World’s largest multi-species aquarium opens on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island

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I was crouching by the observation window, waiting to get another glimpse of this gigantic beauty, when suddenly the two of them dived in together. Just as I picked up the jaws from the floor, a walrus squirted loose mucus of digested shrimp and clams from its rear. I laughed, wondering who would imagine seeing a walrus shit. But, back then, I also didn’t think about witnessing this bearded mammal. Before arriving at SeaWorld, the 1,83,000-square-metre marine theme park that opened last month in partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island’s Miral, I was delighted to see dolphins up close. But I returned a walrus fan.

In addition to observing the sea lions playing at Rocky Point up close, visitors can also feed them

Despite their intimidating appearance, walruses are as cool as their native Arctic habitat. I spent most of my time in the bay, observing their wrinkled fur, marveling at how well they swam, and being amused by the way they rolled their eyes as they ate freshly defrosted seafood. When they surface, they cool on rocks that resemble sea ice.

I learned that in the wild, males and females part ways once a year. Robert Yordi, chief curator at SeaWorld Yas Island, explains it this way: “In the wild, the males leave the females for about five months a year to eat chicken wings, watch football and complain about the girls. Here the girls complain Those guys; five months later, they’re back in breeding season.” To mimic nature, two habitats were recreated in multi-level walrus enclosures.

A man soaks up the beauty of the endless ocean at the observation deck.Photo/Getty Images

Walruses share their territory with sea otters, who are constantly jumping, diving and swimming, and playing in the ice. They use their flexible front paws to grab food while nibbling while floating on their backs. “In the wild, the front paws help them crack open sea urchins or mussels with stones,” a ground crew member told me.

As I walked up five floors, I arrived at Ocean Abu Dhabi, where you can learn about the rich history of pearl traders and the marine life of the Arabian Gulf. The one that immediately caught my attention was the dugong Sakina. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, dugongs are large herbivorous marine mammals that are now “endangered.” Thanks to the Kingdom of Abu Dhabi, I now know that they can be found in India as well.

Well, aside from providing an interactive experience, education is something SeaWorld prides itself on. Personally, I feel for the soft sea cucumber and the prickly starfish. thrilling! In terms of education, Thomas Kaferle, general manager of SeaWorld Yas Island, told me that the classrooms built in the park provide entertainment and information. “There’s one that seats 30-35 children, and has windows that look straight out into the endless ocean. I’m not sure how much education it’s going to be as the fish swim away!” He laughs.

The world’s largest multi-species aquarium has been designed to look like a “futuristic ocean base”, where a giant circular window looking out over the wreck greets visitors. Descend the stairs to the observation deck, where you can get an up-close look at rays, sharks and schools of fish. True to its name, the realm is endless, with different routes taking you on a unique journey through 20 viewing windows, tunnels, caves and escalators. Endless Vista offers breathtaking views of life underwater at a depth of 20 metres. In no time, you’ll be swimming with 68,000 marine animals in 25 million liters of water. Don’t worry. It cleans every eight hours.

You’ll be amazed at every turn as the realms interconnect. For me, that’s Rocky Point, where the sea lions are chilling, and the loud, chatty ones are chasing around in rough water.

My last stop was the Tropical Ocean – the top-level territory that dolphins share with tropical birds like macaws and flamingos. Of all the areas, the tropics are the brightest, thanks to the sunlight brought in by the floor-to-ceiling windows, with added lighting from the “Advanced Animal Lighting System”.

Lighting and temperature change as you move through the fields. “Here, in the tropics, it’s hot and humid [25 degrees Celsius], as you round the corner of the North Pole, we drop the temperature down to 17C. In Antarctica, the penguin’s home, it’s 1 degree Celsius,” Tom explained.

Robert added, “With the [change in] Lighting and temperature, we want guests to be transported to the animals’ natural habitat and understand why the environment matters. It’s part of a larger effort to educate guests, especially kids, about marine life and conservation. We want them to care when they leave. If we manage to do that, then we’ve done our job. ”

Where did 58 million liters of water come from?

All areas combined, Marine Park holds nearly 58 million liters of water. SeaWorld draws its water sustainably from a canal 700 meters away. “We bring it into the building, run it through the filtration system, and then go through the necessary processes before releasing it into each habitat,” Thomas said. Robert added, “When we run out of water, it returns through the filtration system and then into the salt marshes we created, where nature filters it. From there, it returns to the canal cleaner than it came into us filter system.”

At Sea Abu Dhabi, touch pools allow you to interact with different species of fish, such as rays; under supervision, of course

eating and shopping

As you traverse the eight realms, you can refuel at any of the 18 restaurants scattered throughout the park, each offering a different cuisine. With 13 themed shopping destinations, you’ll be spoiled for choice while picking out souvenirs. While you don’t want to miss a thrilling ride on the Manta roller coaster in the tropics, in a vibrant world of games, adventure, rides, experiments, entertainment and live performances, you might want to end your trip at MicroOcean.

In Yass…

Take the free shuttle to any point of interest on Yas Island, which measures just 25 square kilometers. Experience an exhilarating roller coaster ride at speeds of up to 240km/h at Ferrari World, relax at Yas Waterworld, then relive your childhood at Warner Bros.

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