Shark Reef

Enclosed within an amphitheater of red-tinged canyons and the dusty Mojave Desert, Las Vegas bears little evidence of its once obscure past beneath the swell of a great ocean. Located within the extravagant Mandalay Bay Hotel, a huge interactive family attraction is putting paid to that. Shark Reef, the Mandalay's premier aquatic exhibit is the only one if its kind in Las Vegas dedicated solely to shark species. With a maze of interconnecting tunnels housed within a crumbling old temple structure, the aquatic adventure begins just as soon as you step inside the attraction.

Unveiled two years after the originally entitled “Project Paradise” was constructed, the Mandalay Bay's signature attraction was the first and only aquarium of its kind to receive accreditation from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Fewer than five other attractions have been honored with this accreditation, including Sea World and San Diego Zoo. If you were expecting a mere decorative aquarium, prepare to have your mind boggled with shark facts and daring dives – just some of the thrills to be had at Mandalay's underwater paradise!

Sharks are often portrayed as an aggressive species with a penchant for man-meat and a spare-no-prisoners attitude to hunting. Take the Black Tip Reef Sharks introduced at Shark Reef in 2001. With their torpedo-like bodies and huge nose-to-tail span (1.6 meters), you wouldn't exactly welcome the attentions of this curious beast if you were scuba diving in the Pacific. But here, you realize this huge predator with its beady eyes and streamlined physique is one of most placid reef shark species in existence, content to patrol its territory and enjoy the shadows of the deep. Likewise, the Bonnethead, with its quirky, spade shaped face and long body is entirely harmless. Smaller than its Hammerhead cousins, the meter long Bonnethead is far more sociable, often swimming with up to five others at any one time around the 2 million gallon tank. The best time to view the sociable nature of Shark Reef's species

Shark Reef spans an area in excess of 110,000 feet, making it one of the biggest aquariums in Las Vegas. A labyrinth of interconnecting underwater tunnels transport visitors from the popular shark habitats to smaller tanks, containing a wealth of tropical marine life. Moray eels and Southern stingrays are a delight to watch, writhing around a rocky tank amid hundreds of jellyfish and piranhas. Nearby is the most popular tank at Shark Reef – the interactive stingray tank, where some of the shallow dwelling species can actually be touched. Surprisingly, they aren't in the least bit slimy - their skin more like leather to the touch and amazingly soft! Visitors are a little more divided when it comes to the Amazonian Piranhas - a species known for their razor sharp teeth and unpredictability. Do you dare immerse your hand in waters occupied by these fearsome carnivores? Shark Reef Aquarium could be your only opportunity!