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Visit Gulf Specimen Aquarium!
Most folks don’t know about this wonderful educational exhibit! Recently the Gulf Specimen Marine lab has been an informative and fun destination for an increasing numbers of schools in the Florida panhandle. It is now open to the public, enabling people to see many local marine animals for the first time!

Most of us have never seen what lives in a sea grass meadow or on a limestone outcrop - the tiny green shrimp and scarlet sponges, the crystal and glittering comb jellyfish. The very existence of most of these thousands of different life forms is unknown to all but a few scientists. Or if we do see a picture of one of them, its bizarre body form makes it hard to understand and relate to it. As they slowly fade away due to our carelessness, it pretty much goes unnoticed.

At Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in Panacea, you begin to get a better sense of what's really there. Located on a quiet back street between the highway and the bay, the marine lab houses a collection of sea water tanks and aquariums. Water bubbles and flows in a swirl that sustains unique collections of the bizarre and the beautiful. Unlike most big public aquariums that emphasize porpoises and big fishes, they focus on seahorses and hermit crabs, emerald eyed spiny box fish, electric rays and red and white spotted calico crabs - all the endless living treasure of north Florida's still shining coast! A great place to visit – for children and adults!

Hours: Monday - Friday 9 AM to 5 PM • Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM • Sunday 12 Noon to 4 PM Aquarium is closed to the public on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day Admission: $6.00 for adults age 12+ • $4.00 children 3 - 11 yrs.• No charge for children under 3