Entry #1. The Sea Life at Odysea Aquarium.

The OdySea Aquarium is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in marine life, proudly holding the title of "Arizona's Top-Rated and Largest Aquarium!" The aquarium is thoughtfully organized into 12 diverse galleries, each curated to provide information about the fascinating sea creatures. 

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Once you enter the aquarium you’ll be greeted by the vibrant murals on the walls and sphere-shaped fish tanks hanging from the ceiling, each filled with fish swimming gracefully. As well as having an escalator or elevator take you to the second floor where you’ll begin.  

 

 

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Upon reaching the second floor, you’ll be welcomed by the Rivers of the World gallery. This captivating exhibit begins with river turtles and features an interactive map that allows visitors to learn about the world’s rivers.  This gallery contains over 100,000 gallons of freshwater in over 19 exhibits. After meeting the freshwater turtles and perhaps discovering a fun fact about them, you’ll encounter Sturgeon Cove. This interactive touch pool lets you get hands-on with sturgeons, while also teaching you that these impressive fish can grow up to 7 feet and can weigh up to 250 pounds. 

 

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OdySea Aquarium collaborates with various organizations to advance research, enhance visitor’s experiences, and provide a nurturing habitat for its animals. The River of the World’s galleries are in partnership with the Arizona Game & Fish and the Phoenix Herpetological Society. After meeting the sturgeon, you’ll encounter one of my favorite exhibits: the Siamese crocodiles. This critically endangered species is part of a crucial conservation effort. Odysea Aquarium, in conjunction with the Phoenix Herpetological Society, works to sustain to sustain these crocodiles. Once they reach a substantial size, they will return to Phoenix Herpetological Society and become part of the breeding program that will help sustain this species. As you continue your visit, you’ll discover more about freshwater fish native to local rivers. The final exhibit in the Rivers of the World gallery is the Animal Ambassador exhibit, featuring three distinct displays. First, you’ll encounter Squidney, the Linnaeus Two-Toed Sloth, who can often be found either cozily napping or exploring her habitat. Next, you’ll meet a vibrant group of four beautiful parrots in their specially designed-home. The exhibit concludes with two charming Keel-Billed Toucans named Ricky and Lucy. 

The next exhibit you'll encounter is the Asian Small Clawed Otter exhibit which is home to eight otters four male and four female.  After meeting the otters you'll discover the exhibit SeaTREK. SeaTREK is an experience where you go in the water with animals, including stingrays, sharks, and fish. Wearing SeaTREK’s® unique helmet, weighing around 72 pounds, but only 15 pounds underwater, allows several thousands of under the sea goers a chance to walk below the waves and spend a day with our ocean critters. 

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The following exhibit is one of my personal favorites: the touch pools. This area features Stingray Shores, Stingray Bay, and Tidall Touch, where you can touch various types of rays, sea stars, and anemones. That concludes the exhibit Touch Pools. Up next is Penguin Point, home to the charming African black-footed penguins. 

That wraps up Level 2. Now, take the Deep Ocean escalator down to level 1.  

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a magnificent octopus and the Deep Ocean Theater. Then, walk through the Great Barrier Reef tunnel, where encounter a variety of fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Next, explore the Bizzare & beautiful gallery, showcasing some unusual animals across several exhibits. Start with the Crab and Kelp forest exhibit, followed by smaller aquariums designed for children, then the crab exhibit, and finally the Lobster exhibit. 

The last Gallery is my favorite: The OdySea Voyager the world’s only “rotating aquarium experience”. This rotating exhibit takes you around four of the largest displays: the Open Ocean, Sea Turtle Reef, Sea Lion Sound, and Shark Waters. As you rotate through these exhibits, you'll learn fascinating facts about the animals that inhabit them. 

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That’s a glimpse of the incredible sea life, galleries, and exhibits you'll experience at OdySea Aquarium throughout your visit, you'll also find detailed information about the sea creatures, helping you learn more about their fascinating world.