Birch Aquarium is the public exploration centre for the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California. Recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Birch Aquarium has annual visitors of 400,000 and features 5,000 animals representing approximately 380 species. The hilltop location provides impressive panorama of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus and the Pacific Ocean.

At 5,960 square metres, Birch Aquarium is created around a central lobby which has entrances to exhibit areas. Display tanks contain approximately 1,041,000 litres of seawater.

Hall of Fishes exhibit features 60 tanks of Pacific fishes and invertebrates (spineless sea creatures). The largest habitat is a 270,000-litre kelp tank forest. 

Shark Reef exhibit is a 49,300-litre tank with shark species that inhabit tropical reef habitats, including brownbanded bamboo sharks, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, wobbegongs and Port Jackson sharks. 

Tide Pool Plaza Exhibit features three living tide pools which provides close views of sea cucumbers, starfish, lobsters and hermit crabs.

Coral Reef Exhibit features live reef and coral sea creatures such as lionfish, giant clams and chambered nautilus. The exhibit has also interactive showcases on the latest Scripps research on coral reefs all over the world.