Perhaps the first thing that makes Arizona SeaLife Aquarium unique is that it is in a shopping mall. Although it looks small from the outside, they have utilized their space well making it seem much larger. One way they do this is varying the tank sizes in a room. Many of their smaller tanks hold the same kind of fish people have in their salt water tanks at home - the bright, colorful ones - that are always crowd-pleasers.
One fish... two fish... red fish... blue fish!
Like many aquariums, this one had a couple of "petting pools" where adventurous people could touch, pet or even pick up several species of ocean life. Some are slick while others are spiny; some are soft and others are hard.
The lobster-like creature I chose didn't mind being petted but was skittish about being picked up!
Newer aquariums have a clear tube with a pedestrian walkway going through a giant tank so patrons can see fish and other sea creatures all around them. It's kind of like swimming with them except you stay dry. Arizona SeaLife Aquarium calls theirs "the 360 Tube" and we were encouraged to spend as much time as we wanted in it.
We could watch creatures above, below and on either side of us in the 360 Tube!
We saw graceful rays...
... and hungry-looking sharks...
... and a sweet-looking rescued sea turtle named Ziva who was injured when a boat hit her head and shell. Although her wounds have healed, she will never be able to be released into the wild and has found a home here.
All aquariums have bubbles but Arizona SeaLife Aquarium has some unusual ones that allow people to feel like they are in the tank with the fish. Smaller tanks have a half-sphere cut into the floor so that people can stick their head into the "bubble" and watch the fish swim all around them. It gives a fish's eye view!
Laurie and Mike had fun swimmin' with the fishes!
One of Arizona SeaLife Aquarium's missions is to educate patrons. There were signs and plaques to read, videos to watch, man-made models and interactive games. Did you know you are more likely to be killed by a toaster than by a shark?
Have you noticed that Richard sticks his head in big mouths?
We had a good time at Arizona SeaLife Aquarium. It's not the biggest aquarium I've been to and it doesn't have the coolest sea creatures I've ever seen - but it is a fun way to spend a few hours and stay cool! And, it's cheaper than the big ones, too!
Thumb up or down: Up!
Miles Round Trip: 24.6 miles
Miles To Date: 8360.7 miles
Percent of List Completed: 78%
Date of This Trip: August 22, 2012
Love the Dr. Seuss reference, but sorry to say but your blue fish is not really a fish. Nice try! How come there is no pic of Kristen's head in a bubble? I guess we are bubble-heads not to be confused with bobble-heads.
ReplyDeleteWhatever do you mean by the blue fish is not really a fish? Is it not a jellyFISH???? ;-) Unfortunately, the pic of me in the bubble did not turn out - but the ones of you bobble-heads... er, bubble-heads... are really cute! Thanks for going with us - it was fun!
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