The Best Aquariums and Marine Attractions in Myrtle Beach
- August 18, 2023
- 3:03 pm
Delve into underwater worlds and entertain your entire family by visiting the best aquariums and marine attractions in Myrtle Beach. This city is known for its exciting, interactive entertainment, and the various sea life excursions follow suit.
Whether you’re in the Grand Strand on a family trip or a couple’s getaway, watching dolphins and other sea life are experiences everyone appreciates. Consult our list of the best marine attractions in Myrtle Beach to plan unforgettable, thrilling activities for your vacation.
Kayak Sightseeing Tours
Adventure lovers and those looking for an up-close tour of the waters of Myrtle Beach love J & L Kayak Tours. These trips depart from nearby Cherry Grove, about 25 minutes from The Strand Resort. Though you aren’t too far away from the hotel, you’ll feel worlds away as you traverse some of the most scenic secluded inlets and waterways. Knowledgeable guides explain the tidal flood lands and ecosystems, and point out aquatic and aviary species throughout the winding creeks. The Backwater Kayak Tour is a two-hour paddle ideal for couples or families with teenage children.
The Kayak Crabbing Adventure Tour gives paddlers a view of marine life from a private island. Paddle to the island to explore the landscape and discover aquatic species along the shore. Your guide provides the gear needed to catch Blue Crab from the shore and you may keep up to five if you wish. This four-hour experience is fun for families, beginner kayakers, and thrill-seekers alike.
Ripley’s Aquarium Myrtle Beach
Staying at The Strand puts you just 1.4 miles from one of the most impressive, interactive marine life attractions in Myrtle Beach. Ripley’s Aquarium features two stories of sea life exhibits offering plenty of jaw-dropping encounters. Ride a 340-foot-long gliding path to travel alongside sting rays, sea turtles, and other exotic fish, including barracudas and sharks, in this immersive exhibit. View the Jellies gallery to see these fascinating, colorful creatures on full display, and check out the Coral Reef exhibit to feel like you’re out exploring the ocean yourself.
Dolphin Tours
Climb aboard a sightseeing tour boat to view dolphins in their natural habitat. The Crazy Sister Marina in Murrells Inlet is less than 20 minutes from The Strand Resort and offers watersports rentals and fishing charters along with amazing Dolphin Watch Tours. The standard sightseeing tours are suitable for anyone from age three and up, so the entire family can enjoy this experience. The vessel is outfitted with a hydrophone to help you hear the dolphins vocalizing underwater. Every seat offers a 360-degree view for watching turtles, fish, stingrays, and sharks during the 1.75-hour voyage.
If a large vessel isn’t intimate enough, Crazy Sister Marina features a few other tours. The Premium Dolphin Watch Tour sets out in a smaller boat where you can feel the spray of the water as you search for aquatic species. Or, choose the guided adults-only Jet Ski Tour to be led through inlet channels and out to the ocean to view dolphins from your own watercraft.
Scuba Diving Excursions
A journey into the depths of the ocean to explore shipwrecks and reefs is one of the best marine life encounters you can experience in Myrtle Beach. Coastal Scuba is a diving charter operating out of North Myrtle Beach, about 12 miles from The Strand Resort. This tour company offers a variety of half-day excursions in shallow waters as well as longer deep dives. The sites include WWII and Civil War shipwrecks and man-made reefs. Search for hidden treasure and see which aquatic species are calling the buried barges and ships home. These scuba experiences are for certified divers, aged 10 and up.
Adventure Awaits at The Strand
Start planning which spectacular marine life attraction you’ll visit first. Book your suite at The Strand Resort in Myrtle Beach to be near all of these places and more. Find hotel specials for your stay, and then splurge on specialty tours and experiences. The Strand’s laid-back atmosphere and oceanfront pool deck and water amenities provide all the relaxation you need after every thrilling outing.
