Meet some of the sea’s most secretive residents, from the quick-camouflaging giant Pacific octopus to eerie moray eels to the massive Japanese spider crabs — the largest in the sea.
![Ocean Explorer area at SeaWorld San Diego](/san-diego/-/media/commercial/seaworld-san-diego/images/ocean-explorer/2024/1900x263-swc-2024-ocean-explorer-banner.jpg?h=263&w=1900&la=en&hash=8A27630157BE7CDCB272D704A1056D62)
![Ocean Explorer area at SeaWorld San Diego](/san-diego/-/media/commercial/seaworld-san-diego/images/ocean-explorer/2024/714x320-swc-2024-ocean-explorer-banner.jpg?h=320&w=714&la=en&hash=D30A84FC9F66E66E5FD930494DEBFA14)
Ocean Explorer Animals
![Ocean Explorer Animal Exhibits Crabs](/san-diego/-/media/migrated-media/seaworld-san-diego/images/ocean-explorer/oceanexplorercrab_357x231.jpg?h=231&w=357&la=en&hash=31A827C79739F630BEBF3E486EF276BE)
![Ocean Explorer Animal Exhibits Crabs](/san-diego/-/media/migrated-media/seaworld-san-diego/images/ocean-explorer/oceanexplorercrab_357x231.jpg?h=231&w=357&la=en&hash=31A827C79739F630BEBF3E486EF276BE)
Encounter gentle giants
There is no creepy crawler on land or sea larger than the Japanese spider crab. With a wing-span north of 9 ft. (3m) from claw to claw, they may look seriously scary, but in fact have a gentle temperament, and are truly one of the great wonders of the sea.
![Ocean Explorer area at SeaWorld San Diego](/san-diego/-/media/commercial/seaworld-san-diego/images/ocean-explorer/2024/357x231-swc-2024-ocean-explorer.jpg?h=231&w=357&la=en&hash=A11AC293E2D8F465D29A392A765F6067)
![Ocean Explorer area at SeaWorld San Diego](/san-diego/-/media/commercial/seaworld-san-diego/images/ocean-explorer/2024/357x231-swc-2024-ocean-explorer.jpg?h=231&w=357&la=en&hash=A11AC293E2D8F465D29A392A765F6067)
Discover a master of disguise
You might think it’d be easy to spot any animal with “giant” in its name. But look again. The giant Pacific octopus is a quick-change artist, able to blend in with its surroundings and cleverly conceal itself from predators and prey – maybe even you.
![Eel](/san-diego/-/media/migrated-media/seaworld-san-diego/images/rides/ocean-explorer-listing/attraction-opening-listing-images/eel-357x231.png?h=231&w=357&la=en&hash=B54C623EB1EAEF8345480A27D24FEB5A)
![Eel](/san-diego/-/media/migrated-media/seaworld-san-diego/images/rides/ocean-explorer-listing/attraction-opening-listing-images/eel-357x231.png?h=231&w=357&la=en&hash=B54C623EB1EAEF8345480A27D24FEB5A)
See eye to eye with an eel
As you venture through Ocean Explorer™, keep an eye out for California moray eels. While their fearsome, fanged faces look anything but friendly, as an explorer you’ll get to see that mouth-breathing is just how these shy snakelike predators are built.