Maui Aquarium - Maui Ocean Center

Maui Ocean Center - The Hawaiian Aquarium

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	The Maui Ocean Center is located at Ma’alaea Harbor Harbor off Hwy 30 just 10 minutes from Kihei and 15 minutes from Lahaina. The nice thing about this aquarium is that all the exhibits present living animals in habitats that replicate their natural environment. You'll be amazed at the colors of the tropical fish, corals and other marine creatures. Remember everything is alive.




	Frogfish


	Hawaii's first corals drifted miles prior to settling on Hawaii's algae encrusted slopes of the undersea volcanoes.




		Moray eel

Through generations the corals reproduced and settled causing the growth of a coral community. You'll notice most of the exhibits feature vibrant living corals. The coral zoos as they call them are rich in colors, absolutely beautiful. Where as most other aquariums often paint their coral. Hawaii has approximately 50 species of coral compared with 350 species on Australia's Barrier Reef. Coral is amazing in architecture, designed with branches, wire, antlers, pillars, lobes, mushrooms, creatively allowing other marine animals to find homes within them.



	Coral community


	Shallow reef depth zero to 30 feet. This is where you will see shrimp, hermit crabs, moray eels, banded coral shrimps, living in their habitat. These tanks are thriving with color and action.



	Fisher’s sea horse

The Mid-reef depth is 30 to 60 feet this is great for scuba diving or snorkeling. You'll find plenty of surgeon fish one of the most popular and diverse successful fish groups on Hawaiian reefs. These surgeon fish carry their own sharp scalpels generally located on their tails. They use this blade to defend themselves while using their teeth to scrape and eat algae off the reef. Too much algae can smother coral so these little guys are able to keep the coral healthy and groomed.



	Gray reef shark


	Where as deep reef depth is 60 to 100 feet. This is where you will find open water sharks such as blacktip. Everything looks blue and a bit gloomy, this is where wire and black coral grow.




	Open Oceans Tunnel

There is a Whale Discovery Center display. December to April it is whale season in Maui. The Gray Humpback Whales make their way through Hawaiian waters to mate and give birth. You will learn so much about their social structure, biology and behavior.

You’ll find an awesome display of graceful Moon Jellies (known as jelly fish) placed in a clear acrylic cylinder.

There is an area where you can sit and enjoy the open ocean as if your underwater. The exhibit is 20 feet deep, holding 750,000 gallons of sea water and approximately 2,000 fish. They call it cruising the big blue. You'll see stingrays, cold blooded sharks, scads of mackerel, spotted eagle rays, just to name a few.


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