Zootourism.com review: Sea World San Diego

500 SeaWorld Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
United States
800-25-SHAMU
http://www.seaworld.com

SeaWorld is the granddaddy of aquatic theme parks, with the biggest shows, the best-known star animals (even if they’ve been replaced over the decades), and the most visitor-friendly facilities. It’s a theme park, complete with rides and attractions, built around the concept of a full-fledged zoo that specializes in aquatic animals. While the shows get the most attention, there are plenty of straightforward exhibits that deserve just as much attention – for what’s primarily a theme park, it’s a pretty good aquarium as well.



Near the entrance is an Arctic-themed section, with the buildings outfitted to resemble a research station. What makes the exhibit enticing however isn’t the human buildings, but the setting for the animals. There’s excellent underwater viewing of all species here, from the constantly-wrestling polar bears to the beluga whales, to the surprisingly graceful (when swimming) walrus.



Just beyond the Arctic, the Antarctic gets represented in the form of the penguin house (admittedly, there are a number of species present, some from South America and/or Africa, not all Antarctic). In the small but excellent spot, docents speak ad nauseum about the penguins while visitors slide by on a conveyor belt. The species interact a bit, but primarily go about their own business, posing, splashing, swimming around (with a bit of underwater viewing available). The whole while, one of the three King penguins on site, King Tut (a ripe old 26 years old), watches over all happenings.



There are manatees (rescue cases, overflow from a rehabilitation program at the Orlando operation), there are flamingos that can be fed, there are small freshwater and saltwater aquaria (one of which includes live chambered nautili, odd little creatures whose shells are well known, but are very rare to see live, as they jet around their tanks by alternately sucking and spewing water).



Of course, most visits will revolve at least somewhat around the shows – a couple of times per day, a number of shows take place – a dog and cat show, a sea lion and otter show, a dolphin show that also includes a few pilot whales, and of course the massive killer whale show. The various amphitheaters are spread throughout the park, but traveling between them is rarely too much of a stretch. While the shows are of course a focal point, there is perhaps little to be said about them that isn’t better learned by experiencing them. The dolphins jump insanely high in their show. The sea lions and otters are endearingly playful, and act out roles in a small slapstick comedy. The stars though are always going to be the killer whales in the Shamu show. The show itself follows a vague storyline, but the whales will easily redeem any plot emptiness. A few of the tricks are similar to those the dolphins do, but on a much grander scale. The whales interact with each other a bit, they interact with a few fans (and splash more), they interact hugely with the trainers. In fact, one of the stars of the show is Corky, a 40 year old whale known as the “trainer of trainers” – when new whale trainers are hired, she often will work with them, adjusting her speed and tricks to suit their comfort level, and reset placements when they miss a trick.. The whales are a clear highlight, and an excellent end to a long day at the park, though maybe only after a quick stop at the SkyTower for a glance at the San Diego skyline shining in the sun.