SeaWorld San Diego will open a new jellyfish exhibit in 2024, the park announced today.
Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience will feature three galleries in which visitors can see various species, including Moon Jellyfish, Pacific Sea Nettles, Upside-Down Jellyfish, and Comb Jellies. LED panels will cover the gallery walls and ceiling with digital displays of "virtual oceanic moments, ranging from calm waters to dynamic, energetic crescendos," according to the park's press release.
The centerpiece of The Jellyfish Experience will be an 18-foot-tall cylinder, which SeaWorld is calling one of the tallest jelly cylinders in the country.
Educational displays and aquarist staff within the exhibit will aim to teach visitors about jellyfish and how they have adapted to sometimes extreme environments.
"Visiting the new Jellyfish Experience is an amazing opportunity like no other – a chance for our guests to see up close the spectacular details of these underwater marvels and witness how they live their lives in astonishing clarity," SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Chief Zoological Officer Dr. Chris Dold said. "Guests will walkthrough striking habitats and view vivid displays to learn more about these wonderful creatures. This new exhibit aligns with our mission of educating and inspiring guests to learn more about our oceans and the world around us."
An upcharge behind the scenes tour will be offered, including a hands-on interaction. Details on that, as well as an official opening date, will be released later.
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We visited the Seattle Aquarium back in August, and they had one of the best jellyfish displays I've ever seen. It was a vertically displayed full-acrylic 8' ring tank that allowed guests to walk through the center and view the jellyfish from all angles as the creatures slowly drifted around.
I've seen jellyfish in large cylindrical tanks before, but the curved acrylic tends to distort what's inside the tank when you get up close to it. Seattle's ring tank was one of the most impressive displays I've ever seen with minimal distortion since the diameter of the ring was large enough to avoid distortion and the sides of the ring were flat, meaning there was no distortion.
It's great to see them put in something animal related. They've been so obsessed with rides lately that Busch Gardens Tampa and Sea World Orlando barely feel like hybrid parks anymore. To make matters worse Sea World Orlando is constantly closing and removing exhibits. I don't know about everyone else; but, I don't visit Sea World for rides. I want to relax and look at animals and see shows. They can't compete with Disney World or Universal and should play to their strengths. Also, their admission cost has gotten insane.
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So will a Sea World annual pass actually be a Jelly of the Month Club?