Up Close and Personal

Encounter the Wild Side

Get out on the water, up close and personal, and hands-on with the Virginia Aquarium's Encounter programs. You'll see majestic whales offshore in the winter, learn and interact with what's found beneath the surface of the ocean or possibly interact directly with our playful harbor seals.

Seal Splash

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Harbor Seal Splash is the only program in the United States that allows visitors to interact with harbor seals.

Seal Splash

Boat Trips

Get out on the water! Whale Watching, Dolphin Watching and Ocean Collection boat trips leave our docks all year.

Creek Cruise

Dolphin Watching

Whale Watching

Ocean Collections

Behind the Scenes

Step behind the scenes at the Virginia Aquarium and experience the inner workings of the Aquarium.

Sea Turtles: Behind the Scenes