SeaWorld is diving back into shark-infested waters with the return of their "Ultimate Shark Experience" slated for July 7-14, aiming to satiate the appetites of shark enthusiasts and conservationists alike. This week-long event, promises a suite of fantastic activities across its Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego parks. Park officials have confirmed that guests will have the chance to get up close with 21 species of shark, tallying up to nearly 300 of these marine predators, as reported by Spectrum News.
Part of every ticket sale will go to the SeaWorld Conservation Fund, supporting worldwide shark protection projects. The "Ultimate Shark Experience" ticket is jam-packed with activities including behind-the-scenes tours, feeding and touching sharks and rays, and the obligatory character meet-and-greet with Sydney the Shark. The perks don't stop there, with priority access to rides and a meal ticket thrown into the shark bait. For those looking to remember the day, SeaWorld is handing out shark-themed souvenirs, complete with a special shark sipper cup.
Swinging the spotlight to Discovery Cove, the exclusive resort, which seems keen to offer a counterpoint to the thrills of SeaWorld, has also taken a bite into Shark Week celebrations. According to ClickOrlando, their Shark Snorkel and Shark Interaction experiences will let you truly immerse in the world of these underwater dwellers. Prepped with a long wetsuit and adequate footwear, guests are free to swim with pacific blacktip, nurse, zebra, whitetip reef, and bonnethead sharks in a peaceful environment tailored for both the shark-savvy and the curious.
"Sharks are keystone species. They are sitting at the top of that food chain and while that may sound like a scary thing, sharks are extremely important to the health and well-being of our oceans," Discovery Cove shark trainer Isabel Bowen stated, as per ClickOrlando. But education is just the tip of the dorsal fin, as a slice of the profits from the Shark Interaction program is pledged to the Guy Harvey Foundation, bolstering research for marine conservation.
