Next, visitors will pass through a room of conventional
aquarium tanks, featuring species that do best housed alone or in small
community groups, such as lobsters and seahorses. At every aquarium I’ve been to, a lot of
focus is placed on the massive tanks of sharks and sea turtles and schooling
fish, but I feel that these smaller jewel-case exhibits can be a lot more fun
and can provide a more intimate view into the lives of smaller, secretive fish
and invertebrates. Perhaps the most
popular of these is the giant Pacific octopus display. Continuing down the hall, the path leads
through a tunnel that passes through a Great Barrier Reef display, before
coming to a halt at what is likely the most memorable encounter of the facility.
OdySea Voyager is billed as “The World’s Only Rotating
Aquarium Experience.” That’s not entirely
accurate. The aquariums themselves don’t
rotate. You do. Taking your seats in a theater-like room,
your narrated tour slowly circles through four large marine habitats, stopping
at each for a brief educational presentation.
The twenty-minute tour is free with admission to the aquarium. The first stop features goliath groupers,
stingrays, and other large fish. The
second houses non-releasable sea turtles, with a focus on how these turtles
came to be under human care. The third displays
California sea lions; the sea lions are visible only underwater; presumably the
land portion of their environment is above the eye level of the theater. And then, as a grand finale, the last tank
displays the sand tigers and other sharks. Of the four
exhibits, only the sharks are visible without going on the ride (though some
sea turtles may be seen in the Deep Ocean tank – the one that the escalator
goes through). The sharks can be watched
through windows just outside the theater… and, of course, from the bathroom.
I will admit, as cool as the experience was, I wish that the
OdySea Voyager did allow visitors to experience it at their own pace. There were some exhibits that I wished I
could move through more quickly, and others that I would rather have spent more
time at. Also, it would have been nice
to have the chance to opt in or out of the cartoony, very much made-for-kids
narration, in which we are supposedly on a submarine exploring the ocean
depths. It also would be cool to have
the opportunity to see the sea lions on land – they are marine mammals, to be
sure, but land is still an important part of their lives that it would be good
for visitors to be able to observe their behavior above the surface. I know Voyager is the aquarium’s signature
exhibit and I’m sure that many kids love the ride, the thrill of watching new
habitats slowly glide into view while they watch from their seats; maybe some
even really get into the narration. I
also feel, however, that different visitors process and interpret exhibits
their own way, and it would be nice to allow them the opportunity to experience
these animals at their own pace (to their credit, the aquarium is also unique
in being certified for its autism inclusiveness, showing that they are being
mindful of the needs of various guests).
Especially compared to zoos, were in somewhat of an aquarium
renaissance now, with new facilities under construction around the
country. Many are fairly small
facilities, such as the SEA LIFE Aquariums.
Others, like the soon-to-open facilities in St. Louis and Gulfport,
Mississippi, are massive. Even among
these, OdySea certainly has made a splash (pun intended) with its innovative,
interactive exhibits.
OdySea easily took its place as one of the most memorable
aquariums I’ve seen. I did find myself
wondering about the sustainability of maintaining such large aquatic habitats
in the desert. It is a new aquarium, and
that’s the thing about sustainability – you find out if it works as you
go. At the same time, that’s probably
what makes OdySea so special. Americans living
in the middle of the desert can now get a peek into the world under the
seas. Based on the rave reviews they’ve
received, their future seems bright, and talks of expansions are underway.
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