Live CamPressed up against the glass of the Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit, this camera looks into a long hourglass shaped tank built with big sharks in mind. Sevengill sharks, leopard sharks and spiny dogfish glide past the rocky reef, while rays, rockfish and flatfish fill in the quieter corners of the scene.
Why Monterey Bay? The species in this tank are the same ones living in the cold water just beyond the aquarium walls, so the view is a window into the real bay rather than a tropical fantasy. The exhibit runs about ninety feet long, giving the larger sharks room to turn and cruise instead of circling in tight loops.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Sharks highlights: As you enjoy the live view, be sure to look out for:
- Sevengill Shark Passes: Broadnose sevengills are the heavyweights here, and their slow sweeps past the window are the moment most viewers wait for.
- Rays On The Sand: Bat rays and big skates often drift low along the seafloor, sometimes settling into the sand before lifting off again.
- Reef Loiterers: Watch the rocky structure for rockfish holding position, giant sea bass hovering nearby and flatfish camouflaged against the bottom.
Beyond the Tank: The aquarium sits on Cannery Row at the edge of Monterey Bay, where kelp forests, sea otters and harbour seals are part of everyday life along the shoreline. Walking and cycling paths trace the water toward Pacific Grove, and the whole bay is a protected national marine sanctuary.
Thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for keeping this camera running and sharing one of its signature exhibits with people far from the California coast. Streams like this one turn a visit many will never make in person into something anyone can watch at any hour.
Drop in for a few quiet minutes, keep an eye on the far end of the tank, and wait for a sevengill shark to come gliding out of the blue.
