Aquarium Splish Splash
Kate Kiechle, Online Editor
Kate_Kiechle@csumb.edu
April 7, 2008
The second floor of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is making a big splash among visitors and volunteers alike. The newly remodeled Splash Zone opened to the public March 17.
According to Sarah-Mae Nelson, guest experience interpreter, who works with the aquarium, the second floor was the only part of the original aquarium still in need of remodeling. Today the Splash Zone contains three new areas of exhibits: The Coral Reef Kingdom, Rugged Rocky Shore and Enchanted Kelp Forest.
During the remodel the penguins that were on display before construction began, were moved to the third floor. Here away from visitors, the penguins were taken care of in what was called the Hospitali Suite.
Now, for the sea life in the new exhibits, life is good. The penguins have been given a new and larger living area and along with the seahorses, new lighting systems are helping to create more natural lighting. Times of day and soon even seasonal changes are to be represented with the new lighting.
The night of March 24 volunteers, along with their friends and family, were given tickets permitting them into a special night visit to the aquarium that lasted from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The penguins could be seen grooming and curling up to sleep, as could the weedy seadragons. The lights in these particular tanks turn off at specific hours to simulate night for the animals living in them.
Visiting with friends, Jennifer Plueard, CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) community director, explored the Splash Zone stating that coming to see the new exhibits is a “fun afternoon thing for students to come do.” She went on to say she had fun playing with the sea creatures in the new touch pool, exclaiming that she got to hold a crab in her hand.
During the last hour of the night, there were not many younger visitors in the aquarium, but evidence of their curiosity could be found easily including a hand print left on the Leaping Blennies tank, a fish that can be seen hopping form rock to rock, in and out of water.
Meanwhile volunteer, Sarah Matye, a student from UC Santa Cruz, visited her new favorite tanks one last time for the night. As Matye admired her favorite, the sea slugs, she explained that the new Splash Zone “connects people better to the water environment, to the ocean.” Her enthusiasm towards the new exhibits was evident as she went on to say, “[the Splash Zone] is great for volunteers also because they get to explore the new areas with the guests and it excites and reconnects them with the ocean.”
Nelson and volunteer Brigid Ganahl, handed out facts about animals in the new touch pool while putting all hermit crabs and sea snails in a different tank for the night to ensure their safety from their predator the sea star. They too, are thrilled about all the new exhibits, Nelson exclaiming, “The pacific spiny lump sucker is my new favorite fish.”
The Monterey Bay Aquarium staff is excited and prepared to share everything they know about the sea life in the new Splash Zone. To learn more about aquarium exhibits, events, or volunteer opportunities visit montereybayaquarium.org.