I stepped into the tunnel that cuts the football field-sized tank in half. As I stared up, watching small fish swim around, the light shining down onto me slowly disappeared behind the silhouette of a massive fish - a whale shark eclipse! I was filled with an incredible level of excitement. Never had I ever experienced something as surreal as that. Much of the Georgia Aquarium is designed to give you that feeling. While people are used to experiencing aquatic life through the side panel of a fish tank, the Georgia Aquarium creates much more of an immersive experience with many of its exhibits.
This was actually my second time visiting the aquarium. I had first discovered its existence in 2008, when my fascination with giant fish led me to researching whale sharks. A few Google searches later, and I came to learn Georgia Aquarium was the only aquarium in the Western Hemisphere with whale sharks on display. Once I discovered that, I continually tried to work in a side trip to Atlanta whenever I happened to be visiting the south eastern portion of the US. I could never seem to make it work with my planned itineraries until 2011, when I specifically routed a road trip to see the last space shuttle launch in Titusville, FL through Atlanta. That Atlanta excursion happened on a Sunday afternoon in July. It was a bit rushed, spending only about an hour and a half in the aquarium, and featured a packed crowd. You would find your position in the crowd and be funneled through the galleries, but it was hard to stop and really appreciate the exhibits with so many people there. This time, I did it right. Knowing I had several days to kill (I was visiting Atlanta with a family member who was attending a conference), I decided to purchase the annual membership. That way I could come and go as frequently as I wanted throughout the week, and for the amount of time I actually ended up spending there, it was definitely the best value.
The aquarium features a large central atrium, off of which there are four galleries and two animal show areas. Currently, the aquarium is undergoing an expansion to be completed in 2020. This expansion will add a new shark-focused gallery. While construction is visible from the outside, it definitely does not impact the experience on the inside. Each gallery focuses on a specific habitat and winds guests through a variety of exhibits before ending on, what I'd like to call, a finale exhibit - usually one of the larger tanks in the aquarium.
If you enter and walk to the left (as of November 2018) you pass by guest services and come up to Suntrust Pier 255. This is the seal lion exhibit and show, featuring non-releasable, rescued sea lions. I didn't actually make it to the Under the Boardwalk sea lion show, but I did enjoy watching the sea lions swim laps by the viewing window of their exhibit.
Continuing clockwise around the atrium, the next gallery is Southern Company River Scout. This gallery, as you might suspect, features animals from fresh water river habitats. What I like most about this gallery is the use of overhead tanks for a real immersive experience. There are also tunnels and viewing spots that wind behind and under exhibits that offer unique viewing angles. While these spaces are clearly designed for child-sized people, an adult can still crawl through them without issue (as long as you don't have issues with crawling or hunching over). Some of the notable species you'll see here are the archerfish, piranha, and Asian small-clawed otter.
After leaving River Scout, you come to the entrance for AT&T Dolphin Coast. The AT&T Dolphin Celebration is the main draw to this gallery. It is a theatrical dolphin show featuring four dolphins and several trainers swimming, splashing, and flipping their way around a large stage pool. Entry to the show is included with general admission, but you can also pay for priority seating. If you're not interested in the show, you can still proceed up the escalators and down the hall to the viewing window of the pool housing the non-show dolphins.
At this point we can say you're halfway through the aquarium. Cold Water Quest is the next gallery following our clockwise trajectory. This gallery houses the beluga whale, sea otters, and African penguins. The animals in these three exhibits tend to have the most personality, and I found myself spending hours watching them interact with their environment and trainers or care crew. The penguin exhibit features another kid tunnel with spots where you can pop your head up in the middle of the enclosure. I think the penguins must particularly like staring at humans as they often gathered in groups around the acrylic tubes. From what I observed, children were usually not tall enough for these sections, but an adult could stand up completely and be nose-to-nose with a penguin. A recorded audio track plays at the exhibit, telling you how to identify males and females, or spot which penguins are couples. One thing I learned on a behind the seas tour (more about that later) was that the penguins can't wait to be fed, but when it is time for food, they are picky when it comes to which fish they eat. If you watch a feeding you may notice them turn their heads away from a fish they are being offered until the trainer picks a different fish.
If you happen to walk by the sea otter exhibit at the right time, you will be thoroughly entertained. A staff member is usually stationed at the exhibit and can answer most any question thrown their way. I highly recommend showing up for feedings, but don't be surprised if the staff at the exhibit don't know about it. They said feeding times vary every day and are dependent on what's going on, but usually the otters make it clear when a feeding is about to happen. You'll see the otters swim to the edge of the water where the trainers will stand to feed them, anticipating the approaching feeding. When they are fed, the otters dive around the pool collecting food and storing it in pockets under their arms. Once they have their fill they will float around on their backs, shelling shrimp and stuffing their faces. I had my camera out while this was happening and one trainer threw some food in my direction and gave a command. Before i knew it, an otter swam towards me, put its paws on the window and posed for a photo. Unfortunately, I was completely unprepared and forgot I had autofocus turned on, so by the time my camera decided it was focused and could take the picture, the otter had already turned around and floated away.
If you can manage to pull yourself away from the otters and penguins, you'll pass by puffins, sea dragons, and come to the end of the gallery at the lower level of the beluga whale tank. Right before you leave the gallery, there is a touch pool with sea stars. The animals in the pool get frequent 15 minute breaks, so be aware that you may not be allowed to touch them when you're walking by.
After leaving Cold Water Quest, there are two galleries remaining: Ocean Voyager and Tropical Diver. I personally like to save Ocean Voyager for last, but if you continue clockwise around the atrium, you'll come to Ocean Voyager before Tropical Diver.
The Tropical Diver gallery features brightly colored fish and coral as well as a large jelly tank. I enjoyed walking through the gallery behind a group of children because they all squealed with excitement when they turned the corner and saw the jelly tank - a giant, blue, glowing rectangle, filled with golden jellies gently circulating around. It's definitely a photo-op exhibit, and I saw many people take advantage of that fact. The finale exhibit of the gallery (even though there are a few more smaller exhibits after it) is the giant coral reef tank. The viewing area starts well above head and continues all the way to the floor. While much of the aquarium feels dark, this exhibit is the brightest as it is located under the aquarium's largest skylight. On overcast days, daylight is supplemented with lamps that shine onto the coral since sunlight is an important component of coral survival. Hundreds of colorful fish dart about the tank as a peaceful music track plays. The music was composed specifically for the exhibit and it builds to a crescendo that it timed with the crash of a wave at the top of the tank. I recommend taking time to sit on the benches in front of the tank, and take in the entire experience.
After exiting the Tropical Diver exhibit, it's time to visit the last gallery of the aquarium: Ocean Voyager. A large whale shark sculpture hangs from the ceiling near the entrance. You can get your first glimpse of what's to come at a large window to the right of the entrance. I noticed most people just walk by this window, so you can sometimes have a less crowded view if you stop there first. Near this window, close to the floor, is also where you can find another often unnoticed exhibit: a Tiny Door ATL.
In case you're not up on your whale shark knowledge, whale sharks are the largest fish in the world. They can grow up to 40 ft (12 m) long. Very little is known about the species, so their presence at the Georgia Aquarium is helping scientists research and learn more about the gentle giants. The whale sharks in the Ocean Voyager exhibit were purchased from a commercial fishery in Taiwan, and while there is some debate about whether whale sharks should be kept in captivity, many of the staff will point out that had the sharks not been purchased, they would have been killed and eaten. There was a lot of attention on the whale sharks as they were being brought to Georgia and t helped to raise awareness for the animals and not soon after, Taiwan banned the fishing for whale sharks. There are currently four young whale sharks (two male and two female) in the tank that is large enough for six full grown whale sharks. While they are still growing, they are definitely still impressive in size, and the Ocean Voyager tank allows you to really take in the magnitude of the creatures.
When you first enter the exhibit, you walk passed a crate representing the container the whale sharks were shipped in, along with a video about how exactly they were transported. It is an interesting story, so I recommend stopping and watching it. Soon after, you enter the tunnel to the Ocean Voyager tank. It features a people mover, so you can step on and be moved through the tunnel at an easy pace. You can also choose to walk at your own pace, and hang out in the tunnel a little longer. While the whale sharks are the main attraction of the Ocean Voyager exhibit, the tank is full of many different species of fish, sharks, and rays. All of which will swim over and around the tunnel for views from all sides. When you exit the tunnel, there are a few more smaller windows into the tank and a touch pool, but the main feature of the exhibit is a 61 ft wide viewing window that is almost hidden away near the exhibit's exit. I think the first time you walk around the corner and see the window for the first time is a magical experience. The viewing area features tiers that you can sit on to take in the exhibit, or you can walk right up to the window and be face to face with one of the many giant fish in the tank. The acrylic window is actually 2 feet thick and there is a an example of it next to the window, should you really need to wrap your head around the size of everything. Relaxing music plays and the whale sharks will frequently take laps by the window. Each of the whale sharks can be identified by their markings and behavior, and if you ask the employee stationed at the exhibit, they can point out the differences to you. I found this area was where I spend the most time over the three days I spend in the aquarium. If you're feeling particularly stressed, I recommend just sitting there for at least 20 minutes.
The exhibit also frequently features chats with divers or whale shark feedings. The diver talks happen a few times a day, and sometimes their microphone works and they can answer questions from people in the viewing area. While I was there, this system seemed to be having its issues and the employee in the room would answer questions instead. One special activity that was happening during my visit was appearances by Scuba Claus. When the underwater mic was working, he would talk to children and pose for photos with them. This happens on Thursdays-Sundays during the holiday season.
Aside from the galleries and show areas, there is also a few gift shop locations and a cafeteria serving a selection of standard food. Since I had an annual pass, I would often leave around lunch time and visit the CNN building food court for lunch. If you want reentry with a single day pass, you can get a hand stamp allowing you to return later. I believe to really experience the aquarium in its entirety, you should allow at least 2 hours, but I would definitely recommend closer to three - assuming you're not with children with limited attention spans, or visiting at a time when it's really packed.
If you're interested in visiting the Georgia Aquarium and want to get the most out of your experience, check out my top ten tips here.
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