Opening just in time for school vacation, our new 9,000-gallon, floor-to-ceiling exhibit highlights one of the most happening neighborhoods in the ocean: an Indo-Pacific coral reef! 

Before you stand in front of the new habitat, take a virtual dive into it with this behind-the-scenes (and under-the-surface) video! 

Conservation Context

Coral reefs are critical to ocean health. Appreciated for their beauty and spectacular biodiversity, coral reefs are also critical components to ocean health. They are nurseries to thousands of fish species, many of which could not survive without these unique habitats. Earth’s coral reefs support more than 4,000 species of fishes, 800 types of hard corals, and hundreds of other species of marine life. Those found in the Indo-Pacific are more diverse and complex than anywhere else in the world!

Unfortunately, coral reefs are rapidly disappearing worldwide, primarily due to climate change and other human impacts. The loss of coral reefs to bleaching has dire consequences for marine animals and humans alike. Coral reefs have the best chance to adapt if humans slow climate change and reduce other human-caused stresses.