Metro Phoenix has a new tourist destination. OdySea Aquarium, part of the OdySea in the Desert entertainment complex on the Salt River Reservation east of Scottsdale, opened to the public on Saturday, Sept. 3.
The two-level aquarium holds more than 2 million gallons of water and can accommodate more than 10,000 visitors daily. An escalator inside a clear-acrylic tube takes aquarium visitors down “into” the water, and an underwater helmet system will (for an additional fee) let adventurers inside giant tanks — no diving experience required.
“The futuristic entertainment component of the OdySea Aquarium goes far beyond delivering a standard aquarium experience,” Amram Knishinsky, principal founder of the attraction, said in a statement. “It will offer experiential engagement like no other in the country.”
On a media tour this week, some signage and artwork was still a work in progress, and animals were still acclimating to their new habitats inside the aquarium. Half a dozen otters stole the show in their high-energy Otter Banks exhibit. Penguin feedings and an interactive tide touch pool with starfish were also popular. Other noteworthy features: restrooms that offer a sneak peek into the shark tank, a 3-D movie theater and large aquatic orbs suspended from the lobby ceiling filled with colorful fish.
Another standout: The Living Sea Carousel is a rotating seating area that offers short presentations on the aquarium’s four largest exhibits — including the open ocean, sea turtles, sea lions and shark waters.
Other family attractions in the OdySea development include Butterfly Wonderland, OdySea Mirror Maze and Polar Play, which keeps its thermostat at a chilly 23 degrees and offers parkas to its guests. More attractions and restaurants are opening in the coming months — giving the whole complex a theme-park feel.
If you go: OdySea Aquarium is part of the OdySea in the Desert entertainment development. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission tickets are sold with a scheduled entry time. $34.95; $24.95 ages 3-12; discounts for students and seniors. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 480-291-8000 or odyseaaquarium.com
Related: Weekend events for families
