Since it first opened in 2005, Georgia Aquarium has welcomed more than 22 million visitors! It held the largest aquarium in the world title in Guinness World Records from 2005 to 2012. Have you been there yet? If not then visit with Haque’s EYE!

How the Aquarium was built?

With more than 10 million gallons of water, more than 100 ecosystems, and one of the most diverse collections of aquatic life worldwide, Georgia Aquarium is still one of the world’s largest aquariums and the largest in the USA.

The co-founder of “Home Depot”, Bernard Marcus donated 250 Million dollars and The Coca-Cola Company donated the land for the aquarium in Downtown Atlanta, close to Centennial Olympic Park.

How to navigate inside the Aquarium?

Georgia Aquarium is open 8 AM – 9 PM, 365 days a year! During Holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) they close a bit early. So you definitely want to be well prepared to get the most out of your visit. I am going to share a few tips with you, enjoy!

1. Download the app offered by GA Aquarium

2. View the showtime for Dolphin, Sea Lion, or Happy Feet Penguins!

3. Plan accordingly to visit a few areas before and others after the show

If you enter the aquarium at 8 AM then start with the Shark exhibition which is right next to the entrance. Then head to the Tropical Drive. Usually, the first Sea Lion presentation occurs around 10:15 AM. Try to go there first. Then check if you can find the Dolphin Show at 11:00 or 11:30 AM. Take a lunch break (trust me you will need it) and start exploring the rest!

After lunch, go explore the great Ocean Voyager area. On the opposite side say hello to our African friends, at the Cold Water Quest area. On the second floor, you will find Gator Crossing and much more!

Sharks!!

GA Aquarium is the only one in North America, which holds Whale Sharks in its tank because the whale shark is the largest fish that has ever been found on Earth! The four whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium consume more than 47,000 pounds of food annually!

Other than the whale shark, they have Sandbar Sharks, Pacific Blacktip Reef Sharks, and 5 other species! The shark that is most prevalent in the Western Atlantic is the sandbar shark.

Want to go face-to-face with one of the largest carnivores of the ocean? You don’t have to go all the way to Hawaii to do that. One of the aquariums in the USA that offers Shark Interaction is GA Aquarium. They have an attraction called Shark Cage Dive, this 30 minuties experience will cost you 250$

Tropical Drive!

Snouts of weedy sea dragons are used as straws to suck up prey. It swims horizontally with its belly pointed downward, unlike sea horses. Perfectly blends nicely with seaweed and seagrass beds.

Compared to their other seahorse relatives, big-bellied seahorses are excellent swimmers and can go greater distances in the water.

One of the biggest live reef exhibits in the United States is Tropical Diver’s Pacific barrier reef, which holds roughly 164,000 gallons of water.

In the exotic and tranquil “Jelly Alley” area of Tropical Diver, visitors can see several varieties of undulating jellies.

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Check out the diving presentations in Tropical Diver, which start every day at 10:30 a.m., on your future visit.

Sea Lion Presentation

In SunTrust Pier 225, visitors can expect to get up close and personal with California sea lions while also learning more about these gregarious marine mammals from their trainers.

This show is included with your general admission ticket, so what are you waiting for? Before you go, a fun fact, the whiskers of California sea lions are sensitive to underwater vibrations. Share the knowledge with your friend and be the nerd!

Dolphin Show

The 84,000 square foot AT&T Dolphin Tales gallery could accommodate 1.5 White Houses, and the theater’s spectacular 99 feet viewing glass, which is the length of two school buses, are unmatchable.

Dolphin Tales is a magically entertaining show with an important message: we must safeguard dolphins by making wise environmental decisions if we want to continue to enjoy their beauty in our oceans and their welfare. I have actually watched it two times and both of the shows were spectacular!

The best thing is the Dolphin Show comes with your General Admission ticket! To get a preferred seat you have to reserve the seat by clicking here on the day of your visit and they are 5$ per person. I would recommend going there a little early and securing your seat!

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The show’s unique musical score, by renowned composer Tim Williams, pays homage to dolphins’ magnificence and quirkiness.

A 61-piece orchestra recorded the music at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles.

If you have time in hand try revisiting the last show. It’s worth it!

Ocean Voyager

Ocean Voyager consists of 6.3 million gallons of water, and is the largest indoor aquatic habitat in the world! The depths of the home of thousands of fish, including different species of sharks, whales, and several ray species range from 20 to 30 feet.

The best thing about the ocean voyager area is, that this is the most beautiful photo spot inside the aquarium. As the deep blue water refracts lights and creates a mesmerizing backdrop for your photos! The cover photo of this post is taken at the Ocean Voyager area.

There is a very special and unique attraction named Journey With Gentle Giants. The only place in the world where you can swim with sharks, rays, and whales in the same place! This activity requires a separate ticket which is 250$ each! A little expensive, right? But a portion of this money is going toward animal welfare, so not a bad deal.

River Scout

River Scout is the sole freshwater exhibit at Georgia Aquarium. It is the home of about 39 species of freshwater fish.

The distinctive appearance of the gallery is enhanced by the presence of real coral plants in several of the exhibits at River Scout.

Careful at Gator Crossing!

Albino American alligators have no ability to blend in with their surroundings and are sensitive to sunlight. You can find them easily at Gator Crossing.

The pink sea star is a predator that eats dead fish and other animals when the opportunity arises.

ops! Invading private moment! But they should have read the sign (Keep 6ft distance, lol).

Cold Water Quest

The official mascot of the Georgia Aquarium, Deepo, is a Garibaldi damselfish. This species is present in Cold Water Quest’s kelp forest habitat. The beluga whale habitat is an 800,000-gallon, 59° F, piece of the Arctic!

The enormous Pacific octopus is a smart creature with a highly developed brain. It has demonstrated rapid maze-solving skills in lab experiments and aquarium tests, as well as the ability to remove jar lids to access the food inside!

I was lucky enough to see one in action because they are very sensitive to light and like to hide in the darkest portion of the tank, very hard to find! They can spew a cloud of dark ink when startled, which also aids in protecting them from predators!

Japanese spider crab is one of the largest arthropods ever discovered, living on the ocean floor at depths of 160 to 2,000 feet. Very sensitive to light so do not approach for photography with your flashlight ON!

The penguin frequently porpoises while swimming, diving in and out of the water to replenish its supply of oxygen without stopping. While on land, these birds have poor vision, they have exceptional vision underwater. Check for happy feet show which is an occasional one.

There are tons of things to see at Georgia Aquarium. A day is not enough but if you can plan elaborately then you can get the most out of your visit. I have tried to give you the best plan possible! Took me several hours to make the plan. Don’t forget to share this great plan with your friends and family.

Enjoy and keep exploring with Haque’s EYE!