Explore the cold, rich waters of our Treasures of the B.C. Coast gallery from a whole new angle in this uniquely Canadian experience. Step into staff-only areas and get a rare look at how our aquarists care for iconic coastal species—from the Giant Pacific Octopus and jellyfish to rockfish and halibut. This exclusive tour reveals the systems, science, and expertise behind one of Canada’s most complex marine ecosystems.
🍁 Explore The Hidden Coast: Step behind the scenes of our BC Waters exhibits and see the life-support systems, food prep spaces, and detailed routines that keep this cold-water habitat thriving.
🧠 Engage the Experts: Meet the aquarists who care for our native species daily. Learn how they monitor everything from water chemistry to enrichment needs in this dynamic, temperate ecosystem.
🐙 Encounter Coastal Creatures: From pulsing jellyfish to gliding halibut, get up close with the incredible animals that call Canadian waters home—away from the crowds and beneath the surface.
🦑 Feeding Time Fun: From tentacles to tiny plankton, sea what’s on the menu during a Strait of Georgia snack session that will highlight the personality (and picky preferences!) of BC’s most fascinating marine life.
Book a private BC Waters Behind The Scenes tour for your group of up to 4 guests (ages 8+). General admission to the aquarium must must be purchased separately for each guest on the same day as your encounter.
Suitable for guests aged 8 and up. Experience accommodates up to 4 guests only. Price is the same regardless of group size.
Book a private BC Waters Behind The Scenes tour for your group of up to 4 guests (ages 8+). General admission to the aquarium must must be purchased separately for each non-member in your group on the same day as your encounter.
Suitable for guests aged 8 and up. Experience accommodates up to 4 guests only. Price is the same regardless of group size.
General admission is required on top of your booking. General admission must be purchased for the same day as your selected BC Waters Behind The Scenes tour for all guests in your group who are not Vancouver Aquarium members. If you arrive to your tour without general admission tickets, you will be asked to purchase them at Admissions before entering the aquarium.
Secure storage is available for personal items like coats and bags, though we recommend leaving valuables at home. Vancouver Aquarium is not held responsible for any lost items.
Filming of any kind is strictly prohibited behind-the-scenes where our Marine Mammal Team is hard at work, but you’re welcome to take photos and videos during your Behind the Scenes tour!
This program will be in close proximity to our BC Waters residents, and at times this may be without a barrier. Younger guests may be required to wear a PFD. You may have the opportunity to enjoy an enrichment session with an octopus but we cannot guarantee it. Just like humans, the animals have their own unique personalities and sometimes, they simply might not feel like participating. We do our best to mentally enrich and positively reinforce our rescues to display certain behaviors and participate in the program but will never make them do anything they don’t want to.
Please be aware that our new Behind the Scenes Tour may pose physical challenges for some guests. Currently, the experience involves navigating stairs, traversing uneven surfaces, as well as periods of crouching, kneeling, and standing for extended periods (1+ hours).
Regrettably, we are unable to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs at this time. However, we're committed to exploring innovative solutions to enhance accessibility for all guests. For more information, please visit our Accessibility page.
For all Behind the Scenes Tours that are cancelled with more than 48-hour notice, we will provide a 50% refund. No refunds will be offered if the guest(s) cancel within 48 hours of or do not show up for the experience. Subject to availability, we will charge a $100 change fee to rebook for another date and/or time.
