Attractions & Sight Seeing
Shark Reef Aquarium Offers Tropical Ocean Amidst the Desert Sands
By Mandalay Bay
Posted: Feb 1, 2008 - 2:27:00 PM

SHARK REEF AQUARIUM

LAS VEGAS – Dangerous predators and unusual aquatic creatures are the focus of Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, a 90,560-square-foot aquarium.

Since its debut in 2000, Shark Reef Aquarium has become a must-see attraction, where adults and children alike flock to get up close and personal with more than 2,000 divinely dangerous animals including sharks, crocodiles, sawfish, turtles and piranhas. Shark Reef Aquarium holds nearly 1.6 million gallons of seawater in 14 major exhibits.

A total sensory experience, Shark Reef Aquarium transports visitors to an undersea ocean of fantastic sights, sounds and encounters. It takes visitors on a journey through an ancient temple that has been slowly claimed by the sea and onto the deck of a sunken ship in shark-infested waters.

“Shark Reef Aquarium is an extraordinary themed experience, which separates it from all other major aquariums in the U.S.,” said Brian Robison, the facility’s executive director. “Unlike other aquarium and zoo exhibits, when visitors enter Shark Reef Aquarium, they are transported to a jungle to see first-hand such rare creatures as golden crocodiles and an Asian Water Monitor and then enter to a sunken ship with several species of sharks gliding overhead. It’s exhilarating to be within arms’ length of such amazing creatures.”

Part of the attraction of Shark Reef Aquarium is that it allows visitors to experience the environment on many levels – viewing exhibits from all angles. Guests are able to see rays resting on the ocean floor and then look up and watch a school of fish swim overhead. In the temple exhibits, not only do visitors see the animals, they feel the mist on their skin, hear birds sing and see exotic flowers all around.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2003, this facility was conceived with an international team of aquarium and exhibit designers. Anchored by Las Vegas architectural firm Klai::Juba, the team includes overall development guidance by the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre of Vancouver, Canada; exhibit design of BIOS:Inc. of Seattle; animal life support engineering systems by TA Maranda of Seattle and Desert Plumbing of Las Vegas; animal care criteria by Dr. Dennis Thoney of New York, NY, and advice and consultation of a variety of scientific and technical experts from five continents.

Shark Reef Aquarium is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. – last tickets are sold at 10 p.m. Prices are subject to change.

Admission is $15.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 4-12 years old. Children age 4 and under are admitted free. For tickets call (702) 632-4555.

Nevada Resident Discount – present Nevada I.D. at the Box Office and receive a discount admission.