Last updated on May 27th, 2026
Looking for the best things to do at SeaWorld San Diego?
If you want to make sure you hit all the highlights, I’ve got you covered. I am a San Diego local and long-time Annual Pass member. We’ve been visiting SeaWorld San Diego for years!
Since its founding in 1964, SeaWorld San Diego has been known for its marine animal exhibits and live shows. Over the past decade or so, they’ve really upped the ante with new educational experiences, new thrill rides, and lots of opportunities for up-close animal encounters.
This all comes as we see a shift from using the park’s animals for entertainment to highlighting SeaWorld’s commitment to marine life rescue and preservation. (This is indeed a good change!)
To make this super easy, I’ve divided this list of top things to do at SeaWorld San Diego into two sections – Best Rides and Top Shows & Experiences. Here are the top thrills, chills, and spills you won’t want to miss.
Best Rides at SeaWorld San Diego
Let’s start with the best rides at SeaWorld San Diego and why I think you’ll love them, too!
1. Emperor
Emperor opened in 2020 as the tallest, longest, and fastest dive coaster in California! It is also the only floorless dive coaster in the state.
Named for the world’s largest penguin, this roller coaster is designed to mimic this species’ amazing underwater diving ability (emperor penguins can dive to a depth of 1,800 feet). Climbing to 153 feet with feet dangling in the air, you’ll be suspended on a 45-degree angle at the crown of the ride before plunging down a 143-foot facedown vertical drop accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour!
I was nervous to go on this one at first, but it was great! Honestly, it was over surprisingly quick. This thrill ride is just one of the things that make SeaWorld a must-do if you are visiting San Diego with teens.
► Travel Insight
Lines can get very long during busy times at the park! Be sure to ride Emperor early in the day to avoid a hefty wait.
Emperor Height Requirement: 52″
2. Journey to Atlantis
Part flume ride, part roller coaster, Journey to Atlantis is totally fun! Be prepared to get wet.
Journey to Atlantis is a six-minute adventure featuring a 60-foot plunge. The ride tells the tale of Atlantis through a simulated flood, projected lights, fog, and water cannons. It is a favorite among all ages tall enough to ride!
Height Requirement: 42″
3. Arctic Rescue
Arctic Rescue is where both the “thrill” and the “chill” come in.
SeaWorld San Diego’s newest ride, Arctic Rescue has a cool snowmobile theme and a long, zippy track. It is fast and fun (hits a top speed of 40 mph) with no big drops or upside-down loops, but lots of awesome twists and turns!
This is a great ride for people who love a fast, thrilling ride, but not the heart-stopping drops you find on many other roller coasters.
After the ride, wander through Wild Arctic where you can see beluga whales and walruses. You can even sign up for the Beluga and Walrus Encounter, a behind-the-scenes, interactive experience where participants have up-close encounters with beluga whales and walruses.
Kids will love running their hands over a frozen ice wall and climbing through little tunnels. This is not only an interesting spot, but a great place to cool off when it’s hot outside. We always take out time wandering through this area looking at the animals and the clever exhibits.
Also in the “chill” department is Penguin Encounter, located next to Arctic Rescue, where you can get a close-up view of penguins as they swim and waddle in the 25-degree, snow-filled habitat. The Penguin Encounter is also home to nearly 90 puffins and murres.
Arctic Rescue Height Requirement: 48″
► Click here to purchase discount tickets directly from SeaWorld!
4. Shipwreck Rapids
A traditional raft ride that ventures into the shipwrecks of the deep with twist and turns, the Shipwreck Rapids ride takes you on a winding adventure through raging rapids, roaring waterfalls, and on a near collision with a ship’s propeller.
The ride is only open seasonally during the warmer months. You’ll definitely get wet! This is one of the best water rides we’ve been on.
Height Requirement: 42″
5. Electric Eel
If thrilling coasters are your thing, I have to give an honorable mention to the Electric Eel. When it opened in 2018, it was the park’s tallest and fastest coaster, a record it held until the opening of Emperor in 2022. My teenage son and husband loved going on this ride, but I was more than happy to sit this one out!
Electric Eel Height Requirement: 54″
6. Manta
Another awesome thrill ride at SeaWorld San Diego is Manta. This super-fast coaster simulates the moves of a manta ray. The track is long and the ride is marvelously smooth. It features a 54-foot drop and plenty of twists and turns.
The area right outside Manta roller coaster features a 100,000-gallon marine-life habitat with touch pools, filled with California bat rays that you can touch and feed. This makes Manta a great spot to check out, even if your kids are still too little to go one the ride!
Height Requirement: 48″
7. SeaWorld Rescue Jr.
When my son was little, this area of the park was called Sesame Street Bay of Play and featured rides and attractions based on Sesame Street characters. He absolutely loved it!
But in 2023, Bay of Play was rethemed and is now the SeaWorld Rescue Jr. area. The rides and play areas are still there and still perfect for small children, but everything has been completely overhauled to go with the new theme of animal rescue and conservation.
The rides inside SeaWorld’s Rescue Jr. include Rescue Riders, Rescue Rafter, and Tidepool Twist. There is also a splash zone water play area and soft play area.
The Rescue Jr. section of the park is just one of the things that make spending time at SeaWorld one of the best things to do in San Diego with kids if you have little ones.
8. Skytower and Bayside Skyride
Skytower and Bayside Skyride are two landmark SeaWorld San Diego rides, so it makes sense to group them together! Also, these are the only two rides at SeaWorld that cost extra; there is an additional fee of $6 per attraction if you want to experience either of these rides; however, they are included if you have an Annual Pass.
The Skytower takes passengers high above SeaWorld for some amazing panoramic views, while the Bayside Skyride offers a scenic ride over Mission Bay.
Opened in 1969, Skytower is one of the oldest rides in the park. The 6-minute ride takes passengers high above SeaWorld and offers great views of SeaWorld, Mission Bay, downtown San Diego, and beyond, all from 320 feet up in the air.
During Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego, Skytower is transformed into a soaring Christmas tree.
Built just two years prior to Skytower, Bayside Skyride also takes guests up in the air – 80 feet up to be exact – and travels across the bay and back aboard suspended gondolas.
If you can only do one, I recommend the Bayside Skyride. It is a relaxing flight with beautiful views and cool breezes drifting in from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
► Looking for a great place to stay near the park? Check out these Hotels Near SeaWorld San Diego.
Top Shows & Experiences
There’s so much to do at SeaWorld San Diego beyond all the rides. Marine animal education and exhibits have always been the core of SeaWorld’s mission. Here are the top shows (SeaWorld calls them “presentations”) and experiences.
9. Explorer’s Reef
The very first thing you’ll see after passing through the park entrance is Explorer’s Reef, a group of shaded touch pools with reef sharks you can watch and touch. Kids will love this hands-on experience and there are plenty of Animal Care Ambassadors around to share interesting insights about the marine life and answer questions.
While it’s tempting to dive right in (pardon the pun) as soon as you enter the park in the morning, resist the urge and hit some rides first before the lines get long! A better idea is to come back to Explorer’s Reef later in the day between shows or when you need a quiet break.
10. Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience
Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience is an all-new exhibit at SeaWorld San Diego.
This special interactive aquarium features several galleries filled with different kinds of jellyfish and plenty of descriptive signage to help you learn all about them.
The Medusa Gallery is really cool, filled with LED lights and visuals for a one-of-a-kind 360-degree experience that makes you feel like you are under water or in a jellyfish kaleidoscope.
11. Dolphin Adventures
Dolphin Adventures features SeaWorld’s family of Bottlenose Dolphins and the team of trainers that care for them as they show off their incredible skills and athleticism.
If you are visiting on a busy day, be sure to get to Dolphin Stadium early, as this show tends to fill up fast!
► Travel Insight
Sit in the first couple of rows if you need a cool-down splash.
Note: The Dolphin Adventures amphitheater is currently undergoing renovations, but in the meantime you can see the dolphins at Dolphin Point.
12. Orca Encounter
Gone are the days of trainers riding on the backs of these beautiful marine animals.
The majesty of the orcas and their amazing size and strength are the focal points the Orca Encounter show at SeaWorld San Diego. Learn about how orcas hunt, communicate, and play, and find out what people can learn from these orcas to help killer whales survive in the wild.
Whether or not you catch the show, visit the underwater viewing area right outside Orca Encounter for an opportunity to come face-to-face with these majestic animals and watch them swim and play.
You can also reserve tickets for Dine with Orcas and enjoy a buffet alongside SeaWorld San Diego’s orcas. This exclusive hour-long experience includes up-close views and insights from our expert animal specialists.
13. Turtle Reef
Head below to watch the turtles swim above you while you stay dry. Come face to face with peaceful green sea turtles, loggerheads or hawksbill turtles (along with tropical fish).
As you exit, you’ll be in the perfect spot to hop in line to visit the sharks at Shark Encounter.
14. Shark Encounter
This attraction is currently undergoing a revamp and will reopen later in 2026!
A family favorite you won’t want to miss, Shark Encounter takes you under water with sharks and tropical fish.
The 280,000-gallon attraction features a 57-foot acrylic tube running the length of the sharks’ habitat. Sand tiger, bonnethead, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks are among the species living in this popular attraction. There is a line to get in during busy times and it can be crowded, but it is totally worth the wait!
Top Tip: A helpful tip if it very crowded – as soon as you are about to enter the tunnel pause for a few moments so there is a gap between you and the people in front of you. That way you’ll be able to see more of the sharks swimming around you than you would if crushed in a crowd!
15. Flippers, Facts, and Fun: The Sea Lion Experience
For more help planning, check out some of these other articles about SeaWorld San Diego!
Final Thoughts: Best Things to Do at SeaWorld San Diego
When you think of a San Diego family vacation, it’s hard not to include SeaWorld on the itinerary. Part zoo and conservation center, part aquarium, and part thrilling amusement park all spread over 200 acres along Mission Bay, choosing the best things to do at SeaWorld San Diego is no easy feat.
This list of best things to do at SeaWorld San Diego hardly scratches the surface of all the cool animals, exhibits, and experiences you can catch. The truth is, there really aren’t any shows or exhibits that don’t deserve to be on this list! And that’s not even mentioning the special events, concerts, and other things that take place at the park throughout the year!
But by narrowing it down to these 15 top attractions, I hope we have given you a great foundation for planning the perfect day at SeaWorld.
How to Save on San Diego Attractions
Planning to visit multiple attractions in San Diego? A sightseeing pass lets you bundle and save up to 50% – potentially saving your family a ton of money! There are two popular passes in San Diego.
Go City San Diego – My personal favorite and the one I highly recommend, Go City San Diego is the most robust and flexible, with 40+ top attractions like the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, USS Midway Museum, and many more. You can choose between the Essentials Pass and All-Inclusive Passes, depending on your trip style and how many days you have to explore.
San Diego CityPASS – This pass is good for shorter trips, but also way more limited. Choose it only if you plan to visit LEGOLAND California and/or SeaWorld San Diego. You’ll also get to choose three additional attractions from a list of six.
Save These SeaWorld San Diego Rides and Attractions for Later!
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