The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in North America with approximately 3,000 miles of shoreline and encompassing a total area of 600,000 square miles. The Gulf of Mexico averages 5,000 feet deep, with it's deepest point being Sigsbee Deep at 12,425 feet. Two-thirds of the fresh water from the United States, part of Canada via the Mississippi River, half of Mexico and a portion of

Guatemala drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico contains half the nation's wetlands and provides critical habitats for 75% of the nations migratory waterfowl. Sea turtles, whales and countless other vertebrates and invertebrates also inhabit the Gulf's waters.

The Gulf of Mexico yields a majority of the oil and natural gas produced in the United States and supports a multi-billion dollar seafood industry.

Aquaria in the Gulf of Mexico Gallery include saltwater tanks that depict both soft (sand) and hard (rock) bottom, artificial reef and sargassum communities. These aquaria contain invertebrates and vertebrates including: an octopus, barnacles, lobsters, eels, seahorses, red snapper, sharks, jellyfish and schooling fish such as spadefish.