Anna Danciger | The Harbinger Online The excitement was contagious, and the scene, described by six-year-old Tommy Smith, was one of the coolest moments of his life.
On April 6, the Sea Life Aquarium opened its doors to over 1,200 people.
“Opening day it was crazy,” staff member Erick Adair said. “It was very busy, very crowded, but very efficient. We got everything moving along, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I think it was pretty successful overall. We’ve had some older people here who were really excited about the sea turtles coming in. It was cool because people of all different ages and backgrounds found something they enjoyed here.”
After waiting in a 45 minute line to get in the door (good reason to bring a friend with you), I finally got to see what all the fuss was about. I was welcomed by the incredibly accommodating staff of the aquarium. The sound of laughter and gurgling water floated down the hall as I bought my ticket in the main atrium, then entered into the first room.
The aquarium was designed to usher the crowds forward through a maze of rooms, taking visitors from the pond life of Kansas to the shores of the ocean, and then down to its depths. The flow of the theme from room to room was enhanced by the design. The tour starts out in a room reflecting a stream with Kansas’s indigenous fish. As I walked further through the aquarium, I came into a room resembling the seashore, complete with rock pools where visitors can touch starfish and sea urchins. Finally, the deep-ocean tanks come into view, where the main attraction begins. Sharks and stingrays swim amongst smaller fish above patrons as they walk through a three-part tunnel, which gives different views of the tank.
While the creatures are still young, it’s still an extraordinary sensation to be inches from a mini-Jaws. Aside from the aggressive soccer moms wielding their strollers as they blew through the crowded walkways, the atmosphere was very peaceful. The steady flow of water coupled with the soothing underwater background sounds and the sight of rays gliding lazily through the water made for a relaxing visit, much more appealing than that of the bustling crowd.
The experience was heightened by the knowledgeable education specialists stationed throughout the tour. They weren’t pushy about sharing their information with the crowds, but were enthusiastic about answering any questions about the creatures in their domain. Several recommended that I come back periodically, because there are always new creatures moving in to accompany over 5,000 animals that currently call the Sea Life aquarium home.
“We’re constantly getting in new animals for new attractions or to replace ones that died,” staff member Tom Creech said. “We’re waiting on sea turtles and jellyfish to come in.”
This aquarium is unique in the way it is specifically designed as a marine-biology education center. Although smaller than others of its kind, it provides for an intimate experience between guests, education specialists and, most importantly, the animals.
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