Ocean Institute Membership

Sea Star Membership for two named adults and children in the household for one year. Explore the sea for a whole year with this amazing membership which includes a whale watching tour and a night cruise! Night cruise? Whaaat? The Ocean Institute, founded in 1977, is a community-based organization that educates children, teachers, parents, and visitors annually through over 60 marine science and maritime history programs. They are located on 2.4 acres in the Dana Point Harbor; adjacent to a Marine Protected Area. The Institute includes state-of-the-art labs, the spectacular Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, a historic tall ship, and an oceanographic research vessel. This membership includes admission year-round for two adults and children in the household, AND two tickets for the Whale and Marine Life Tour, where you’ll join the crew of the Research Vessel Sea Explorer for a Whale Watching experience you will never forget. See whales, dolphins, sea lions, and more as you explore the Pacific Ocean. The cruises are safe and fun for the entire family, and everyone will learn something new about our oceans and the life within. AND Two tickets for the BIOLUMINESCENCE NIGHT CRUISE which takes place, yes, you guessed it, at night! There’s a luminous underwater world just waiting to shine! Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness this curiously beautiful phenomenon. Come aboard the R/V Sea Explorer at night to explore the nocturnal world of marine birds, sea lions, and bioluminescent plankton, all off the coast of Dana Point. A meter net is deployed 600 feet deep to capture thousands of drifting organisms that can make their own light. Bioluminescence Night Cruises are only offered during the summer months. Your membership also includes two tickets for the holiday of lights parade and two tickets for the Maritime Festival plus 10% off at the gift shop and 10% off summer camp programs. Certificate must be redeemed by January 2027