Tentacles on display
Tentacles on parade at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
“Wow that is awesome”, a wide-eyed kid blurts out to his friend who nods in agreement and adds ‘ yeah pretty cool!’ That is the typical consensus all day long at the new Tentacles exhibit which just opened at the Monterey Bay Aquarium – a new exhibit of never seen before collections of squids, octopus and cuttlefish, making up this family of sea life called Cephalopods. These marine sea creatures are marine mollusks related to sea slugs and snails. Because of the short lifespan of these Cephalopods (most living an average 6 months) and the complexities of maintaining this special exhibit, it has been a difficult venture, but something that the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium enthusiastically creates.
Big reef squid at the Tentacles exhibit
Big Fin Reef squid at the Tentacles exhibit
The Tentacles exhibit draws you in completely into its cool, dark and surreal world of fantasy like creatures, starting with the almost glow in the dark Cephalopods called Big Fin Reef Squid. These ghostly white creatures with invisible fins glide in strange sideways gestures unlike movements you would equate to these creatures, their zig-zag motions looks so strange and other-worldly. Close by are the even more colorful sea creatures called Chambered Nautilus with their distinctive round patterned shell that gives it their iconic name – propelling their huge shelled bodies in strange and fantastical rhythmic motions – it is mesmerizing to watch them in their environment.
The Tentacles exhibit is filled with wow factor – showcasing Cephalopods that have never been seen in public and premiering in this show. One of the most outstanding creatures are the colorful red octopus called Flapjacks found in the deepest and darkest areas of the ocean floor in Monterey Bay. Red lights illuminate the dim curved tank to mimic their dark environments and the flapjacks float around like bizarre strange ghost-like caricatures. Even more reclusive are the little amazing octopus genera called the Flamboyant Octopus getting their name from their colorful rainbow accents as they bump around and float in comical and random bumper car like motions.
Flamboyant cuttlefish
Giant Pacific Octopus are active and hungry
The entire exhibit is very well laid out with interactive exhibits and child friendly educational tools and signage. This is one of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s most challenging and will soon to be popular exhibits – despite the difficulties of replenishing and maintaining the Cephalopod displays. In any case, you should come down soon to visit all the new and cool octopus, cuttlefish and squids at the show, and don’t be surprised if you are also ‘oohing’ and ‘aaahing’ throughout the entire exhibit.
Here are some highlights from the other exhibit areas of the aquarium
Monterey bay sea life – main displays
Jellyfish on display
Jellyfish on display at the Jellies exhibit
Jellyfish ballet
Outside of the new Tentacles exhibit, there are many popular on-going exhibits to discover at the aquarium including: the Jellies exhibit, Open Sea Exhibit, a whole section of plastics, junk and garbage taken from the ocean and turned into art and the permanent sea-life collections. There is so much to see at the aquarium that you can easily spend an entire day enjoying the exhibits, special events and even take a behind the scenes tour of the facilities to see how everything operates from the back-end.
Things to know before you go
Tickets are $39.95 for adults and $24.95 for children 3-12. Discounts are given for Seniors and Students.
The Aquarium is located on Cannery Row and is open daily. Check the website below for hours and more information.
Most hotels offer two-day passes for the price of one day, just ask with your hotel about this pass.
There are two dining options available at the aquarium – a casual cafeteria style and a fine dining restaurant called Cindy’s Waterfront named after Cindy Pawlcyn, the James Beard Award-winning creator of Mustards Grill in Napa Valley and the culinary partner of the aquarium since 2010.
For updated information on the aquarium, you can visit their website here.
If you enjoyed reading this post on the Tentacles on parade at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, please do share it with any of the social media buttons below, thanks so much for visiting.
My visit was part of the #Tentacles FAM tour, breakfast, early admission, seminar, and behind the scenes were hosted. All opinions are completely my own
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Interesting shots Noel. That Flamboyant Cuttlefish certainly lives up to its name. 🙂
Yes, it hasn’t been shown in public before it, I think a first for Monterey Bay
Beautiful and captivating series!
I love sea creature, so fascinating to watch. Some really great photos here, you’ve captured the colours and the details so well.
We absolutely love the Monterey Bay Aquarium! I think it is the best one I have ever been too! I love the otters and I’ve been trying to think of a reason to go back, plus tentacles are awesome so I see a day trip in our future!
Awesome photos, especially the jellyfish! This makes me want to go to an aquarium, or learn to dive.
Aweosme photos, especially the jellyfish! This makes me want to go to an aquarium, or learn to dive.
Wow! The aquarium seems so lovely, and so do the fishes! I am very bad at taking photos of the indoor aquarium where the light setting is really bad, and the fishes/sea mammals keep moving! Your pictures are just so perfectly composed!
Great pictures. I like the video about the gracious Flapback Octopus.
Great pictures. I am sure it would be even better seeing the fish right in front of you. Makes me wanna pass by the aquarium on London Southbank.
I love your photos, the images of the big fin squid and the jellies.
These photos are so stunning! I love aquariums and am amazed by the diversity of marine life in our oceans!
It looks absolutely amazing! Especially the octopus. I’ve never been to such a big Aquarium but it’s on my bucket list!
You capture the essence of marine life beautifully. I wonder what kind of camera gear you used to shoot these photographs? What kind of lens/settings? Love it!
Off hand, I think I brought my Canon 7D and had 2.8 24-70mm lens, usually I shoot manual in a higher ISO to capture darker environments naturally
Aquariums are my absolute favourite places! Really cool pics – especially those jellyfish 🙂
Aquariums are my absolute favourite places!! Totally cool pictures – especially those jellyfish 🙂
Please tell me those tentacles on the roof also move 🙂
Seeing the Nautilus takes me back my days of studying geology. I think I’m right in saying that is one of the oldest animals still alive on the planet today (if memory serves me correctly, around 200 million years old, but don’t quote me on that).
Oh I’m so excited… I just read about this fun new Octopus exhibit at the aquarium and can hardly wait to go. I’m waiting a few weeks though until my niece gets here from Georgia. She’s 14 and this will be a fantastic little outing for her and I. Your picture are stunning and thanks for the tips!
Beautiful shots of the jellyfish, you captured the colors very nicely. They are otherworldly creatures!
I loved the orange jellyfish, so beautiful…never seen them myself (and I´ve seen a lot of jellyfish)
I love aquariums (aquaria!) This one looks great. I’d like to recommend the Atlantaquaria in Galway, Ireland, if you’re ever in the neighbourhood. So much fun, the staff were great and it was a really good day out, especially for kids!
You’ve captured this sea life so well that I was expecting the still shots to start moving around. Looks like a great exhibit. I didn’t realize there were octopus in Monterrey Bay.
For some reason, Octopuses (Octopi?) have always scared me, seeing that photo with the tentacles against the screen really gave me goosebumps 😮
Mesmerizing, Noel. I bet it was hard to stop watching them.
Stunning photos!
I especially like the last few pictures of the jellies,
I especially like the last few pictures of done jellies,
The jellyfish photos are just amazing!!
Fantastic post. I love the pic with the three jellyfish, so well composed. I would love to visit a tentacle-themed aquarium exhibition, octopi are my favourite marine animals! Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know why but for some reason Nautilus has always excited me the most. It’s so unique and mysterious. Thanks for great photos.
Woaaah! So many tenticles on show! Always reminds me of that scene from ‘Oldboy.’
Beautiful pictures! I especially love the ones of the jellyfish, which I’m fascinated by. They’re so beautiful to see, but I certainly don’t want to see one in the wild!
I haven’t been to Monterey but it looks amazing. I studied cephalopods in college and they’re one of my favorite marine creatures, they’re absolutely fascinating! I’ll have to check out this exhibit, I’d want to stay there all day!
Hi Samantha, Yes it is easy to spend an entire day here checking out all the amazing exhibits.
Pictures are so lovely; the aquarium ought to be paying you…
Lovely pictures – nice clear colours!
I must commend you for these pictures because I know that whenever you try to take pictures in a dark aquarium it can be really tough. You have done a great job here capturing the intricate details on some of those species.It does seem a little expensive but I am sure it is worth it.
I think the Monterey Aquarium is an awesome place to visit – and that’s before the tentacles exhibit. I have no doubt I would be an enthralled as the kids.
So cool 🙂
How wonderful! I am jealous beyond belief! The flapjack octopus and the nautilus look fascinating to watch and the first photograph of the jellyfish is absolutely stunning. Would love to see the bumper cars in action too. Fabulous post.
Oooh Noel, you’re not joking about the WOW factor!! This is amazing, the colours are out of this world, at least out of the man-made world – and what a photo opportunity, that you took 200% advantage of!
I love those photos of the squid and one in the shell. I agree with your observations of the tentacles exhibit, but, as you pointed out, the jellyfish exhibit is pretty amazing, too.
Fantastic photos Noel. The creature in the red and white shell looked like something from Dr. Seuss. I’m always a sucker for the jelly fish exhibits at the aquarium. I find them so peaceful and calming, like your life slows down when you are watching them. We have a pretty amazing aquarium here in Boston too.
Gorgeous pictures. Love the four jellies with blue background.