Georgia's Watery World

A playful new attraction splashes into Atlanta.

I've never really felt close to a fish before. Most aquariums leave me cold with their unfathomable creatures. And when I go swimming at the beach-well, I'd rather not think about them. The Georgia Aquarium changed all that. Sure, I heard about it being the largest (it holds 8 million gallons of water) and that it had the most fish (more than 100,000 from at least 500 species). What surprised me was how I warmed up to these cool beasts.

Getting Sea Legs

I joined dozens of folks at a shallow pool to pet a school of rays, their soft brown backs gliding under our fingertips. I even found the courage to let a clear white shrimp wriggle through my hand in another tank.

Moving on to the next area, home of river denizens, I was spooked by the payaras from South America. Thankfully displayed in a sealed tank, the baby fish sport 3-inch-long fangs that will grow up to 6 inches. I made a mental note not to take my swimsuit to the Amazon. Overhead flowed a river with gars and catfish from North America. I wouldn't want to meet these guys in my local lake.

Building Up to the Big Boys

Feeling a bit shaky, I wandered into the Cold Water Quest where I came face-to-face with Gasper and Nico, a pair of playful male belugas acquired from a Mexican amusement park (three lady belugas live with them).

At another station, I met sea otters Gracie and Oz. Gracie sat on a rock, a bit reserved, while silly Oz, the first sea otter born in captivity, kept trying to hold a plastic ball underwater.

Around a corner, a giant Pacific octopus was squeezing into a long clear tube. A staffer told me that it could compress itself into any space bigger than its eye. Weird, huh?

Going With The Flow

Super crowds have marked the Georgia Aquarium's first season. To best enjoy your visit, reserve timed tickets. Avoid going on weekends if possible, but if you can't, choose either a 9 a.m. or 3 p.m. time slot. While meals in the food court are good, lines can be long at peak times.

Creatures of the Deep

Hammerhead sharks, tarpon, and bowmouth guitarfish swam all around, and I was ready to run. Then I encountered Ralph and Norton. As I was standing on the moving sidewalk of a long acrylic plastic tunnel, an enormous whale shark coasted overhead. Then another came into view. Ralph measures 18 feet long, and Norton is 17 feet. Amazingly, they will probably double in size.

Then it struck me: Most of these guys are just babies. As I visit over the next few years, I can watch them grow up. Now that's a warm and fuzzy idea. -ANNETTE THOMPSON

Georgia Aquarium: 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313; (404) 581-4000 or www.georgiaaquarium.org. Tickets: $22.75 adults, $17 ages 3-12, $19.50 seniors.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation May 2006
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