Group Visit Rules

1. Never tap on the glass of the Aquarium exhibits.

2. Keep your voices low.

3. Stay with your group and do not run at any time.

4. Do not eat, drink, or chew gum in the Aquarium or Marine Mammal Center.

5. Please do ask questions. Volunteers are stationed throughout the Aquarium and Marine Mammal Center to provide descriptive information and assist students in obtaining information.

Rules for Animal Interactions

Some of the open-air exhibits encourage interaction with the animals, and some do not.

6. Do not reach into the Grassflats or Mangrove Island exhibits.

7. Do not attempt to touch the sea turtles or place hands or other objects in their tanks.

8. Animals at Contact Cove may be gently touched with two fingers, but must be kept under the water.

9. The sting rays in the Ray Tray may be gently stroked on their dorsal (top) surface. Do not pick them up or touch their tails.

10. Spashing, screaming, and chasing the animals frightens them.

Rules for Chaperones

11. Student behavior is the responsibility of the teacher and chaperones.

12. Please divide your entire group into groups of five students. Each group of students should be led by one chaperone.

13. Only one chaperon-led group of five students is allowed in the gift shop at a time. If students are making purchases, the chaperone should station themselves at the register to facilitate the process.

14. If your group is large (over 30 students), Mote will split the group into two or more subgroups and stagger their visits to the Aquarium and the Marine Mammal Center.