The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is the working rescue, rehabilitation, and release facility made famous by the 2011 movie Dolphin Tale. It sits on Island Estates — a small residential island between Clearwater Beach and mainland Clearwater — and is one of the most visited attractions in the Tampa Bay area. Unlike most aquariums, the animals here are residents because they can't be safely returned to the wild, or they're short-term patients on their way back to the Gulf.
Why It's Special
CMA is genuinely different from Gulf-world-style sea parks. Every dolphin, turtle, or otter at the aquarium is there because it was rescued. Winter, the resident bottlenose dolphin whose story inspired Dolphin Tale, lived at CMA from 2005 until her passing in 2021 with a prosthetic tail. Hope, her co-star, still lives at the facility. Rescued sea turtles, stingrays, river otters, and the occasional shark round out the residents.
Tickets & Hours
- General admission: around $37 adult, $29 child (3–12), free under 3
- Boat + aquarium combos: available for slightly more, include the Sea Life Safari dolphin tour
- Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM most days (verify before you go)
Book online ahead of time on busy days — walk-up tickets can sell out in summer.
What to Expect
- Dolphin presentations throughout the day (training sessions, not performance shows)
- Sea turtle rehabilitation tanks — you'll see turtles at various stages of recovery
- Stingray and small shark touch tanks
- An otter exhibit that steals the show for most kids
- Behind-the-scenes tours available for an additional fee
- The Dolphin Tale set and props are still on display
How to Get There & Parking
CMA is on Island Estates at 249 Windward Passage. From Clearwater Beach, it's a 5-minute drive back across the short Clearwater Memorial Causeway — take the Island Way exit and follow signs. On-site parking is paid (around $15), or park in downtown Clearwater and take the free CMA trolley.
EV drivers: CMA has two 7.6 kW J-1772 chargers on site. See our EV charging guide.
Is It Worth It?
For families and first-time visitors — yes. The facility's mission is genuinely impressive, the animals have real stories, and kids leave with an education about marine conservation instead of just a souvenir. Plan 2–3 hours and combine it with a lunch stop at Island Way Grill (a five-minute walk from the aquarium).
Local tip: go on a cloudy morning or during a brief afternoon storm. CMA is mostly indoor, so weather that ruins a beach day is perfect for it.Back to the Must-Do List