Shark Reef Aquarium sits inside Mandalay Bay resort on the Las Vegas Strip, giving visitors a walk-through look at one of the largest collections of sharks in the United States. Opened on June 20, 2000, after a $40 million construction investment, the 105,000-square-foot facility was built around a sunken-temple theme, with exhibits designed to look like the ruins of a lost civilization now reclaimed by the sea.
The aquarium’s centerpiece is a roughly 1.3-million-gallon shipwreck tank, part of a system holding about 1.6 million gallons of seawater in total, viewed through a submerged acrylic tunnel that puts sharks, sawfish, and giant rays directly overhead. More than 2,000 animals representing over 100 species live on site, including around 15 shark species, golden crocodiles, green sea turtles, and a Komodo dragon, and the aquarium has held Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation since 2003.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Opened: June 20, 2000
- Size: 105,000 sq ft; about 1.6 million gallons of seawater
- Species: Over 100 species, about 2,000+ animals
- Annual visitors: About 900,000 on average
- Famous for: Walk-through shark tunnel and 1.3-million-gallon shipwreck tank
Inside the Aquarium
Guests move through a series of themed galleries before reaching the main shipwreck exhibit, where an acrylic tunnel surrounds visitors on nearly all sides as sharks, rays, and sawfish swim overhead. Along the way, smaller tanks hold piranha, jellies, and other reptiles, and the aquarium also runs a 36-seat virtual reality theater added in 2020 for an added digital layer to the visit.
For guests who want more than a walk-through, Shark Reef offers guided animal encounters, feeding programs, and certified diving experiences that put participants in the water with some of the aquarium’s sharks and rays under staff supervision.
Conservation and Accreditation
Shark Reef Aquarium has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2003, a standard that requires ongoing commitments to animal welfare, veterinary care, and conservation work. The facility participates in conservation partnerships including the Adopt-a-Cove program at nearby Lake Mead.
The aquarium reached its one-millionth visitor in May 2001, less than a year after opening, and has continued drawing roughly 900,000 visitors annually as one of the Las Vegas Strip’s few permanent wildlife attractions.
Explore more: Explore more zoos and aquariums.
Shark Reef Aquarium FAQs
Where is Shark Reef Aquarium located?
It’s inside Mandalay Bay resort at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.
How many sharks and species does Shark Reef Aquarium have?
The aquarium houses over 100 species and more than 2,000 animals total, including around 15 species of sharks.
When did Shark Reef Aquarium open?
It opened on June 20, 2000, after roughly $40 million in construction costs.
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Photo: kennejima / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.