SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium opened in 2010 inside the Arizona Mills mall in Tempe, bringing an unexpected slice of ocean life to the middle of the desert. Built as a $15 million project by Merlin Entertainments, it transformed a former retail space into a 26,000-square-foot indoor aquarium.
The aquarium is organized into more than a dozen themed habitat zones spread across over 30 display tanks, anchored by a massive 161,000-gallon exhibit and a 360-degree ocean tunnel. It was the second SEA LIFE aquarium to open in the United States and remains one of the Phoenix area’s most visited family attractions.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Arizona Mills mall, Tempe, Arizona
- Opened: 2010
- Size: 26,000 sq ft
- Main tank: 161,000 gallons
- Animal count: More than 5,000 sea creatures
- Operator: Merlin Entertainments
- Famous for: Arizona’s 360° ocean tunnel and indoor touch pools
What’s Inside the Aquarium
Visitors move through more than a dozen habitat zones showcasing sharks, rays, jellyfish, seahorses, clownfish, lionfish, and other reef species. Interactive touch pools let guests get hands-on with some of the animals, while the signature 360-degree ocean tunnel surrounds visitors with sharks and rays swimming overhead and on all sides.
The centerpiece 161,000-gallon tank is home to a rotating cast of larger marine animals, including sharks and sea turtles, giving the Tempe aquarium one of the biggest single displays of any inland SEA LIFE location.
A Rescue Home for Marine Animals
Beyond entertainment, the aquarium has served as a permanent home for injured or disabled aquatic animals that could not survive release back into the wild. Ziva, an endangered green sea turtle, has lived in the facility’s largest tank since 2010, after injuries left her unable to return to the ocean.
As part of the global SEA LIFE network, the Tempe location also participates in seahorse breeding programs aimed at countering population declines caused by overfishing and the aquarium trade.
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Let them photograph their own favorite animals — and keep your phone in your pocket.
SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium FAQs
Where is SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium located?
It’s located inside the Arizona Mills mall in Tempe, Arizona, just outside Phoenix.
When did SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium open?
It opened in 2010 as a $15 million project by Merlin Entertainments, becoming the second SEA LIFE aquarium in the United States.
How big is the aquarium’s main tank?
Its largest display holds about 161,000 gallons of water and is part of a 26,000-square-foot facility with over 30 tanks.
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