Merlin Entertainment Group chose Tempe, Arizona to build a $15 million, 26,000 square foot aquarium. While this was only the second aquarium by this group located within the U.S., they have more than 30 other Sea Life aquariums in 11 countries on two continents. Merlin Entertainment also owns and operates Lego Land in San Diego and Sea Life in Carlsbad, CA.Sea Life Arizona features more than 30 display tanks in 12 distinct habitats housing more than 5,000 creatures in 200,000 gallons of water. The aquarium is home to a variety of sea creatures such as seahorses, rays, sharks, and species indigenous to Arizona.Sea Life promotes conservation and has an established environmental organization calledSave Our Seas, the purpose of which is to protect sea turtles, sharks, whales, dolphins, and commercial fish stocks.What was my take on Sea Life Arizona? While it isn’t Sea World — there aren’t dolphin shows or rides or even penguins — I thought it was beautiful! Not only were the fish and other marine life enchanting, but the design and colorful decor made it more like a theme park than other aquariums that simply feature tanks lined up in rows. Sea Life Arizona is a wonderful addition to the many attractions for both locals and visitors that the Phoenix area has to offer. It will probably be especially enjoyed by children of the area, many of whom might not have ever seen an ocean, and will assist in developing awareness of the special ecological challenges facing marine life.
