Part of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the Shark Reef Aquarium is one of the premier attractions on the Las Vegas Strip. It’s home to more than 2,000 aquatic creatures from various seas, oceans and rivers of the world. From sharks and sea turtles to stingrays and crocodiles, you'll see a variety of amazing marine animals at the Shark Reef Aquarium. Guests are also encouraged to participate in feeding, diving and other interactive activities. Click to book Shark Reef Aquarium admission ticket.
Exhibits and Highlights
Considered a rare member of its species, the Golden Crocodile at the Shark Reef Aquarium lives in an aquarium that's filled with 12,000 gallons. At the A2 exhibit, you can see the Komodo Dragon, which is by far the largest and most dangerous lizard on earth. Cichlids swim in a tropical-themed aquarium that holds 700 gallons of warm water. You'll also appreciate the Caribbean Reef that hosts colourful fish and coral reefs. Click to book Shark Reef Aquarium admission ticket
A 30,000-gallon freshwater tank is home to species that are native to the Amazon River, including the pacu. The notorious piranhas have their own 2,000-gallon tank that resembles their native habitat in the Amazon River. Indopacific Fish exhibit includes aquatic life from remote parts of the Pacific Ocean, such as angelfish. Not surprisingly, the Venomous Fishes tank displays the lionfish, which carries deadly fin rays with spikes. Burmese pythons from Asia also carry some serious doses of venom. You can see these large serpentine creatures in a freshwater tank with about 1,000 gallons.
The main attraction at the aquarium is without a doubt the Shipwreck. Filled with 1.3 million gallons of saltwater, this installation features sharks, sea turtles, sting rays and other charismatic creatures from the world's oceans. Some other notable exhibits at the Shark Reef Aquarium include the Moon Jellies and Octopus.
If you'd like to get up close and personal with the aquatic species, just sign up for interactive programs, such as the feeding of sharks and sea turtles. You can even purchase tickets to dive with these amazing creatures. Due to safety reasons, some age restrictions apply to the diving encounters and other interactive activities with large animals. The touch pool at the Shark Reef Aquarium allows you to gently rub and pet horseshoe crabs and various stingrays.
Additionally, the aquarium has educational exhibits that focus on the biological, political and environmental issues associated with the marine life on display. For example, you can learn about the endangered status of the sawfish and arowana.
Visiting Shark Reef Aquarium
The Shark Reef Aquarium is nested in the heart of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. You can enter this attraction near the convention centre on the south side of the resort complex. South Las Vegas Boulevard runs past Mandalay Bay and many other adjacent casinos and hotels. The Las Vegas Freeway, also known as Interstate 15, has exits and entrances near Mandalay Bay. A parking garage off Frank Sinatra Drive can be used by guests visiting the Shark Reef Aquarium. McCarran International Airport is conveniently located within a mile of this venue.
Mandalay Bay provides courtesy shuttles or other ground transportation arrangements to and from this major airport. If you're coming from other parts of the Las Vegas Strip, you can reach the Shark Reef Aquarium via the Las Vegas Monorail. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of South Nevada also operates various bus lines that stop near Mandalay Bay and other hotels along the Strip.
Location:
Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino at 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 89119
