San Diego CA– For more than 50 years, SeaWorld has been introducing millions of guests from all over the world to an incredible array of marine animals.
Whether it’s the majestic wonder of SeaWorld’s killer whales at Orca Encounter, or the graceful aquatic maneuvers of a bottlenose dolphin, SeaWorld connects people with animals like no other marine park in the world. Now SeaWorld is offering brand new ways for guests to get close up, behind the scenes and, in some cases, inside an animal’s habitat! Now available to book online or at the park are encounters with flamingos, walruses, beluga whales, sea otters, seals and sea lions. In addition, a brand new Family Adventure Tour allows participants to feed bat rays, touch moon jellies and enjoy dolphin playtime, all before the park even opens!
ALL-NEW TOURS AND ENCOUNTERS:
• Beluga and Walrus Encounter: A behind-the scenes, interactive experience where participants have up-close encounters beluga whales and walruses.
• Family Adventure Tour: Activities include touching and feeding bat rays, touching moon jellies, and enjoying a dolphin playtime session, all before the park opens!
• Sea Otter Encounter: Before the park opens, visit up-close with curious and playful sea otters and their keepers as they prepare for their day. Activities include a behind the scenes visit at our sea otter exhibit and the chance to help feed the otters their favorite breakfast snacks.
• Flamingo Encounter: This exclusive keeper-led animal encounter includes the opportunity to spend up-close time with flamingos inside their habitat.
• Seal and Sea Lion Encounter: Venture behind the scenes of Sea Lion Point for this exclusive opportunity to come face-to-whisker with one of our pinnipeds.
In addition to all the new offerings, fans can still count on some of their tried and true ways to connect with marine life:
IN-WATER INTERACTION PROGRAMS: For animal lovers who long to enter the water with dolphins, dreams can come true at the park’s Dolphin Interaction Program area at Dolphin Point. Up to 12 participants per session (maximum of 6 per group) slip into SeaWorld wet suits and begin the adventure of a lifetime. Guests enter SeaWorld’s dolphin interaction pool, where they feed, touch and interact with bottlenose dolphins.
SeaWorld’s Beluga Interaction Program is a distinctive adventure bound to inspire an incredible connection with arctic animals. The experience starts with guests slipping into thick SeaWorld wet suits for their encounter with the beluga whales, which can tip the scale at 2,500 pounds and measure 14 feet long. Guests venture out into the pool on one of two spacious ledges to meet the beluga whales. The ledges, sitting in 3 to 4 feet below the water’s surface in the expansive 650,000-gallon beluga whale public viewing habitat, offer a safe environment for guests to experience a personal encounter with these magnificent animals. The thick wet suits and booties make dipping into the 55-degree water a comfortable experience; swimming skills are not required during these shallow-area interactions. Participants can touch the whales’ soft, melon-like head, feel the graceful animals’ dorsal ridge, and give the whale training hand signals.
ADDITIONAL EXCLUSIVE ANIMAL EXPERIENCES:
The Killer Whales Up-Close Tour is for those who want to meet these majestic marine mammals up close and personal. During this exclusive encounter, guests are just feet away from killer whales, while animal behaviorists guide them through an experience, which may include providing enrichment for the whales or giving them cues for trained behaviors. While showcasing the world-class care and attention SeaWorld’s pod receives daily, SeaWorld’s behaviorists also share personal, intriguing stories and facts about the whales.
The Penguins Up-Close Tour is an incredible opportunity to venture behind the scenes at the state-of-the-art Penguin Encounter to learn how SeaWorld cares for these extraordinary birds and how they are adapted to the harsh Antarctic climate. The highlight of the adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a penguin face to face.
The Dolphin Encounter at Dolphin Point allows guests to get closer to bottlenose dolphins without getting in the water. During this 10-minute, trainer-guided experience, participants are guaranteed to touch, feed and give training signals to bottlenose dolphins, while learning about their natural history, conservation and training. The Dolphin Encounter program is limited to six people per session.
VIP Private Tours are available for guests and can be tailored to their interests. These immersive experiences must be reserved in advance and each includes a 2-Day ticket to SeaWorld San Diego.