The minute we entered the gates, we were plunged into an immersive, undersea adventure where we could touch sharks, interact with rays, and feel tiny cleaner fish gently nibbling at our hands.
In tide pools, aquariums, and tanks, we met sea turtles and sharks, penguins and flamingos, beluga whales and pilot whales. We learned that orca whales are the ocean's most powerful predator and that beluga whales can sing like canaries. We saw flamingos walk on stilt-like legs, unwinding their long necks to snap up the shrimp that give them their color. We watched, fascinated, as hundreds of small shark swam through their tank, perpetually in motion, never resting, to keep the oxygen-rich water flowing through their gills.
The thrill seekers among us rode the park's ocean-inspired roller coasters, Journey to Atlantis, Shipwreck Rapids, and Manta, and all of us enjoyed watching the shows: Orca Encounter, Dolphin Days, and Sea Lions LIVE.
Behind the scenes, SeaWorld's zoological team members cared for rescued animals that have been found ill, injured or stranded on beaches along the coastline, and we were pleased to learn that over the last 50 years, SeaWorld San Diego has taken in and cared for more than 17,000 animals.
Sources: SeaWorld.org, SanDiego.org, Wikipedia.org
