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Sea Life Sunshine Coast

Coordinates: 26°40′58.25″S 153°07′16.6″E / 26.6828472°S 153.121278°E / -26.6828472; 153.121278
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Sea Life Sunshine Coast
Entrance to UnderWater World
Map
26°40′58.25″S 153°07′16.6″E / 26.6828472°S 153.121278°E / -26.6828472; 153.121278
LocationMooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Volume of largest tank2,500,000 L (660,000 US gal)[1]
MembershipsZAA[2]
Websitewww.underwaterworld.com.au

UnderWater World Sea Life Aquarium at Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia is a marine mammal park, oceanarium and wildlife sanctuary. Underwater World is an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA). The attraction is a Sea Life Centre owned by Merlin Entertainments, and is globally referred to as Sea Life Mooloolaba by the firm.

History

UnderWater World officially opened in 1989.[3]

Several scenes in the Jackie Chan 1996 film Police Story 4: First Strike were shot in the park,[4] including a scene in the main aquarium. In one of the scenes a tourist family is visible in the reflection on one of the tanks.

During the period of Christmas on 2006 UnderWater World had a Giant Squid preserved in a block of ice on display.[5]

In July 2013, UnderWater World's owners, Merlin Entertainments, announced that they would be spending $6.5 million on the refurbishment of the facilities. As part of the process, the aquarium was rebranded as a Sea Life Centre and relaunched in December 2013.[6][7][8]

Exhibits

Sharks Alive

A moving walkway in a 80-metre (260 ft) shark tunnel under the 2,500,000-litre (660,000 US gal) oceanarium takes visitors past several viewing windows, with fish swimming all around the walkway. The exhibit includes three separate habitats: coral reef, cave and open ocean. Its residents include rays, moray eels, grey nurse sharks, sandbar whalers, whitetip reef sharks, and zebra sharks.[1]

In November 2011, the shark tank and moving walkway were closed for an upgrade.[9][10]

Seal Island

There are about seven seals at UnderWater World, one New Zealand fur seal, two Australian fur seals and four Australian sea lions which make up part of the Seal Island Exhibit.[11]

Crawly Creatures

This exhibit is an interactive journey from land to deep sea. It features the world’s largest marine, land and migratory crab species. Species of crabs in the exhibit include giant Japanese spider crabs, robber crabs (also known as coconut crabs) and Christmas Island red and blue crabs.[12]

Other exhibits

UnderWater World is also home to a fresh water Crocodile.

Shows and talks

UnderWater World presents seal shows and wildlife information talks, and has hands-on marine displays. Shows at the park include:

  • Seal Shows in the Seal Cove
  • Otter Shows
  • Stingray Reef talks
  • Shark guided tours

Conservation

UnderWater World is a rehabilitation centre for turtles, dugongs, dolphins and seals.

References

  1. ^ a b "Sharks Alive". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Member Location Map". zooaquarium.org.au. ZAA. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Turtles in Trouble". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Jackie Chan's First Strike". imdb.com. The Internet Movie database. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Frozen Giant Squid on display in Australia". tonmo.com.au. TONMO: The Octopus News Magazine Online. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  6. ^ "More Exciting Changes" (Press release). UnderWater World. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  7. ^ Muir, Kristy (11 July 2013). "Breathing a new $6.5 million SEA LIFE into UnderWater World". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  8. ^ Silva, Kristian (19 December 2013). "Underwater World finishes $6.5 million upgrade". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Shark Tank closed during peak season". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Exciting new Shark Tunnel Upgrade". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Visitor's guide to UnderWater World". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  12. ^ "Crawly Creatures". underwaterworld.com.au. UnderWater World. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
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