DIVE INTO THE 'SPLASH ZONE' AT THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

Pop up next to penguins, crawl past giant clams and see eye-to-eye with tropical sharks in "Splash Zone," a fun-filled family learning gallery at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

This colorful, hands-on gallery -like a children's museum inside an aquarium - blends live-animal experiences with hands-on learning in new and exciting ways. Designed for families with children from infants up to 9 years old, "Splash Zone" features nearly 60 species, from South African blackfooted penguins to leafy sea dragons, colorful corals, moray eels and tropical sharks. Over 30 hands-on exhibits, staffed educational programs and specially designed play areas engage the imaginations of young visitors, inspiring them to appreciate ocean life in new and lasting ways.

"Our children are the future stewards of the ocean," said aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. "If they make an emotional connection with sea creatures while they're young, I'm confident that will translate into a lifetime of caring for the oceans. That's what 'Splash Zone' is all about. That, and having a whole lot of fun."

"Splash Zone" takes families on an interactive tour through two contrasting shoreline habitats -the Crowded Coral Reefs of tropical waters and the Rough Rocky Shores found in cool temperate regions. Children can crawl through, climb on, slide down and pop up in displays simulating those environments as they watch and learn about the ocean inhabitants that call these waters home.

Throughout the gallery they'll be learning as they play -and most often learning along with their parents and families. One highlight of “Splash Zone” is a colony of blackfooted penguins from temperate South African waters. A unique bubble window puts families “inside” the exhibit to observe these beguiling birds up close, while hands-on displays explore penguin communication. A nearby penguin mural makes for a perfect family photo opportunity, and daily staff presentations with live penguins explore penguin adaptations to ocean life.

Other fascinating animals include monkeyface eels, leafy sea dragons, anemonefish and porcelain crabs; even exotic moray eels, yellow-headed jawfish and blacktip reef, bamboo and wobbegong sharks.

Textured coral-like walls lead visitors through colorful world of tropical reefs. Bubbling water walls surround a bustling Coral Reef Community display, where children can watch vibrant squarespots, cerulean damselfish, blue-spotted boxfish and marine betas dash in and around living corals. Other displays let families enter a cove with several kinds of moray eels; peer down at yellow-headed jawfish poking out of their burrow homes; and experience the thrill of seeing reef sharks swimming directly toward them.

Hands-on exhibits let kids touch rough "sharkskin," see shark teeth up close and guess the length of morayeels. An interactive game encourages kids to solve riddles by matching fishes with the foods they like. Their reward? Sounds and video of fishes eating.

Kids can climb inside a "giant clam" chair to experience how large these mollusks grow, then see the real thing in a nearby live exhibit. Kids (and adults) can see and be seen as they make their way through a Coral Crawl tunnel, where they'll encounter such fanciful creatures as Banggai cardinalfish, sea horses, harlequin shrimp and ribbon eels. Outside the tunnel is an exhibit of graceful leafy sea dragons -rarely seen relatives of the sea horse.

Next, it's show time at the Coral Reef Play area. Costumes, puppets, ride-on sea creatures, and a climb-up, slide-down stage encourage imagination and interactive play under the guidance of aquarium staff. Across the way is the Coral Cove for babies and toddlers. It's created just for children up to 3 years old, and features a crawl-on waterbed and waterplay area for toddlers, and a soft foam "baby pond" for infants.

There are also live displays of blue sea stars, green damselfish, and red coral crabs. A "match the shapes" game and special programs will let young children play as they learn.

The second habitat to explore in "Splash Zone" is the rough and tumble environment of the rocky shores. Crashing waves and simulated granite walls are the backdrop for a splashingly fun waterplay exhibit. Children ages four and up can learn how different fishes swim and how some rocky shore animals hang on to rocks while others ride the waves. A cylindrical display features clingfish that can stick to rocks when the tide goes out. Other live exhibits demonstrate how animals such as gumboot chitons, porcelain crabs, and giant green anemones survive the challenge of pounding surf and exposure to air and sun. There’s also a touch pool where families can discover together the secrets of sea stars, abalones, sea urchins, hermit crabs, bat stars and sea cucumbers.

“Splash Zone” is included with aquarium admission of: $15.95 general, $12.95 seniors 65 and older, youths 13-17 and full-time students; $7.95 children 3-12 and the disabled. Children under 3 are admitted free (2001 rates).

Advanced tickets are recommended in the summer and during holiday periods. You can order tickets here. or call BASS Ticket Outlets.