Animals get into swim of things at new Sea Life Florida aquarium
The first animals have joined the tanks at the upcoming Sea Life Florida Aquarium in Winter Haven.
Among the initial inhabitants are a black-tip reef shark named Pretzel, who was born and raised in a Sea Life attraction in Oberhausen, Germany.
'It's a whole team effort, from transport logistics to habitat checks. A lot goes on behind the scenes to make sure animal arrival is smooth and safe,' Marie Collins, regional head of conservation welfare and education, said in a video released by the attraction.
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The aquarium will operate adjacent to Legoland Florida theme park in Polk County. Both are owned by Britain-based Merlin Entertainments Group, which also runs Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and Orlando Eye in Icon Park.
The Winter Haven aquarium will feature more than 3,000 marine animals, including stingrays and big-belly seahorses. It will feature 25 interactive exhibits plus a 180-degree ocean tunnel that travels beneath sea life. The new attraction won't have a Lego theme but will include a 'Theme Park Under the Sea' display
'We'll continue to welcomes species in the weeks ahead as we build towards opening day,' Collins said.
The grand opening is now scheduled for June 6; its website says a 'soft opening' will launch May 23.
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For more information, go to visitsealife.com.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
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A ~dazzling~ decanter and glasses set if they're a big fan of whiskey and would love to make their bar cart look *extra* fabulous. It comes with a sleek decanter and two matching tumbler glasses so they can get their drink on in style! A foldable 3-in-1 wireless charging station that'll quickly juice up all their gadgets at the same time! And it just looks super cool, TBH. It's super lightweight so it's perfect for travel, especially if they wanna cut down on how many cords and chargers they have to lug around. A towel warmer because they deserve a hot towel waiting for them as soon as they step out of the shower. This thing is about to take the meaning of 'warm and fuzzy' to a whole new level. It can heat two oversized towels in under a minute and will automatically shut off after an hour. Lightsaber chopsticks — let's face it, we all have that one dad in our life who'd love to use ~The Force~ to master these utensils. They glow *and* grip onto sushi and noodles so well, they'll want to use them for every meal! A very cool and challenging 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle if they like to be kept on their toes. They'll also feel *very* accomplished when they step back to admire the finished Lego-esque creation. And this rotating puzzle table to ensure they have a solid surface to do puzzles on! It spins, so they won't have to strain and reach across the table to fill in that corner piece! There are six drawers where they can store unused puzzle pieces until the next time they work on it. A comfy pair of Bose wireless noise-canceling headphones with up to 24 hours of battery life if the audiophile in your life could use a break that involves some solo time and a soothing playlist or podcast of their choosing. It has three listening modes, a built-in mic, and touch controls on the ear cups for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, and answering calls. A Gillette heated razor kit so they no longer have to dread their grooming routine. It's fully waterproof with an adjustable temperature setting so it'll feel like they're being pampered with a hot towel shave. It also comes with a magnetic charging deck and two cartridge refills! A 44-piece Thor Hammer Tool Set they'll reach for just fun *and* when they need to fix something around the house. It includes a hammer (duh!), tape measure, screwdriver, wrench, utility knife, etc. This mighty Mjölnir tool set will put all other toolboxes to shame, that's for sure. Murdle, Volume 1 — a compilation of murder mystery–themed logic puzzles from the creator of Murdle, which is a daily puzzle site similar to Wordle but with a heaping side of murder mystery fun! They'll use deductive (and detective) skills to solve the puzzle with the provided clues and nab the perp. It has four levels of difficulty to keep 'em on their toes. A brilliant beer dispenser to transform their fave bottle or canned beverage into a nitro-style draft beer that's overflowing with a rich, creamy foam! If they're not already a beer snob, they're about to become one. An acrylic vinyl holder that'll help keep their extensive record collection nicely organized. Their fave album will always be within reach *and* they'll get tons of compliments on their impeccable music taste. A deep tissue massage gun so you can show 'em how much you care about their well-being. It has five massage heads and five speeds for targeting their arms, back, and legs to help reduce tightness. It can also help with recovery if they've been hitting the gym hard lately. Or a heated eye massager when they suffer from migraines and eye pain and would benefit from a lil' TLC. It has various modes for a personalized experience — they can combine heat, massage, and compression, or they can be used individually. 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A Shea Moisture beard grooming kit perfect for dads who take immense pride in their facial hair. It's a four-piece set that'll help soften and condition their beard! Plus, it'll nourish and moisturize their skin with shea butter, argan oil, maracuja oil, and vitamins A, E, and F. A durable outdoor blanket if they're the outdoorsy type and would prefer to spend their night under the stars. Now they'll *actually* be comfy when doing so! It's way better than a flimsy sleeping bag. And this heavy-duty camping hammock because is any camping trip really complete without one? It comes with everything they need to set it up and can easily be attached to some trees or even their car, according to one reviewer! Shredder claws to save them a whooole lotta time and have their meat perfectly shredded in a matter of minutes. When they're done, it'll look like an Edward Scissorhands masterpiece that's ready to be devoured! A spacious Carhartt insulated lunch bag — this thing can keep their snacks and drinks cool for several hours. It's big enough to hold a six-pack of beer and has a separate top compartment that's insulated for extra storage! A HyperX gaming keyboard that has a customizable rainbow backlight so all other keyboards pale in comparison for the rest of eternity. If gaming is their favorite way to unwind, this gift will be an instant hit! A set of magnetic lights with flexible goosenecks because who said they can't indulge in burgers and hot dogs after dark? This will ~light up~ the grill so they can actually see what they're doing. No assembly required because magnets!!! A waterproof Bluetooth speaker so they don't have to pause their riveting true crime podcast just to take a shower. Store this gadget in the bathroom and they can listen while washing! It also offers up to 10 hours of battery life and has a built-in carabiner, which makes it the perfect outdoor companion. A miniature Stanley tape measurer keychain to ensure dad is always prepared to take important measurements, which will def come in handy the next time they're at Home Depot! This is suuuper tiny and will fit on their keychain without taking up a ton of space. An inflatable lounger because they deserve to kick back and relax wherever they feel like it — in the backyard, at their fave campsite, or on the beach. They don't even have to bother with a hand pump, it just has to be whisked in the air to inflate. Genius! It will stay inflated for up to five hours and comes with a convenient carrying bag. A fishing rod holder rack that'll bring some much-needed order to their massive rod collection. It attaches right to the back of the garage door and can hold up to six rods, so they'll stay organized *and* save room for other stuff. A PlayStation 5 wall mount, a dream come true for gamer dads who could benefit from some organization for their beloved console. 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A tabletop s'mores firepit if they're dreaming of the day when they have enough outdoor space for a real fire pit to enjoy — until then, this is the next best thing. It'll make an eye-catching centerpiece on their table, and it even comes with marshmallow roasting sticks for a fun s'mores night. Plus, the burn time lasts for an hour! A History Channel trivia game when they live and breathe all things history *and* it happens to be their favorite channel to watch, too. It contains over 2,000 trivia question spanning a variety of categories, like arts and culture, science and technology, geography and landmarks, and more. Name a better gift for history buffs. I'll wait! Versace cologne, which smells like luxury in a 3.4-ounce bottle so they'll be ~hypnotized~ by their super smooth new scent. The woody, spicy aroma gives off expensive vibes that'll make them think you spent a fortune. A SipCaddy beer holder so they can redefine their go-to phrase, "hold my beer" forever. 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