NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is home to many odd-looking species, but nudibranch (sea slugs) might be on the top of the list! They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, & shapes like this Dirona sp. inhabiting the sanctuary-characterized by their unique shape and almost glowing coloration.

Sea cucumbers aren't considered as pretty as their other echinoderm relatives (sea stars & sea urchins), but we think they are just as cool! Can’t wait to go tidepooling this spring/summer to spot some feeding or other behaviors NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary!

Join NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary & celebrate National Ocean Month & World Ocean Day! Our World Ocean provides lots of reasons to care: The air we breathe; Climate regulation; Transportation; Recreation; Economic benefits; Food; & Medicine.

Happy World Ocean Day! Beneath the waves, NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary live an amazing variety of animals - large and small. Take a peek into our ocean.

Recently NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary educators hosted the 9th OP regional MATE ROV competition! Students engineered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from scratch &operated them to complete tasks in a pool. We are so proud of the participants who are advancing ocean science as we know it!

Whether the species lives above or below the ocean’s surface, the beauty NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary abounds. From small invertebrates in tidepools and along the ocean floor, to birds soaring above the blue waters of the Pacific, beauty is all around us in nature.

#OceanMonth may be over, but there's more! NOAA's Olympic Coast Discovery Center is open daily starting July 1st -2nd floor of the Wharf Port Angeles, WA. Open 11am - 4pm weekdays, 10am - 5pm weekends & holidays. Free admission. There’s lots to explore. We hope to see you there!

Did you know that 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water? On top of that, only approximately 20% of the ocean has been thoroughly explored. What unanswered questions do you have about the ocean? 🤔🔎🧭

We love the ocean for so many reasons. It stirs up our excitement, curiosity, and sense of adventure. But it’s also where we go to find peace. There’s nothing like soaking in a sunset NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to make us feel a little more at ease.

Since 2000, NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has used oceanographic moorings (floating instruments anchored to the seafloor) to measure seawater conditions along ~135 miles of coast @ 10 sites, collecting data from May- October, a period known as the upwelling season. sanctuaries.noaa.gov/notes/2025/oce…

During the 2024-25 school year, sanctuary educators brought ocean science to over 2,800 students! Kids discovered their role in marine food webs, toured a humpback whale replica, and discussed solutions to marine debris. We love supporting the next generation of ocean stewards.

In honor of #SharkAwarenessDay, here are some our favorite things about sharks: *They don’t have bones. Even their teeth are made of cartilage! *They have special organs to detect electromagnetic fields *They support the ocean by controlling prey populations and cycling nutrients

This may be this fur seal pup’s 1st solo adventure to find food. They nurse for @ 4 months. Once they're weaned, they leave the nesting site until next year when they will return to the breeding grounds to lounge in haulouts (breeding grounds outskirts for juveniles).

Happy Birthday to us! 31 years ago today NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary was designated! Since then we've protected marine history and habitats, gathered important oceanographic research, and educated our community. Thank you for your support, and we hope you have an ink-credible day! 🐙

Have u seen the #TreeofLife? This magnificent tree looks like it’s levitating on Kalaloch beach, 1 of many beaches NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Get into your sanctuary this summer & check out the Tree of Life- tag us in your beach posts + check out this photo contest sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.…!

Today is the last day of our AmeriCorps members’ service term. Our members educated students, organized cleanups, & assisted our researchers. We hope to continue guiding the development of young professionals in the environmental science field!

We're so proud and happy to give a huge shout out to NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary volunteers! Their tireless dedication to the system helps to support the work of our staff and expands the reach of national marine sanctuaries to a wider audience. sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/2025/volu…

Educators from NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Feiro Marine Life Center just finished our annual Jr. Oceanographer summer camps. Kids met marine scientists, surveyed local marine species, and discovered how they can all become ocean heroes!

Just vibing with the otters NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary- otterly adorable! #EarthIsBlue clips