I recently heard about a new experience the aquarium will be offering – a Dive with the Sharks program.  Offered to hotel guests of Mandalay Bay and THEhotel, this program will give certified divers the chance to accompany dive guides to hang out with over 30 sharks in the 1.2 million gallon exhibit.  Divers must be 18 years of age and older.

Dives are offered once per day, and there is a limit to two participants per dive.  The experience is a 4-hour commitment, during which you’ll have a chance to experience an up-close educational program about shark health and behavior.  The adventure begins with a guided tour of Shark Reef, where participants will learn about the various predators residing at the aquarium.  Then, you’ll get an orientation sessions and changed into wetsuits and don equipment.

Each dive will be a different experience, as they will be adapted to what’s going on in the life of the sharks.  Once in the water, participants will get up close and personal with sand tiger, white tip, and sandbar sharks, among others, along with green sea turtles, sawfish, and all sorts of other marine life.

Care has been taken to ensure the health and safety of all the marine life as well as the participants.  The limits on participants ensures personalized attention and safety throughout the entire experience.

The Dive with Sharks experience doesn’t come cheap — $650 for single diver or $1,000 for two divers (booked together).  This includes the guided tour of Shark Reef Aquarium, orientation session, the dive (about 45 minutes), and a post-dive snack.  All equipment is provided:  wetsuit, protective stainless steel chain maille as well as a mask, fins, tank, buoyancy-control device, regulator, weights and booties.  You’ll also receive a certificate and video of the dive.

Participants can bring up to four friends to watch the dive from outside the exhibit at no additional admission fee.  They can join in the introductory guided tour.

You must present a valid certification from a recognized dive instruction agency such as PADI or NAUI to participate.  The program is available four days per week, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Advance reservations are recommended.

Photo credit:  Courtesy of MGM MIRAGE

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Well, it wasn’t really swimming, it was more of a shallow wading experience.  But it was great fun, and one of those experiences that I heartily recommend.

I’ll have more of the details of the whole experience, but for now you can take a look at “Doe” and I.

Photo credit:  Miami Seaquarium

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For the price of a hand of blackjack or a roll of the dice, you can spend time predators of a different kind — at Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef Aquarium.  Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino (3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas) is home to this predator-based aquarium, the only one in the United States.

Recently moving into the aquarium are two female Tigers Sharks, second deadliest specie behind the Great White.  These two are quickly becoming the prima donnas of the aquarium, and it’s the only place tiger sharks are available for viewing in the US.  How will you spot them?  They’re the ones with tiger striped markings, and sharp-serrated teeth!

The tiger sharks join over 2,000 other predators at the aquarium, and although the sharks were my clear favorite, here are a few others from among the 14 exhibits:

Komodo Dragon.  What they lack in looks, they make up for in speed, and the world’s largest lizard uses both its speed, cunning and power to track and kills it’s prey.  So ugly that they’re kind of cute, but very scary!

The piranhas.  A guide was standing near the exhibit to answer questions, and the question on everyone’s mind was – when do you feed them?  He explained that they are fed three times a week, usually raw chicken.  It’s chopped up into small chunks and then thrown about the water so that the piranhas disperse and chase the food.  They try to keep them from swarming in one area, so as to avoid any injuries as a result of less than sterling eating habits.

The stingray petting pool was a big visitor favorite, and not just mine.  A naturalist nearby gave adults and kids instructions about how to “pet” the stingrays swimming about the shallow pool.  I shoved up my sleeves and put my arm in the pool waiting for the stingray to swim by.  When it did, I ran one finger along the top of him.  It’s hard to explain what it felt like.  It was soft and spongy, but definitely not what I expected.  The closest I can come to describing the feel is that it’s like injera, the Ethiopian pancake-like bread.

Allow a little over an hour to walk through the exhibit, listening to the audio guide as you do.  The audio guide provides a nice enhancement to what you’re seeing, giving you the basics and then an option to press for additional information.  I frequently found myself teased by that basic information, wanting to know more.

Shark Reef Aquarium is open Sunday – Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm, and Friday & Saturday 10 am – 10 pm.  Admission is $16.95 for adults, $10.95 for children, and toddlers four and under are FREE.    Shark Reef tickets can be purchased online or on site.  Discounts available for Nevada residents (ID required).

Photo credits:  personal collection

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This Halloween event features age appropriate activities for the entire family, including:

• Trick-or-treating with costumes and candy
• Field of Screams featuring rides, slides and a skeleton walk
• The Frightening Manor – a kid-friendly haunted house
• Trail of Terror Haunted House
• Fall Harvest Festival with pumpkin carving contest, games, and activities
• Grand finale fireworks

The Bash is open October 24-26th, 31st, from 5 – 10 pm.  Daytime guest are invited to stay for the night time fun at no additional charge.  Special admission for the Bash (entry after 5 pm) is $24.95 for adults and $21.95 for kids ages 3 – 12, plus tax. 

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit The Children’s Trust, a Miami foundation.  Be sure to check out the special Children’s Trust Miami Heart Gallery at the Seaquarium, an exhibit featuring over 70 children in the foster care system who are available for adoption.

The Miami Seaquarium is located at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami, Florida.

Photo credit:  flickr

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Halloween activities are scheduled October 25-26th, and are free with general admission to the aquarium.  (An additional charge applies for the Deep Sea 3D Movie.)

And of course, there’s lot of feeding going on.  Enjoy watching walrus, penguin, or sea otter feeding.  It’s high on the “aaaaaaahhhhh” factor!

The Octopus has to eat, too.  How do you like this Halloween dinner??

Admission is $13 for adults; $10 for seniors (65+); $9 for children ages 3-12, FREE for those under 3.  During this Halloween event, all children ages 3-12 who visit in costume receive a FREE admission when accompanied by a paying adult.  (Purchase aquarium tickets online.)

The Aquarium is located at Surf Avenue & West 8th Street in Brooklyn, and is open every day of the year at 10 am.  Closing times vary seasonally.

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The national monument encompasses nearly 140,000 square miles of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, and provides for protection and preservation of the marine area.  It is the largest single area dedicated to conservation, and the largest protected marine area in the world.  To get a sense of just how big we are talking about, it is larger than 46 of our 50 states. 

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands include ten islands and atolls, and stretch over nearly 1,400 miles.  The undersea forests and mountain ranges of this area comprise a coral reef habitat that exceeds 4,500 square miles, and is the largest, most untouched coral reef system in the U.S. 

Living in this undersea bliss, are over 7,000 marine species, a quarter of which are found nowhere else on earth.  The area is the primary home for the surviving Hawaiian Monk Seals (critically endangered with about 1,400 still living), and is the breeding ground for the threatened Hawaiian Islands Green Sea Turtle.

This is an amazing world, which most of us will only be able to see and learn about through photos.

Photo credit:  flickr

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Included with the price of park admission, Spooktacular includes trick-or-treating at 15 different stations throughout the park.  Kids will get to see friendly sea witches, octopuses, and mermaids, as they collect their Halloween treats.  Other options, for an additional charge,  include a Spooky Sleepover and character breakfasts.

Taking a family to SeaWorld is an expensive proposition.  If you’ve promised the kids, or yourself, a visit, though, Halloween might be a fun time to go.  There is a price break for Florida residents. 

Spooktacular runs weekends in October:  8th, 13-15th, 21-22nd, 28-29th, and on Halloween, October 31st.

San Antonio’s SeaWorld features “Howl-o-Screams” for its Halloween festivities.

Don’t miss a month of Halloween travel ideas; subscribe to the Flyaway Café newsletter by signing up in the sidebar at near right.

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What are you waiting for?  Pick one.  Pick another.  Send the kids back to school with lots of fond memories about the best summer vacation ever.

1. Pacific Science Center:  Dinosaurs, butterflies, and insects co-mingle with technology and astronomy in creating exhibits that make you think and wonder why.
2. Woodland Park Zoo:  All the animals in the zoo are jumping up and down for you. . . . Come see the lions, and tigers, and bears in natural habitats.  Don’t forget to check out the new baby animals that may be making an appearance.  A lot of exhibits, and hands on displays, to teach kids about animals and habitat conservation.
3. Seattle Aquarium:  A chance to see, touches, and learn about the wonders of the sea and the creatures that live in it. Kids will learn that the sea is about more than Nemo and Dory.
4. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium:  Tacoma’s zoo and aquarium located in Point Defiance Park.  Family programs include animal presentations and close encounters with members of the animal kingdom.
5. Wild Waves:  A water-based theme park with water slides, pools, roller coasters, and outdoor concerts. 
6. The Children’s Museum of Seattle:  Hands on and participatory exhibits to stimulate the mind and the imagination.  Day camp options are also available.
7. Planetarium:  Located at the Pacific Science, the Planetarium presents live astronomy demonstrations.  Check out the star maps, laser shows, and learn all about the planets and stars.
8. Cougar Mountain Zoological Park:  Located in Issaquah, the focus of Cougar Mountain is on endangered species and education.  Most of the animals were born or raised here.
9. Northwest Trek:  Take a tram through 400-plus acres of Yelm forests, wetlands, and meadows and view over 200 animals native to the Pacific Northwest.
10. Remlinger Farms:  A working country farm on 200 acres in Fall City.  

Ok, step away from the computer, and go have some fun!

Photo credit:  Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau
 

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Sharks are large, and lumbering, yet somehow able to move with speed and grace.  The Aquarium’s swim tank allows visitors to view sharks from both above and below the water.  From below, you can view them close enough to look into their eyes and get a long, hard look at the sharp, jagged teeth.  I wouldn’t want to mess with any of these guys!  (Nurse shark in photo above.)

Another favorite exhibit was the stingray pool.  These guys glide and flit through the water, turning sharply and rolling about, in what looks like a playful, sassy manner.  One minute they are darting about, the next resting motionless on the bottom of the tank.

There is a lot more to see at the Aquarium, including coral reef and coastal displays, seahorses, and two featured exhibits:  Animal Planet Wild Extremes (about Australia) and Frogs!  A Chorus of Color.  I never knew there were so many poisonous frogs.

Lots of families were at the Aquarium the Saturday we visited, but the exhibits will hold the attention of adults as much as children. 

The Aquarium is located at 501 East Pratt Street in Baltimore, along the city’s Inner Harbor.  Plan for a walk along the harbor before or after your time at the Aquarium.

Three hours will give adults ample time to see all the exhibits, and linger at a few of your favorites.  Allow additional time if children are along.

Aquarium hours are Monday-Thursday 9 am-5 pm; Friday 9 am-8 pm; Saturday 9 am-6 pm.  Extended hours start in July, with the Aquarium open until 8 pm.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the Aquarium.  A service charge is applied to all online purchases.  Tickets prices:  $21.95/adult, $12.95/children 3-11, $20.95/seniors 60+, Free/children under three.

Photo credits:  National Aquarium website

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