There's nothing more spectacular than an ocean at night. But there's only one place where you can go underwater after dark with jazz and a cocktail (and no sand): The Aquarium of the Pacific's annual Night Dives.
This is your chance to enjoy the wonders of the Aquarium sans children (the event is for 18 and older only). Long Beach’s unofficial portal to the deep boasts over 12,000 creatures, from sharks to sea jellies, making the experience a bit like walking through a Blue Planet episode minus the voiceover.
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Dedicated as much to education as entertainment, The Aquarium of the Pacific has more than 100 exhibits and 19 different habitats, like the shark lagoon and a sea otter habitat. Organized geographically, you can view sea lions in the Southern California section, colorful tropical fish in the Pacific area and a variety of exotic creatures in the Gulf of California exhibit.
Night Dive allows attendees to experience the Aquarium in an entirely new way. The Good Time Jazz Band and dim lighting set a mood while highlighting the creatures swimming around you on all sides, and the event also includes DJs, art installations, food like smash burgers, tacos and esquites from local vendors and more.
All the exhibits will be available to stroll through, save the Lorikeet Forest. Night Dive begins at 7:30pm and runs until 11pm, but the Aquarium does start to dim the lights at 10pm to "ensure the animals get a good night’s sleep." And honestly, we wouldn't be mad if someone dimmed our lights at home around then, too, to ease us into getting ready for bed.
There are two upcoming Night Dives. The August 22 event is already sold out, but the October 31 "Fright Night" event promises to be a spooky good time. Tickets will go on sale closer to the date.
If you can't wait, there are plenty of exhibits to take in during regular hours, including the current Stars of the Sea, celebrating sea stars, and an entire exhibit space dedicated to California and Baja frogs.
For more information and to find out when Night Dive tickets go on sale, visit here.