Ever wanted to splash around with dolphins? Welcome to Clearwater Marine Aquarium for the marine wildlife encounter of a lifetime!
Sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, pelicans, eels, snappers, basses, groupers, etc.
Answer: Definitely. Clearwater Marine Aquarium provides a friendly environment for tourists to come into contact with these creatures. Animals like stingrays can even be touched.
There are basically three types of boat tours available here, each focusing on different aspects. The Kayak tour visits the local islands, the Sea Life Safari tour offers a closer interaction with the animals, and the Dolphin Adventure tour speaks for itself.
Concession stands inside the aquarium specialize in cold snacks and iced teas, namely in a flavor called ‘Frozen Siberian Chill’.
The aquarium is partnered with a number of hotels spanning around the Clearwater Beach area. Tourists can choose between luxurious hotels such as Sandpearl Resort, Hyatt Regency, Pier House 60, Sheraton Sand Key, The Coconut Cove and many more.
Certainly. Clearwater Marine Aquarium aims to provide generous owners to some of the tamer creatures in the sanctuary. Available options are turtles, eels, otters and various other fishes.
Animal Fund Care requires donation, since it is a prime driving force behind the welfare of many of the animals which call this place their home. Donations can be made on the official website or the aquarium office.
A visit to the animal encounter section costs $7.95 per person. Please note that a group cannot have less than 10 people.
Group visits can be enriched with additional programs hosted by aquarium representatives, at a cost of $2.95 per person.
As far as collection of sea life goes, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is certainly at the top of it. Situated at the Floridian city it is named after, this aquarium doubles as a sanctuary for marine wildlife. This place is dedicated to preserving injured dolphins, sharks, turtles and the likes and treat them back to full health. This hospital for marine creatures has made a name for itself in being not only a therapy facility, but also being a center of research to understand more about the mysteries of the sea. Clearwater Marine Aquarium also provides exclusive knowledge regarding sea life, making it the ultimate destination for any tourists who love marine creatures.
With the motto ‘Rescue, Rehab, Release’, it is easy to see why Clearwater Marine Aquarium is considered a safe haven for marine creatures. Additionally, they hold exhibitions with the marine animals they have treated over the years, which amounts to an unforgettable experience for the lucky audiences. These exhibitions are mostly educational, aimed at teaching the visitors what they need to know about preserving life at sea. From Otter Oasis to Shipwreck Alley, the aquarium is filled with various locations where marine animals and fun come together. Exotic turtles can be seen swimming in the Mavis’s Rescue Hideaway, while dolphins jump around in the Winter Zone.
Speaking of dolphins, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is known for their famous dolphins, namely Winter and Zone. Both were rescued from the wild during unlucky accidents, and they have quickly adjusted to the aquarium life well. The two female bottleneck dolphins have been a huge attraction for many interested fans, especially after they starred in the movies Dolphin Tale and its sequel. These superstars share their home with the only other current dolphin resident in the aquarium: Nicholas, who was brought here after being found stranded in the sea. Nicholas can be found in another exhibition area called Dolphin Terrace.
Other activities hosted by Clearwater Marine Aquarium ranges between daily presentations to movie tours. Since the aquarium has been used as a movie set before, there are plenty of great places to take memorable pictures, or even explore behind the scenes to dive into the world of marine preservation. The Brighthouse Theatre shows clips featuring marine wildlife and educates the audience into knowing more about the majestic creatures that live in the sea. Parents can also bring their kids to special training camps. There are boat tours available here as well, which goes around specific spots of the beautiful Clearwater. To wrap it all up, animal encounters are open for all audiences and there is more than plenty of animals to discover and be amazed at.