 The natural environment and ocean resources of the Monterey Peninsula draw millions of visitors from around the world each year, including more than 60,000 scuba divers drawn by the area's ease of access, variety of wildlife, and kelp forests

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a tourist attraction featuring a living kelp forest.The exhibit includes species native to the nearby marine protected areas.The aquarium also houses sea otters, intertidal wildlife, and occasionally sea turtles.