Spectacular SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium – Immerse Yourself in Ocean Wildlife!
While you’re seeing the sights at ICON Park, you’ll definitely want to schedule in a stop by SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium!
From their underwater tunnel to their rescued sea turtles, SEA LIFE is one of Orlando’s key can’t-miss destinations. (I mean – rescued sea turtles – what’s better than that?!)
With 9 breathtaking exhibits and over 5,000 sea creatures for you to meet, it’s easy to get in touch with the animal kingdom and your own sense of wonder. You can expect to say “hi” to sharks, stingrays, seahorses, schools and schools of fish, and so many more wonderful ocean friends!
Under the SEA LIFE Activities and Exhibits
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium isn’t your average fish tank. Their 9 unique exhibits are sure to create an afternoon you’ll never forget!
Florida’s Only 360° Ocean Tunnel
You’ll want to begin your underwater voyage at this breathtaking oceanic tunnel.
Delve into the deep and find yourself surrounded by spectacular ocean life. Watch as schools of fish swarm and swirl all around you. Totally immersed in the wildlife habitats, it’s as close as you can get to being a sea creature yourself!
Jelly Wall (Not The Grape Kind)
This luminescent moon jellyfish habitat makes an absolutely to-die-for photo opportunity! Have fun experimenting with the colors of the habitat as you admire the glowy, flowy jellyfish. And make sure to snap plenty of jelly selfies!
Fun fact: Did you know moon jelly stings are so mild for humans, it’s possible to touch one without feeling a thing? Not only are moon jellies painless to touch, but their venom is harmless, too.1
Dive Into the Indian Ocean
At the Indian Ocean exhibit, you’ll get the chance to meet two of SEA LIFE Orlando’s major celebrities: Ted the Turtle and Joy, the new zebra shark.
Ted the Turtle is one smart cookie. He helped develop the Turtle Excluder Device (also known as TED), a valuable tool to help prevent sea turtles from accidentally being hurt by fishermen. Make sure to say “hi” and thank Ted for all his hard work to benefit sea turtles everywhere! What a cutie!
Coastal Rockpool: Hands-On Research
Stop by the coastal rockpool for a chance to touch real sea creatures!
Each pool contains an amazing micro-habitat full of incredible critters. Reach in to gently pet a starfish’s bumpy exterior. If you can summon the courage, try touching an anemone’s spiky shell or a sea cucumber’s mushy skin. It’s a whole new way to experience sea creatures, and a super fun way to get to know them!
Other Fin-tastic Exhibits
No matter where you look, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium has something to take your breath away. Step into the floor-to-ceiling replica of the Everglades to experience the iconic wetlands’ aquatic wildlife in a backdrop of their natural habitat. From there, explore a giant shipwreck and ignite your sense of adventure! Then stroll through the colorful marketplace filled with adorable, outlandish axolotls – we never get tired of seeing those little guys!
Behind the Seas Tour
For the ultimate sea exploration excursion, book a behind-the-scenes tour to get a full look at how SEA LIFE Orlando works. This 30-minute experience gives you a chance to see what it takes to become a deep-sea explorer as you come face to face with the coolest sea creatures.
Enjoy a unique sneak peek into a day in the life of an aquarist, and learn about how the aquarium cares for all their beloved sea critters, keeping them happy, healthy, and living their best lives!
Your tour guide will explain how the aquarium replicates ocean habitats in all their exhibits to help their creatures feel right at home. You’ll get to watch an aquarist prepare an underwater meal for a sea creature and learn what the animals eat. And you’ll hear about the measures the aquarium takes to keep their sea creatures in tip-top shape – they need check-ups and trips to the doctor just like you!
During your exclusive view of the aquarium, you’ll also learn about the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project and meet a few rescued corals. While hearing about the aquarium’s breeding efforts, you might get a peek at some baby sea creatures before they’re ready for display! And you’ll also preview any newly-acquired animals the aquarium hasn’t quite prepared for display yet. If you want to make sure you see as much aquatic life as possible during your trip to the aquarium, this tour is an absolute must.
Even better, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view of the ocean tanks as you walk above the surface at the Ocean Overlook. This behind-the-scenes vantage point of the aquarium tanks will take your breath away – and make you feel like an official aquarium VIP.
Last but not least, you’ll get a chance to test your aquarium knowledge by helping the fish experts with feeding time! This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience the kiddos will treasure and adults will find truly delightful.
Up Close With Tiger Sharks: Aquarium VR
The tiger shark is one of our oceans’ apex predators. But is this fearsome creature misunderstood? Steel yourself, and grab your VR goggles as you jump on a boat with shark dive specialists in this VR experience. You’ll embark on a VR trip to the Bahamas that will take you closer than ever to tiger sharks. You have to see this show to believe it!
See More Than The Sea
You could easily spend an entire afternoon at the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. But if you want to take your visit to the next level and make a whole day of it, the aquarium makes it easy with combo tickets. You can combine your SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium ticket with other nearby attractions like Madame Tussauds, The Wheel, and LEGOLAND – all located near each other at ICON Park. And you can save up to 42% on your adventures by bundling!
You can also opt to spread the fun out across multiple days. You have 30 days to use your ticket for other attractions on your combo ticket.
Whether you’re an amateur marine biologist or just want an exciting educational experience for your kiddos, the SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. (Two words: Sea. Turtles.)
What’s your favorite sea creature? Ours are (obviously) sea turtles. Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite aquatic critter below!
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Photo: Unsplash
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