SeaWorld San Diego has long held a special place in the region’s history and heart. For more than 60 years, the iconic theme park and aquarium on Mission Bay has shaped how generations encounter marine life—many San Diegans fondly recall watching the colorful antics of sea lions Seamore and Clyde or discovering, firsthand, that shark skin isn’t quite as smooth as it looks.
What’s less visible, but central to SeaWorld’s mission, is what happens beyond the attractions. Education and conservation drive much of SeaWorld’s operations, both inside and outside its gates. The park’s rescue teams have become a recognizable presence along the coast, especially during sea lion pupping season. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world and has had an outsize impact on wildlife response in the San Diego region, facilitating over 555 animal rescues in 2025 alone, with the goal of returning them back to their natural habitat.
This January, SeaWorld visitors have a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people who make that mission possible. One of the park’s most meaningful event series can sometimes be overlooked amid the high-profile summer and holiday seasons but, over the next two weekends, SeaWorld will highlight the deep connections between SeaWorld’s animals and the dedicated professionals who care for them in its Inside Look series. Guests are invited to talk with rescue team members who provide life-saving care to injured and stranded animals, plus participate in an expanded slate of other interactive experiences. Among the Inside Look series’ highlights are a stop at the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, where scientists focus on sustaining marine ecosystems, and meeting the park’s shark specialists, who will preview SeaWorld’s all-new Shark Encounter opening this spring. Guests can also meet animal ambassadors Spike the alligator and Tater Tot the capybara, hear from otter, dolphin, and orca trainers, and play tic-tac-toe with a diver submerged in Turtle Reef communicating via whiteboard.
Inside Look offers direct access to animal care experts who are eager to share their life’s work with guests and pull the curtain back on what they do every day. Many members of SeaWorld’s animal care team began their own journeys as young visitors—children who met a trainer, saw the one‑on‑one bond between people and marine animals, and felt inspired to follow that path. The result is a truly behind‑the‑scenes experience for anyone interested in marine life, ocean conservation, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of SeaWorld and its core mission. Inside Look sessions are included with park admission and a passport guide is available.
For those interested in going a step further, a limited VIP tour experience offers more exclusive animal access guided by a SeaWorld expert. The park recently launched an Ultimate San Diego VIP Getaway Package, an all-in-one experience that combines luxury and adventure. It includes a three-night stay at the Bahia Resort Hotel, an ultimate VIP tour experience, front-of-the-line access to rides and attractions, and a private city tour by La Jolla Star Transportation, a luxury transportation service.
SeaWorld is also extending its mission of education and conservation into the digital space for those who want a close-up look at the park’s animal inhabitants but can’t make it in person (or who can but are craving more cuteness). For a limited time, viewers can watch SeaWorld’s more than 200 penguins in real time via its Penguin Cam. The live stream from the 25-degree Penguin Encounter habitat features five species of penguins plus interactions with trainers and the daily addition of more than 4,000 pounds of fresh snow. The penguin habitat mimics the Arctic suncycle, so tune in before it goes dark.
For more information on SeaWorld’s programs and offerings, please visit SeaWorldSanDiego.com.
