Do you wish Shark Week could be every week?
These creatures have swam through the oceans for 400 million years. (That's a long time). They're big and small, stealthy and have a lot of teeth.
We wanted to know where we can see sharks in Arizona. Turns out, there are three places in the state where sharks are on exhibit and one museum that gives you a brief look at the past.
Arizona SEALIFE Aquarium
Arizona SEALIFE Aquarium
There are 20 sharks at SeaLife aquarium, including Jr., a white tip reef shark. The aquarium also has a black tip reef shark, bamboo reef sharks and zebra sharks. They also have a cownose ray, seahorses, clownfish (like Nemo) and a green sea turtle (like Crush).
IF YOU GO:
SEALIFE Aquarium (within Arizona Mills Mall), 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe
Time: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Admission: $10.50 (Super Saver) and up.
www.visitsealife.com/arizona
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
The Wildlife World Zoo is home to several species of shark, including the black tip reef shark, white tip reef shark, zebra shark and bamboo shark. They live in a 60,000 gallon tank with southern rays. If you eat next door at Dillon's KC BBQ, you can sit right next to the tank's glass and be mere feet from the sharks as they swim around.
IF YOU GO:
Wildlife World Zoo, 16501 W. Northern Avenue, Litchfield Park
Time: Zoo, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Aquarium, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., open all year
Admission: $16 - $37 (plus tax)
www.wildlifeworld.com
Artist rendering courtesy OdySea
OdySea Aquarium (coming late summer/fall 2016)
The OdySea Aquarium is the newest aquarium to the Valley. It's currently under construction, but is expected to open later this year. Organizers say the aquarium will have many species of shark in huge tanks. According to the website, an open tank will be in the bathrooms so, if you felt pressure to go before, try going when a shark is in the room.
IF YOU GO:
OdySea Aquarium, 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale
www.odyseaaquarium.com
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Have you heard of the Cacharodon meglodon? It's a now-extinct shark (phew!) that was huge. By huge we mean 40 feet long with an 8-foot wide mouth loaded with teeth. A pair of its teeth are on display at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. As you wonder throughout the museum, you'll be able to see what Arizona's oceans would have looked like millions of years ago. Sharks aren't the main attraction at the museum, that would be dinosaurs, but you can get a glimpse of what life was like under the sea way back when.
IF YOU GO:
Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa
Time: Tues. to Fri., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission: $8 - $12
www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org
