kids–and kids at heart, too.
Where is SEA LIFE Florida?
SEA LIFE Florida is located inside LEGOLAND Florida Resort. You'll see it to your right as soon as you walk through the front gate. It's hard to miss the giant blue building.
This is the 11th SEA LIFE location in North America (with over 50 locations worldwide), and not far from SEA LIFE Orlando at ICON Park, which opened in 2015.
SEA LIFE Florida tickets info
SEA LIFE Florida is a standalone attraction inside LEGOLAND Florida, so you will need a SEA LIFE Florida ticket to go. And since we know you'll ask, we think it's worth every penny. And no, we weren't paid to say that. We've visited a lot of aquariums in Florida, and this one is easily one of my new favorites.
There are some perks, though, if you're a LEGOLAND annual pass holder. SEA LIFE Florida admission is included with LEGOLAND Florida Elite and Gold Passes, and you can add on a visit for $15 when purchasing single-day tickets.
It's $25 per person to just visit SEA LIFE, according to the website.
About SEA LIFE Florida…it's more than an attraction
More than 3,000 animals from 150 different species call SEA LIFE Florida home. While this is an attraction by definition, it is so much more than that.
SEA LIFE Florida features 25 exhibits among 10 galleries, including Freshwater Swamps, an under-pier peek at Key West Harbor, Seahorse Nursery, the Rockpools touch pools, Stingray Bay, Theme Park Under the Sea, and a 180° ocean tunnel!
You will wind your way through each exhibit, starting with the Freshwater Swamp gallery and ending with the Theme Park Under the Sea tank which holds a whopping 200,000 gallons of water!
Each space has a touch screen featuring the animals you'll find there. With a touch of a button, you can learn more about each creature, including its natural habitats, conservation status, threats, and fun facts.
Pay attention to the walls too! There is so much to learn. In the Freshwater Swamp gallery, we learned that freshwater only makes up 3% of the water on our planet. Pretty crazy, right??
TIP: There are also several “Stand Here” signs on the floor throughout the aquarium where a fun fact will play for you from a speaker overhead!
Conservation at Work
But, it's not all fun facts, it's world-changing information too.
When you walk through the exhibits, be on the lookout for signage and QR codes where you can scan to learn more about some of the conservation work SEA LIFE is doing around the world through SEA LIFE TRUST, including building the world's first open water sanctuary to rehome beluga whales in Iceland.
“We also do work with sea turtles, sharks, and coral reefs in the Florida Keys,” Marie Collins, head of conservation, welfare, and education for SEA LIFE North America, told us.
You can do your part too to make a difference. Throughout the month of June, guests can simply round up their purchases, which will go toward the SEA LIFE TRUST, in celebration of World Oceans Month.
LEGOLAND Florida is also eliminating plastic bags and will now use reusable bags for purchases.
SEA LIFE: An aquarium designed for kids
SEA LIFE Florida was years in the making and, like LEGOLAND Florida, it was designed with kids ages 2-12 in mind. (But adults still love both attractions, too!)
There are lowered viewing windows that allow for even the littlest of kiddos to get a good view, crawl spaces to immerse kids inside the tanks, and plenty of learning opportunities along the way.
Kids can even connect with the animals through touch at the Rock Pools, where they can feel what a starfish and an anemone feel like.
The hope is that a visit here may spark a passion for our world's oceans and maybe inspire a future ocean scientist or conservationist.
“When you see a stingray glide right in front of you or lock eyes with an octopus, something truly magical happens. That spark of curiosity turns into a connection, and that connection turns into a desire to protect the animals and the oceans they call home. So today is more than an aquarium opening, it's a launch pad for wonder, for learning, and for a future generation of ocean protectors,” said SEA LIFE Florida Curator Sarah McMahon.
Some of the SEA LIFE Florida Aquarium Exhibits
Ocean View
Themed Rock Shelf
Ocean Tunnel & Theme Park Under the Sea (walk-through viewing tunnel)
Oceanarium (large central tank —home to blacktip reef sharks and other large species)
Blackbeard’s Shipwreck
Coral Reefs
Seahorse Nursery
Rockpools (likely a touch pool area)
Key West Harbor
Freshwater Swamp
Colorful Caves
Jelly Invaders (jellyfish gallery)
Stingray Bay (new concept for SEA LIFE)
Is SEA LIFE Florida stroller and wheelchair friendly?
SEA LIFE Florida is wheelchair friendly. In fact, there are a few nooks where you can push right into a viewing bubble so the kiddos can get a glimpse of the sea animals up close.
Strollers should be parked outside. There is stroller parking in front of the building.
SEA LIFE Florida Behind the Scenes Tours coming soon
Have you ever wondered what it's like to work in an aquarium? You'll soon have the chance. We don't have an official date, but we are told the Behind the Scenes Tours are coming very soon.
You'll be treated as a VIP and go to the back of the house to see the heart of the aquarium, where aquarists prepare food for the animals, the holding area where treatments are done, the lab, and even the extensive water filtration system at work.
Built for Animal Wellbeing
What makes SEA LIFE Florida truly stand out is the care behind the scenes. The aquarium uses a state-of-the-art Life Support System (LSS) to maintain optimal conditions for every species — including top-tier UV filtration, glass media for cleaner water, and a water chilling system to counteract Florida’s heat.
“We’ve built massive redundancies into the system,” shared Senior Project Manager Blake Boyter. “We’ve planned for hurricanes, power outages — everything — to make sure the animals stay safe and healthy.”
Aquarists even have access to an on-site medical pool, which allows them to care for or observe animals without needing to remove them from the water. As Curator Sarah McMahon explained, this space helps with “any kind of medical evaluation… or if an animal just needs a break.”
Even the materials used in the tanks — from synthetic coral to silicone structures — are thoroughly vetted to ensure there’s no risk of off-gassing or contamination in the water. Every element is chosen with animal health and sustainability in mind.
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*Presented by LEGOLAND | Originally published in the December 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. | Updated March 2025