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

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

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

Post from: Fly Away Cafe