Freshwater Aquarium

The Freshwater Aquarium at SeaWorld San Diego is a bit of a hidden gem within the larger park — a section that showcases the remarkable diversity of freshwater fish from rivers and lakes around the world. Most visitors to SeaWorld focus on marine animals, so the freshwater collection often feels quieter and less rushed, which is its own advantage when visiting with young children.

The arapaima — one of the world's largest freshwater fish, native to the Amazon basin — are the standout exhibit. These prehistoric-looking giants can reach 10 feet in length, and seeing one glide past a tank wall is a scale-of-nature moment that catches kids off guard in the best way. Alongside the arapaima, the exhibit features brightly colored cichlids from African rift lakes, piranhas (always a conversation starter), and freshwater stingrays that look like miniature versions of the ocean species kids may have already encountered at SeaWorld's touch pools.

The exhibit is entirely indoors with comfortable lighting — cooler and darker than the main outdoor pathways of SeaWorld. If you have a toddler or young child who's starting to hit an overstimulation wall mid-afternoon, the calmer atmosphere of the freshwater aquarium can serve as a useful reset before pushing on to the rest of the park.

No separate ticket is required — the freshwater aquarium is included in standard SeaWorld admission. It's located in the interior of the park; ask a SeaWorld team member for directions on the day of your visit.