Shark Bay (Sea World)

Shark Bay
Inhabitants of Shark Bay
Sea World (Australia)
Coordinates	27°57′22″S 153°25′29″E / 27.955994°S 153.424611°E / -27.955994; 153.424611
Status	Operating
Cost	$13 million
Opening date	9 April 2004
Ride statistics
Attraction type	Shark exhibit
Designer	Sea World Trevor Long[1]
Wheelchair accessible

Shark Bay is a shark exhibit located within the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. It was the largest man-made lagoon system in the world.

In early 2003, work began on the construction of Shark Bay in a vacant patch of land adjacent to the Mid Monorail Station and Polar Bear Shores.^[2][3][4] During the construction period seven sharks were being kept inside the main lagoon swimming pool of Sea World's Water Park.^[2] In August 2003, the RSPCA began an investigation into the treatment of the sharks whilst in captivity.^[2] The investigation resulted in Sea World releasing the world's largest tiger shark in captivity back into the wild.^[5] Sea World had originally planned to move the sharks into Shark Bay in October 2003, prior to the public opening of the exhibit on 26 December 2003.^[2][6] A variety of delays forced the opening date to be moved back to 9 April 2004.^[6] The exhibit cost $13 million to construct.^[7]

The Shark Bay exhibit is divided into four distinct sections.^[8] The main section is the Shark Lagoon.^[8] It houses some of the world's largest, most feared and potentially dangerous sharks.^[8] Unlike other smaller shark exhibits, the Shark Lagoon at Shark Bay allows for the sharks to have a 60-metre (200 ft) swimming pattern which is essential for them to be able to rest whilst swimming.^[8] As the name suggests, the Reef Lagoon is a reef-themed environment. It houses a variety of smaller sharks alongside rays and other fish.^[8] Guests can view both the Shark Lagoon and Reef Lagoon from a series above ground viewing areas as well as through four 10-by-3-metre (32.8 ft × 9.8 ft) underwater viewing windows.^[8] An additional window of this size separates the two sections and allows divers in the Reef Lagoon to view the sharks in the Shark Lagoon.^[6][9] The Inter-Tidal Zone is attached to the Reef Lagoon and is adjacent to the Touch Pools. The area is home to a variety of small fish and other marine life. The final zone is the Touch Pools. Within this section, guests are able to touch a variety of marine animals in the shallow water.^[8] Collectively, these areas made Shark Bay the largest man-made lagoon system in the world.^[9]

The bay has one of the four Animal Adventures in Sea World, requiring an additional fee. A Tropical Reef Snorkel allows guests to swim with the sharks and other marine life in the Reef Lagoon.^[10] Similarly, the Shark SCUBA Animal Adventure allows qualified guests to SCUBA in the Reef Lagoon.^[11] Within the Shark Lagoon guests can choose an up-close encounter and an above water journey. The Shark Encounter allows guests to enter an acrylic cage and watch the sharks be fed up close.^[12] Finally, the Glass Bottom Boat Animal Adventure allows guests to view the sharks up-close from a unique angle without the need to put a foot in the water.^[13]

The opening of Shark Bay was heavily marketed locally, nationally and internationally. An Australian advertising campaign was launched with print, television, cinema and radio advertising. This campaign alone cost $2 million. Additionally the international markets of the United Kingdom, Singapore and Taiwan were also targeted in other campaigns.^[14]

• Official webpage