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Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Overview
A trip to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay takes guests on a 14-exhibit journey through a jungle environment into a sunken shipwreck where you will see over 2,000 animals, including some of the most dangerous predators in the world.
If you think the sharks are dangerous, make sure you check out the deadliest resident, the Komono Dragon.
Next up on the list of danger exhibits is the red-bellied piranha. Their exhibit is attended by a friendly Shark Reef employee who is full of fun facts, go ahead and ask him or her some questions!
If you and your kids are looking to get hands-on, visit the Shark Reef touch pool! Guests can pet a variety of fish, horseshoe crabs, and rays. This exhibit also has an employee poised and ready for questions, encouragement to kids and parents to “Go ahead and touch one” as you will hear repeated over and over.
[irp posts=”48302″ name=”Las Vegas Aquariums”]
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Hours
- Sunday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Monday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday – 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday – 10:00 – 10:00 PM
NOTE: Last admission is one hour prior to close.
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Ticket Fees
- Adult $20.00
- Seniors (65+) $18.00
- Children (Age 4-12) $14.00
- Children (3 & under) Free
Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Local Discount
- Adult $17.00
- Children (Age 4-12) $12.00
- Children (3 & under) Free
Notes:
- Peak Period Pricing May Apply. Please see Shark Reef Aquarium Box Office for details.
- General Admission Tickets can be purchased either online or at the Shark Reef Aquarium Box Office.
- Nevada issued ID must be presented at time of purchase at the Box Office.
But wait, there’s more! If you are looking to add more experience to your visit, add the Sea Monsters Revealed Exhibit to your trip, or if your SCUBA certified go swim with the sharks!
Sea Monsters Revealed
The Sea Monsters Revealed exhibit features a 15-foot-long mako shark and giant sunfish among its more than 18 full-body sea creatures. Additional displays include 150 individual organs and smaller specimens such as tropical fish, crustaceans, and octopuses.
The world’s largest exhibition of uniquely preserved sea creatures took center stage on October 1, 2015, with the opening of Sea Monsters Revealed at Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Casino.
Sea Monsters Revealed Hours
- Sunday – 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Monday – 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday – 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday – 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday – 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday – 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday – 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
See the Sea Monster Revealed exhibit – an additional $5.00 with any qualifying Shark Reef Aquarium ticket purchase or purchase separately for $12.00. Only available for purchase at the Shark Reef Aquarium Box Office.
Dive with the Sharks
Dive certified Mandalay Bay guests will now have the opportunity to SCUBA dive in the 1.3 million gallons, 22-foot deep Shipwreck Exhibit, surrounded by sharks, rays, sawfish, green sea turtles and schools of fish.
This unique exhibit houses over 30 sharks; including Sandtiger, Sandbar and White Tip Reef Sharks. This program is available to Mandalay Bay and Annual Pass guests who are certified divers.
Limited Reservations available for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Experience Overview:
- Guided Tour of the Aquarium
- Exhibit & Equipment Orientation with Dive Guide
- Dive Experience with Dive Guide
- Showers and Dressing
Total Experience Time: 3 to 4 hours
Includes:
- Dive Experience
- Video of Dive
- Up to 4 Admissions for diver’s guests to Shark Reef Aquarium (Tour & Exhibit Only) to view dive
Pricing:
- $ 650 for 1 Diver
- $ 1000 for 2 Divers (Must be booked together)
- All divers must be dive certified and 18 years & older
Cancellations:
- A Cancellation or date change must be requested more than 72 hours in advance.
- All confirmed dives will be subject to a cancellation or change fee of $75 per diver.
- Late cancellations (less than 72 hours) and no-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled.
But wait! There’s even MORE fun you can add!
The Mandalay Bay – Shark Reef Aquarium also offers cool adventure add on’s like their Sea Turtle Feeding, Shark Feeding, Sting Ray Feeding, or even an Underwater Proposal.
For an additional fee, you can add any of these to your memories of a lifetime!
Sting Ray Feeding
The hosted Sting Ray Feeding one hour program includes:
- Special early entry into the aquarium before opening to the public
- Guided tour through the exhibits with one of Shark Reef’s resident experts
- Exclusive opportunity to feed stingrays and horseshoe crabs with a Shark Reef Aquarist
- Photos of the experience
Sting Ray Feeding Details
- 4 guests maximum (ages 5 and over)
- Offered 9:15 a.m. daily. Reservations required
- Sting Ray Feeding pricing is $50 per Adult, $40 per Child (Annual pass holders are $45 per Adult, $25 per child)
Sea Turtle Feeding
The hosted Sea Turtle Feeding 45 minute program includes:
- Admission to all Shark Reef Aquarium exhibits
- Participation in an intimate, interactive sea turtle feeding session alongside Shark Reef Aquarists
- Photos of the experience
Want to learn more about all of the animals at Shark Reef? Add on a Guided Tour before your exclusive experience:
- Guided tour through the exhibits with one of Shark Reef’s resident experts
- Exclusive tour through Shark Reef’s Behind the Scenes areas
Shark Feeding
The hosted Shark Feed one hour program includes:
- Admission to all Shark Reef Aquarium exhibits
- Participation in an intimate, interactive zebra shark feeding session (based on animal behavior) alongside Shark Reef Aquarists
- Watch a feeding session of our large sharks and rays alongside Shark Reef Aquarists
- Learn about shark conditioning
- Photos of the experience
Underwater Proposal at the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay
The hosted Underwater Proposal one hour program includes:
- Guided tour through the exhibits with one of Shark Reef’s resident experts
- A diver will present a custom marriage proposal to your significant other
- Photographer to capture this unique moment.
Underwater Proposal Details:
- 2 guests minimum
- Daily. Dives are scheduled in the morning and afternoons. Exhibits will vary.
- $100 for two guests, additional guests at general admission rates.
To book this special moment, please call 702-632-4555, option 6
Birthday Parties and Special Events AT THE SHARK REEF AT MANDALAY BAY
Want to party at the reef? I’m not kidding, what kid wouldn’t love to have their birthday party at an aquarium!
Parties are 2.5 hours long and consist of 1 hour in the aquarium and 1.5 hours in the PRIVATE party room. My favorite feature of the private party room is one wall, from top to bottom and left to right….is a wall to an aquarium display.
They also use this room for educational outreach so there are several neat learning stations the kids can ask questions about.
The Shark Reef staff provide aquarium themed plates, cups, napkins, flatware, decorations, and invitations are all included.
Sanity saver? They do all of the set-ups and clean up for you! Choose the start time that works best for you – 10:00 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.
Special Events are private and can hold up to 1500 people. These are separate from the birthday packages but if your looking for a family reunion that is just for your family, this would be a crazy fun place to have it!
Will you be staying at the Mandalay Bay Casino? Don’t forget to check out the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef streaming channel! It’s epic!
TIPS to get the most out of the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay:
- The aquarium can be walked in under 30 minutes, less if your a power walker or chasing toddlers. Although it is short, it’s packed with plenty to see. Take your time! When a mob of people moving through, hang back. Open a snack for the kids and wait it out. Please keep it tidy though, we want to keep this privilege!
- Walk through it once, then go back and take posed pictures of your kids. Disable the flash on your camera. The light bounces right off the tank leaving you with a white starburst.
- Have a break after the touch pool in the sunken boat area. The kids are allowed to climb on the crates and it makes for a great photo! We often sit in the corner and have a picnic lunch. The trash cans are nearby so it’s easy to leave no trace behind. Plus the kids like to search for the sharks and sea turtles between sandwich bites.
- The bathrooms are located in two places, neither are convenient. The first set is at the beginning, where they take your ticket then usher you into a photo scene to purchase. More on that next. The second set is at the very end of the aquarium before you head up to the gift store. The bathrooms are clean as most Vegas bathrooms are.
- The pressure photography sale at the beginning of your Shark Reef adventure is after they take your ticket. I truly suggest purchasing this photo package. Their photographer will get that shot you wanted, you know the one…The one YOU are in with your family. Seriously, consider it.
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