Parked and got on foot.
Cut through the side entrance.
Noticing the big signs.
Finally here! I paid for and printed my ticket online and got there a few moments after the doors opened. I planned to beat the traffic, but there wasn’t any. 🙂
Walked inside.
It is quite a large facility. See map. I decided to check out the Tropical Diver exhibit first.
Look sea horses.
Lovely jellyfish
Craziness.
Neat, a scuba diver on the other side of the tank.
I decided to say hi and make a friend through the glass.
And then everyone else decided to do the same.
The shark egg display.
You can actually see the fetus shark (if that is what it is called) move inside the egg.
I decide to check out the Ocean Voyager exhibit next.
That is a gigantic grouper.
A manta ray: I call him Charles.
There is Manta Ray Charles again
Holy Moli… do you see how big that fish is?
Here it is again.
People walking through the tube.
Watch out for divers!
Why the ocean matters.
A different angle on the same exhibit.
Next up is the Coldwater Quest
Starfish, urchins, etc.
And Beluga Whales
They don’t really approach us visitors so it is a little hard to see them.
California sea otters: at least that is what the sign says.
And i you are small enough in size or five years old, you can craw under the tube to get a close look. I saw an adult go through. His excuse was his child.
Next exhibit: River Scout
Oooh. That’s colorful!
Piranhas. I wouldn’t mess with them.
Apparently, they keep the Asian otters away from the California ones.
And the dolphins.
Speaking of which Elias suggested that I see the dolphin show. It is for kids, but it is entertaining. Hope those dolphins aren’t abused. I do feel bad though since I am essentially paying for their continued captivity.
Unfortunately there is no picture taking or recording of the show so I cannot share some of the dolphin tricks that I witnessed; however, I do suggest going to the show. It was quite entertaining once you get past the cheesy stuff.
I go into a theater to watch a 3D movie that turns out to be cartoon and is really really boring. I leave and then realize I left my wallet in the theater. Turns out it was not there when I discovered it missing and went back to find it. Fortunately though some good Samaritan returned it to the front desk and I was able to reclaim it shortly after.
I next headed over to the don’t-know-what-you-call-it area… but it is NEAT!
Emperor Penguin
Sharks
Porcupine Fish.
Ocean Sunfish
Goliath Grouper
Atlantic Spadefish
Sea Stars
Squids whom you don’t want to mess with.
Sand tiger shark
Whale Shark
Shark reproduction
Thresher Sharks. “If you see sharks… you’re in a healthy ocean.”