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Animal encounters and experiences at Georgia Aquarium
Journey with Gentle Giants: Swim and Dive
Immerse yourself in the habitats of whale sharks, manta rays, and thousands of other fish by participating in the Journey with Gentle Giants. Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium in the world where you can swim or dive with these magnificent marine animals. You can scuba dive or go snorkeling in the Ocean Voyager exhibit for this guided experience.
Location: Ocean Voyager, Level 1
Duration: 30 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
Journey with Gentle Giants: Swim
- The minimum age to participate is 12 years. Children aged 18 and under need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian
- 1 adult per minor aged 12-14, and 1 adult for up to 7 children who are 15-17 years old
Journey with Gentle Giants: Dive
- Autonomous Open Water SCUBA certification
- You have to be at least 12 years of age to participate in this experience. Children aged 18 and under need to be accompanied by an adult
Beluga Encounter
Meet the beluga whales at Georgia Aquarium at the Beluga Encounter experience. You can interact with the sea creatures while participating in a guided poolside training session. Learn more about the aquarium’s efforts at maintaining their habitat, what you need to do to become a beluga trainer, and what they do to keep these animals healthy.
Location: Cold Water Quest, Level 1
Duration: 15 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- You need to be over 7 years of age to participate in the experience
- Children who are 15 years old and under need to be accompanied by an adult
- Visitors under 17 need to get a signature from a parent or guardian for a liability waiver to be able to participate
Dolphin Encounter
Meet the friendly bottlenose dolphins, interact with them, and participate in a feeding session at the Dolphin Encounter experience. During your training session, you will learn about how to care for the dolphins and maintain their health and habitat.
Location: Dolphin Coast, Level 1
Duration: 8 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- The minimum age requirement to participate in this experience is 7 years
- Guests who are 15 and under in age need to be accompanied by an adult
- Everyone under the age of 17 needs to have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver to participate
Harbor Seal Encounter
Go on a guided tour of the seal facility in the Cold Water Quest gallery and participate in a harbor seal training session in this experience. Learn more about the harbor seals with a special presentation and interact with the animals under the supervision of a trainer.
Location: Cold Water Quest, Level 1
Duration: 30 minutes
Experience requirements:
- The minimum age requirement for this experience is 7 years
- Children aged 15 and under need to be accompanied by an adult for this experience
- Everyone aged 17 and under needs to get a signed liability waiver from a parent or guardian to participate in the encounter
Penguin Encounter
Meet the endangered African penguins up close and get a chance to play and interact with them under the guided supervision of a trainer in this encounter. Learn more about the animals, their natural habitat, and the aquarium’s preservation efforts and initiatives.
Location: Cold Water Quest, Level 1
Duration: 30 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- The minimum participation age for this encounter is 7 years
- Children aged 15 and under need to be accompanied by an adult for this experience
- A parent or legal guardian needs to sign a liability waiver for guests under 18 to participate
Sea Lion Encounter
Meet the lively and energetic sea lions and get a chance to interact with them in this experience. Take a guided tour of the facility and learn more about their habits, habitats, and the aquarium’s conservation efforts to improve their ecosystems. You also get to participate in a live training session under the supervision of expert trainers.
Location: Trust Pier 225, Level 1
Duration: 30 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- You need to be at least 7 years old to participate in this experience
- Guests aged 15 and under need to be accompanied by an adult
- Visitors aged 17 and under need to have a signed liability waiver by a parent or guardian to participate
Sea Otter Encounter
Meet, greet, and interact with sea otters at the Cold Water Quest gallery in this experience. Prepare a meal for them, work with the trainers, participate in a training session with the trainers, and witness an otter feeding session. This guided tour of the sea otter facility will help you learn more about the care, habits, and habitats of these lovely animals.
Location: Cold Water Quest, Level 1
Duration: 30 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- You need be at least 7 years of age to participate in this encounter
- Guests aged 15 and under need to be accompanied by an adult
- Everyone aged 17 and under needs to have a signed liability waiver from a parent or guardian to participate
The Megalodon Shark
See a replica of Georgia’s state fossil, the Megalodon shark tooth, up close and view a replica of the shark’s jaw at the atrium. The shark is said to have been up to 50 feet in length with a jaw that measures up to 8 feet in width and 6.5 feet in height.
Location: The Atrium, Level 1
Experience included with the general admission ticket: Yes
Shark & Ray Interaction
Get a guided tour of the shark habitat and learn more about the biology, care, training, and conservation efforts for these animals with a presentation. Suit up to participate in the immersive experience and see the sharks and rays up close under the guided supervision of expert trainers. Engage in a number of activities like the training session, and feeding experience, and get a chance to touch these majestic yet misunderstood sea creatures.
Location: SHARKS! Predators of the Deep, Level 1
Duration: 75 minutes
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- You need to be at least 7 years old to participate in this experience
- Those under 18 years of age need to get a signed liability waiver from a parent or guardian to participate
- Understanding of English is required to communicate with the trainers in the experience
- You need to be able to wear a wet suit without assistance from the staff to participate
- The weight limit to participate in the experience is 310 lbs (140.5 kilos)
Sleep Under the Sea
Sleep over at the Georgia Aquarium and spend the night viewing and learning about the exhibits, the animals they house, and their care in this experience. Get a chance to spend the next day at the aquarium as well and wake up next to one of the galleries at the aquarium. There are four types of tours in the experience:
- Families and small groups
- Adults only
- Adults + Sips Under the Sea
- Scouts
Location: Georgia Aquarium
Duration: 18 hours
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
- The minimum age requirement for this experience is 7 years
Behind the Seas
Learn more about how Georgia Aquarium functions and operates with this behind-the-scenes tour of the aquarium. You can choose from three tour options for this experience.
- The Explore the Surface tour takes you to the backstage areas of Georgia Aquarium and you get to see the top surfaces of exhibits like Tropical Diver and Ocean Voyager while gaining insights into the many exhibits and animals at the aquarium.
- The Dive Deeper tour expands on the Explore the Surface tour where you can visit more areas of the aquarium and learn more about the past, present, and future of Georgia Aquarium. You also get to witness live coral propagation and find out what it takes to build and maintain the reef exhibit at the aquarium.
- The Private Voyage tour is a private guided tour of the aquarium’s exhibits and backstage areas. It also includes an interactive session with one of their experts.
Location: Backstage areas of the aquarium, Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, filtration room, vet facilities (depending on tour option selected)
Duration: 30 minutes (Explore the Surface), 60 minutes (Dive Deeper), 90 minutes (Private voyage)
Experience included with the general admission ticket: No
Experience requirements:
Explore the Surface
- Food and drinks are not allowed on this tour
- You cannot bring strollers or wear high heels on this tour
Dive Deeper
- You need to be at least 7 years of age to participate
- Children under 18 years need to be accompanied by an adult for this experience
- You cannot carry food and drinks with you on this tour
- High heels and strollers are not allowed on this tour
Private Voyage
- You need to book your tour 10 days in advance
- Food and drinks are not allowed on this tour
- You cannot bring strollers and high heels for this experience
Frequently asked questions about Georgia Aquarium shows
Do I need to buy a separate ticket for animal encounters, or are they included with general admission?
Most animal encounters require a separate ticket and are not included with general admission. However, some experiences, like viewing the Megalodon shark replica and certain live shows, are included with your regular ticket.
How can I book an animal encounter experience in advance?
You can book your animal encounter experience online through the Georgia Aquarium website. It’s recommended to reserve your spot early as these experiences have limited availability and sell out quickly.
What is the minimum age requirement for participating in animal encounters?
The minimum age varies depending on the experience. Most encounters, such as the Dolphin, Sea Lion, and Shark & Ray interactions, require participants to be at least 7 years old. The Journey with Gentle Giants Swim and Dive requires participants to be at least 12 years old. Minors must have parental supervision or consent.
What should I wear for the interactive animal encounters?
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Some experiences require wetsuits, which are provided. It’s best to bring a change of clothes if your encounter involves water.
Are guests allowed to touch or feed the animals during the encounters?
In some encounters, you may be able to touch or interact with the animals under trainer supervision. Feeding is generally not allowed unless specified in the experience details.
What safety measures are in place for interactions with marine animals?
All encounters are supervised by trained professionals to ensure the safety of both guests and animals. Participants must follow guidelines, wear appropriate gear, and listen to trainer instructions at all times.
Is there a special tour that takes visitors behind the exhibits to learn more about animal care?
Yes, the Behind the Seas tour gives guests access to restricted areas where they can see how animal habitats are maintained and learn about conservation efforts.
What live shows are available at Georgia Aquarium?
Georgia Aquarium has live dolphin and sea lion presentations, where trainers showcase the animals' intelligence, agility, and behaviors. There's also a 4D theater with immersive films.
Are live shows included with my general admission ticket?
Yes! Live dolphin and sea lion shows, as well as the 4D theater experience, are included with general admission.
How early should I arrive to get a good seat for the live dolphin or sea lion show?
Arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime to secure a good seat, as seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.