Panama City Beach Marine Life Mural Guide

The Panama City Beach marine life mural at Pier Park is the city’s first privately funded public art, created in 2023 through a partnership between the PCB Wheel and Pier Park. It celebrates 15 native Gulf species, turning a shopping and entertainment stop into an outdoor classroom for families.

How the PCB Wheel marine life mural makes history in Panama City Beach.

In 2023, the PCB Wheel and Pier Park, a Simon Mall, teamed up to gift Panama City Beach its first privately funded public art installation. The large-scale marine life mural by artist Kollet Hardeman wraps visitors in a vibrant underwater scene, featuring only species that actually live in local Gulf waters. Instead of generic tropical fish, every creature you see, from the Great White Shark to the tiny Dwarf Seahorse, can be found in or near the Gulf of America.

The mural’s layout feels like a living food web. Predators such as Great White Sharks, Yellowfin Tuna, and Black Groupers glide above schools of Red Snapper and Lesser Amberjacks. A Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus lurks near the seafloor, while Queen Angelfish, Sergeant Majors, and Pompanos weave through an imagined reef. Leatherback Sea Turtles and Bottlenose Dolphins add movement and scale, anchoring the scene in recognizable, family-favorite animals.

By choosing native species, the artwork does more than decorate a wall. It connects locals and visitors to the real ecosystem just beyond the beach. Families leaving the PCB Wheel or strolling Pier Park can use the mural as a visual checklist of what lives offshore, sparking curiosity that can carry into aquarium visits, boat tours, and responsible time on the water.

How to turn a Pier Park mural visit into a family learning adventure

With a little planning, the mural becomes an interactive family marine life activity rather than just a quick photo backdrop. Parents can use the 15 featured species to create scavenger hunts, mini science lessons, and even art projects that continue back at home or the hotel.

Start by printing or saving a list of the mural’s animals: Leatherback Sea Turtle, Sergeant Majors, Southern Stingray, Red Snapper, Lesser Amberjack, Sheepshead, Pompanos, Great White Shark, Bottlenose Dolphins, Black Grouper, Mahi-Mahi, Dwarf Seahorse, Yellowfin Tuna, Queen Angelfish, and Mexican Four-Eyed Octopus. Challenge kids to spot each one and describe what makes it unique—big teeth, bright colors, unusual shapes, or special behaviors.

Next, connect the mural to real-world experiences. After visiting Pier Park, families can look for some of these species on local dolphin cruises, fishing charters, or visits to regional aquariums such as those featured by organizations like the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Many offer kid-friendly guides on sea turtles, dolphins, and reef fish.

Finally, encourage kids to create their own Gulf-inspired artwork. Using the mural as a reference, they can draw a food chain that starts with algae and plankton, then moves up through Pompanos, Red Snapper, and ends with a Great White Shark or Yellowfin Tuna. This simple activity reinforces the idea that everything in the Gulf is connected—including the people who come to enjoy Panama City Beach.