Updates to the popular Steinhart Aquarium attraction include touchable coral models, interactive projections and audio, and stunning fluorescent creatures

  • A woman and man look at an exhibition of deep sea dive gear.
    See the specialized dive gear required to explore mesophotic reefs.
  • A colorful tank full of fishes and other creatures shines brightly in a dark aquarium
    Meet the vibrant and colorful creatures that thrive in the twilight zone 100-500 feet beneath the ocean's surface.
  • A childs feet are pictured with glowing floor projections of bioluminescent plankton around them.
    Interact with new bioluminescent floor projections that move and react to your footsteps.
  • Children get hands-on with an audio box that mimics the sounds of divers communicating with one another.
    Speak into a real dive communication box to hear what you’d sound like as a deep diver who breathes mostly helium.
  • A baby and adult look at bright yellow creatures in a glowing aquarium tank with a dark background.
    Discover the diverse marine life and wonders of this deep, largely unexplored ecosystem, like these bright soft corals.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 15, 2025)—

WHAT: Immerse yourself in the newly refreshed Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed exhibit, which recently reopened after renovation at the California Academy of Sciences.

  • Enter the rarified world of mesophotic, or “twilight zone,” reefs through a new archway covered with touchable coral models. Descend into the mesophotic, a narrow band 100–500 feet below the surface, between light-filled shallow reefs and the pitch-black deep sea.
  • Discover the diverse marine life and wonders of this deep, largely unexplored ecosystem with updated, easier-to-read backlit graphics and stunning live creatures, including the colorful Rose-Veiled Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa), first described by Academy scientists in 2022, and recently added fluorescent coral rescued from illegal importation.
  • Speak into a real dive communication box to hear what you’d sound like as a deep diver who breathes mostly helium.
  • Revel in an ambient soundscape with new bioluminescent floor projections that react to your footsteps (especially popular with younger visitors).
  • Learn about current Academy research projects in the mesophotic, including new findings on the effects of plastic pollution on deep reefs.
  • See the specialized survival gear carried by divers who explore the twilight zone, which is not accessible to divers using traditional scuba equipment.

WHEN: Open now

WHERE: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco CA 94118

PHOTOS: Press images available for download.

About the California Academy of Sciences

The California Academy of Sciences is a renowned scientific and educational institution with a mission to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration. Based in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, it is home to a world-class aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum, as well as innovative programs in biodiversity science, environmental learning, and collaborative engagement—all under one living roof. Museum hours are 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Saturday, and 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on Sunday. Admission includes all exhibits, programs, and shows. For daily ticket prices, please visit www.calacademy.org or call (415) 379-8000 for more information.

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