Shark Reef

3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Seen Jaws and still haven't been able to force yourself back into the water? It's going to take baby steps and the first step might be visiting Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.

An oceanic wonderland is probably the last thing you thought you would find in the middle of the desert, but you would be wrong. Shark Reef is two million gallons of fish frenzy. One of the largest exhibits of its kind, Shark Reef is home to more than 1,2000 different species of fish. At Shark Reef you won't just come across sharks, you will encounter some of the most exotic fish in the world as well as a variety of sea turtles.

The first stop on your journey is the exotic wildlife exhibit. Here you will encounter something that is truly rare, five golden crocodiles. It is believed that there are only a dozen of these majestic creatures left in the world and the five that are at the Shark Reef are the only five in the Western Hemisphere.

Another stop along the tour takes guests to the piranha exhibit. While the fish may seem peaceful at first glance, don't let that fool you. These fish are some of the most aggressive around. The largest fish on exhibit can grow to be larger than the size of a man's hand and is able to eat a 100 pound animal in less than a minute. The piranhas at the exhibit are feed a mixture of frozen fish, poultry and beef three times a day.

The touch pool area is one of the favorite stops along the tour and marks the halfway point. Children and adults alike are invited to get touchy feely with fish such as Port Jackson sharks, Horseshoe Crabs and Southern Rays. Other tanks are filled with puffer fish, eels and jellyfish.

Things get a little bit darker as guests make their way into the heart of Shark Reef. The set up is designed to look like a sunken treasure ship and give guests the feeling as though they are at the bottom of the ocean floor. Glass plates are on all sides which allows guests the perfect opportunity to check out a variety of sharks, manta rays and sea turtles. Just remember no to scream if you see a sand tiger shark glide by the window and eye you like you were his next meal.

To maker sure that you get the most out of your visit, the reef has a variety of biologists and staff members that are always nearby and ready to answer any questions you may have when it comes to habitats or diet.

For those that have always dreamed of coming eye to gill with some of the most exotic and mysterious creatures of the deep, Shark Reef is your perfect opportunity.