Small by design. Big on interaction.
A small, open-air aquarium where every visit is guided: meet and feed Florida marine life, then snorkel inside an 80,000-gallon reef—minutes from I-95.
View live pricing in the official store
The reef, assembled around you
Like the best guided adventures, every step changes what you can see—and how close you can get.
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Choose your depth
Start with a guided discovery tour, enter the water for the signature snorkel, or bring a group for a learning experience built around curiosity.
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A guided personal tour through Florida marine habitats with hands-on moments along the way.
View live pricing — opens the official store02 · Signature experience
Enter the 80,000-gallon Florida reef experience. Aquarium admission is included.
Book the snorkel — opens the official live product03
Field trips, camps, birthdays, and guided programs built around marine education.
Ask about groups
Closer than glass
This is not a walk-past-the-window aquarium. Guided experiences invite visitors to slow down, ask questions, and discover the animals that live just off Florida’s coast.
The signature adventure
Reserve your adventure through the official store.
Check in for your guided experience.
Enter an 80,000-gallon world of reef fish and rays.
Small by design. Personal by nature.
This open-air attraction centers guided learning, close-up encounters, and time to ask questions instead of miles of exhibits behind glass.
More ways to explore
A Florida labor of love
Founders Shawn and Kathy Hiester developed the St. Augustine Aquarium around a simple mission: marine conservation through education. The attraction opened in 2016 and continues to bring visitors closer to the life just off Florida’s coast.
Meet the founders
Plan your visit
The experience is primarily open-air. Check current operating details, tour availability, and weather guidance on the official visitor page before traveling.
Know before you dive
No. It is an intimate, primarily open-air attraction built around guided learning, close animal encounters, and a signature snorkel experience.
Snorkel experiences are reservation-based. Check the official store for current admission and adventure availability.
No. Feeding and touching opportunities are limited and depend on daily animal-care guidance and availability.
Use the official visitor-information page before traveling; the concept site intentionally does not hard-code details that may change.
The reef is closer than you think
Choose admission or reserve the signature snorkel through the official St. Augustine Aquarium store.
Get tickets from the official live store