Atlantis Marine World Aquarium
431 East Main Street
Riverhead, NY 11901
(631) 208-9200 • ext. 105 Groups
www.atlantismarineworld.com

The Lost City of Atlantis has been found in Riverhead, Long Island at the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium. A relatively new institution, this full-service aquarium, themed around its namesake city, offers a wide range of Indoor and Outdoor Marine Life Exhibits, exciting Aquatic Adventures, and great Education Programs for School Groups from pre-K through College. One of the wonderful things about this unique attraction is that many of the animals featured here are "rescues" given a well-deserved second chance at life.

A sampling of Indoor Exhibits includes:

Amazon Aviary
Showcasing the colorful parrots of the Amazon, this exhibit doubles as a haven for abused pets — all of the birds on display here have been rescued from bad situations by Priceless Parrot Preserve, New York State's only organization dedicated to the permanent care of abused, unwanted exotic birds.

Cuttlefish
This display features these strange and fascinating mollusks, masters of camouflage whose shells are inside their bodies rather than out.

Giant Pacific Octopus
Still another master of disguise, the Giant Pacific Octopus can change its color and skin texture almost immediately. Smart and shy, these nocturnal hunters have a round-the-clock exhibit at Atlantis Marine World.

Lost City of Atlantis Shark Exhibit
Sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, moray eels, a Queensland grouper, and "Jaws," a 300-pound loggerhead sea turtle make their home in this 120,000-gallon exhibit amongst Poseidon's 12-foot trident, pillars, and other remnants of Atlantis.

Many other Indoor Exhibits introduce visitors to coral reef, clownfish, anemone, jellyfish, electric eels, puffer fish, ray, and a host of other specimens sure to draw oohs and aahs from people of all ages. The Touch Tank gives everyone a hands-on experience with some of the calmer denizens of the deep, such as starfish, clams, whelks (a sort of a snail), hermit crabs and horseshoe crabs.

Some of the Outdoor Exhibits include:

Otter Falls
Probably no one has more fun that PB & J, the North American river otters who live in this 1,500-square foot exhibit that features two waterfalls, and numerous viewing areas so visitors can see what this pair is up to.

Penguin Pavillion
Home to 14 African penguins, this 800-square foot enclosed habitat features replicas of ocean and beach areas. Captive-bred in Africa, these birds were illegally imported into the United States, saved from an unknown fate by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sea Lion Coliseum
Visitors can enjoy the performances of stars Java and Bunker during the entertaining Sea Lion shows at Sea Lion Coliseum.

Other exhibits include Ancient Reptile Ruins, Koi Pond, Interactive Salt Marsh, Ray Bay, and Seals.

Interactive Experiences

As well as offering many great exhibits to see, the Aquarium offers a number of fun and educational hands-on experiences that the entire family or School Group will enjoy.

Interactive Salt Marsh
Visitors 42½" high or taller can enjoy a guided exploration through the salt marsh and learn about the variety of life that calls this environment home.

Unearthing Atlantis
Visitors of all ages use the techniques of modern archaeology to participate in a dig by making wall rubbings, uncovering ancient bones and digging for fossils.

Aquatic Adventures

Visitors can add a new dimension to their visit through a variety of interactive adventures. A small sampling includes:

Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat
This 90-minute boat ride down the Peconic River into Flanders Bay provides a unique education about the Peconic Estuary and promotes environmental awareness. Cost, subject to change, is about $19.00 for adults and $17.00 for children and seniors.

Pirate Snorkel Adventure
At Shark Reef Lagoon visitors can see stingrays, bamboo sharks, and other tropical fish up close — real close! During the summer months people of all ages can snorkel with the rays. The fee of about $35.00 includes all the equipment needed: wetsuit, life preserver, snorkel gear, and a souvenir towel.

Other adventures consist of special Educational Programs for both children and adults, interactive Behind-the-Scenes programs that involve caring for the animals, special science programs, and even a Shark Dive where visitors are lowered (in a protective cage, of course) into the water amidst more than ten circling sharks. The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation conducts programs at the Aquarium. And an annual adventure that all youngsters can enjoy is a Birthday Party at the Aquarium. There are more still, and readers are encouraged to visit the Aquarium's official website (linked above) for all of the details.

Many of the above activities are seasonal and incur an expense beyond the admission fee, but they are a good deal to be sure.

School Programs

Atlantis Marine World Aquarium offers tons of great programs for School Groups Minimum of 15 people), both on site and as outreach programs. There is something here for just about any interest. Here are just a few:

Turtle Time (grades Pre-K - 2): This 30-minute interactive program introduces young students to the world of turtles.

Loveable Limulus (grades 4 - 12): Meet the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus). This harmless creature's bad reputation in some circles is probably built around its mean-looking tail. They've been around for hundreds of millions of years, so they must be doing something right. Students will get acquainted with them in this 45-minute hands-on program.

Rainforest Reptiles (grades 2 - 12th): Students gain learn about the Amazon River and the Rainforest. Program can last 20 - 60 minutes.

Coral Reef Ecology (grades 5 - 6): Students will learn about biodiversity, specialization and symbiotic relationships of at the largest all-living Coral Reef display in the western hemisphere.

Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises (grades K - -College): Students explore the world of these beloved marine mammals.

Many, many other programs are available to provide an exciting and educational field trip for students of all ages. Many of the programs are also available as outreach.