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A 40-foot coral reef grows in Boston
The New England Aquarium is offering a chance to visit with the fish on a 40-foot-high Caribbean reef, or take a cruise to catch some yourself.
The Boston aquarium last week unveiled the last piece of a six-year reconstruction project—a four-story Giant Ocean Tank that replicates a Caribbean reef, home to more than 2,000 aquatic animals of 140 different species.
It’s open to the public and to groups, offering a unique underwater montage of the way things were before Columbus brought the first group tours to the Caribbean more than 500 years ago.
"Visitors will be awed by the beauty of a coral reef city and come to understand what is at stake over the next century as climate change and ocean acidification threaten the very existence of these rainforests of the sea," the Aquarium says.
The new tank has low windows, so small visitors can see in; a platform where visitors can feed and interact with the animals, including a 560-pound green sea turtle; a lighting system that replicates the underwater ambience at different times of day and in different weather conditions; and improved accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers.
Groups can arrange to take a dip with the seals, visit behind the scenes, rent the facility for private events and take advantage of the outdoor space, which overlooks Boston Harbor.
The Aquarium also is offering a collecting expedition to the Bahamas, where certified divers of all levels ages 18 and older will help responsibly collect reef fishes and invertebrates for the Giant Ocean Tank.
The 10-day adventure will explore underwater sites in Bimini and the Berry Islands, and include a day in Miami preparing specimens for shipment to the aquarium.
The trip costs approximately $3500 per person.
By Cheryl Rosen
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