Shark Reef Aquarium is an AZA-accredited aquarium located in the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The facility boasts a whopping 1,300,000 gallons of water spread among 15 exhibits.
The main tank is a mesmerizing spectacle and is accessible via an underwater tunnel. Once inside, visitors are immersed in a lush underwater world that is a stark contrast to Nevada’s desert landscape. Read on to know more.
Exhibits
The Shark Reef Aquarium is one of the newest generation of underwater experiences. It provides the sense of being surrounded by some of the planet’s most striking marine creatures (including 15 different species of shark).
The main attraction is a 1.3 million-gallon Shipwreck Exhibit with floor-to-ceiling glass. It features a wide variety of sharks, tropical and freshwater fish, and reptiles such as the Komodo dragon.
There’s also a touch pool where you can pet stingrays that have had their barbs trimmed. Then there’s the colossal sea turtle, piranha, and a variety of exotic and colorful fish.
The aquarium has plenty of easy-to-read signage. To get there from the casino, walk towards the Mandalay Bay Convention area and pass by Kumi and Starbucks. You’ll see the wedding chapel and then the Shark Reef Aquarium will be on your left. There’s a staffed counter where you buy tickets and receive the audio wand that guides you through the exhibits.
Admission
Unlike many Las Vegas Strip attractions, Shark Reef Aquarium is relatively kid-friendly and provides a relaxing diversion from the debauchery found on the famous street. Guests can watch sharks, rays, and other sea life in the 1.3 million-gallon main tank. It also offers visitors a chance to interact with animals in the touch pool and feed sea turtles and sharks. However, these activities require a separate ticket and are limited in number.
Buying tickets online is a good idea as they tend to sell out quickly. Timed entry tickets give guests a window of time they can enter the aquarium, and these are the best options for busy times.
Guests should also consider an Anytime ticket, which allows them to visit the aquarium any time during its operating hours. This ticket is more expensive, but it is ideal for visitors who aren’t sure when they can make it to the attraction. Guests can also purchase a combo ticket that includes an Undersea Explorer VR Experience. Check it out here.
Parking
The aquarium is an AZA-accredited facility with 15 exhibits that contain a total of 1,600,000 gallons. The majority of that liquid volume is salt water and is distributed among eight of the exhibits.
Visitors can enter Shark Reef through an acrylic underwater tunnel that offers a 360-degree view of sharks and exotic and endangered sea creatures. Guests can also enter Neptune’s Cave, an artificial cavern that holds a variety of octopus and fish.
Visiting Shark Reef is easy, thanks to Mandalay Bay’s numerous helpful signs. Whether you choose to walk, drive or use a rideshare, it’s simple to locate the attraction from any spot on the Strip. Once you reach the hotel, walk straight past the front desk and casino floor to the parking garage and follow the sign path until you reach Weddings by Mandalay Bay and Border Grill; the aquarium is just beyond those establishments.
Value
The ocean may not be the first thing that comes to mind when visiting the dusty desert that is Vegas, but the Shark Reef Aquarium helps visitors escape the neon lights of the casino strip and enter a jaw-dropping marine oasis. With 14 exhibits that include exotic fish, reptiles, and sea turtles, this aquarium is a worthy destination for families and children.
Guests can walk through underwater tunnels to come face-to-face with a variety of shark species and learn more about the ocean and its inhabitants in one of the most comprehensive aquariums in the Southwest. The aquarium is also committed to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable seafood choices in its eateries.
Unlike many other Las Vegas attractions, the Shark Reef Aquarium has kept its ticket prices affordable for families and is accessible via public transit. You can save on your Shark Reef tickets by booking them online in advance through Hellotickets. This online booking service lets you buy tickets months in advance and provides a hassle-free way to explore the Shark Reef. Next blog post.
Driving directions from Desert Vista Window Washing to Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
Driving directions from Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay to Desert Breeze Park
