News: Marine World unveils dolphin encounters

Posted at 3:04 PM EDT (1904 GMT)

Apr. 28th, 2005 -- VALLEJO, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Six Flags Marine World is offering guests a new world of exploration with Ocean Discovery, the Park's new interactive marine animal encounter that opens to the public on April 29. The new Caribbean-themed destination is the only place in Northern California where guests can personally interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, southern stingrays and warm-weathered penguins. The 2-acre area provides guests the opportunity to interact with and feed some of the world's natural wonders while learning about the animals and the importance of natural habitat conservation and protection.

"Ocean Discovery is an exciting addition to Six Flags Marine World and exemplifies the type of interactive and fun learning experience we offer for the entire family," said Michelle Bridwell, marine mammal supervisor at Six Flags Marine World. "Ocean Discovery presents a rare opportunity to expand the horizons of our guests through an up close and personal experience with dolphins, stingrays and warm-weathered penguins."

Specifically, Ocean Discovery has three interactive marine life experiences, including Dolphin Encounter, Penguin Passage and Stingray Bay.

-- Dolphin Encounter - Atlantic bottlenose dolphins play and surf inside a custom designed 200,000-gallon pool where guests can have direct contact with the animals and their trainers. During designated times guests can touch and feed the dolphins with the assistance of the Park's veteran trainers. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the dolphins from an underwater viewing area.

-- Stingray Bay - Alongside a 10,000-gallon pool, guests have the opportunity to touch and feed stingrays, which are commonly found in southern parts of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Southern stingrays can reach a width of five feet and weigh more than 200 pounds.

-- Penguin Passage - The new outdoor, rocky exhibit has an 8,000-gallon pool and is home to a colony of South African penguins, also known as black-footed penguins. Guests can watch these flightless birds frolic and swim from rare underwater and eye-level views.

Six Flags Marine World originally opened in 1968 as a zoological park and over the years has grown into America's original combination wildlife park, oceanarium and theme park.

In addition to the new Ocean Discovery, Six Flags Marine World provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience with 35 wild rides, nine entertaining shows, and more than 3,000 rare and exotic animals in 35 up-close, animal attractions. Six Flags Marine World is located in Vallejo, California, off of Interstate 80, just 30 miles northeast of San Francisco, 50 miles southwest of Sacramento and near the Napa Valley Wine Country.

Via Press Release