Lyndsey  visited the Seattle Aquarium during the press preview of the new Harbor Seal Exhibit opening. All opinions are her own.

New Harbor Seal Exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium

June 1 marks the opening of a redesigned harbor seal exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium — you can now get up close and personal with the Aquarium’s three seals Barney, Q and Siku in their new habitat, set against the backdrop of beautiful Puget Sound.

The exhibit is the result of a recent $6.5 million, nine-month redesign that includes deeper tank depths, 180-degree visitor viewing outdoors and surround seating for up to 100 people — making it the perfect spot for outdoor classrooms, school visits and lots more face-to-face viewing time with the seals. The seals now have much more room to dive, play underwater, or sunbathe above ground.

New Seal Exhibit Seattle - sunbathing seals

Harbor seals are regular features of the Pacific Northwest’s marine environment. They’re the only seals that breed off the shores of Washington and one of Puget Sound’s most thriving marine mammals — plus, they’re the marine mammal you are most likely to see along our local beaches.

From the outdoor viewing area, visitors get an up-close look at the seals against a beautiful backdrop of Puget Sound, the Seattle waterfront area and city skyline. Indoors, an updated interior viewing area allows guests to see the seals from below the tank. And of course, throughout the Aquarium you’ll still find all the best-loved features, including tide pools and the giant pacific octopus exhibit.

Replacing the original exhibit on Pier 60, this new harbor seal exhibit features a new boardwalk, steel-crafted pilings, acrylic panels spanning three sides of the exhibit, naturalistic rock upgrades and comfortable seating to enjoy the play and frolic of Barney, Q and Siku for hours.

Seat New Harbor Seal Exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium

Seattle Aquarium Hours and Rates

The Seattle Aquarium is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with exhibits closing at 6 p.m. Admission fees are $21.95 for adults, $14.95 for youth ages 4-12, and free for children 3 and younger. Visit them on the web at www.seattleaquarium.org or on Facebook and Twitter.