Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall has launched innovative glass-bottom boat rides, which take guests across the surface of the aquarium’s ten million litre tank, offering views of the aquatic animals below.

Each ride is led by a tour guide who educates the visitors on the aquatic life they encounter below. The 33,000 aquatic animals in the aquarium include sharks, rays and giant groupers.

The glass-bottom boat rides allow visitors to experience several fascinating aspects of marine life, and provide them a bird’s eye view of the aquarium.

Starting with the spectacular sight of Cownose Rays, which circle in flocks near the surface, the rides also offer an unprecedented overview of the various habitats of the diverse aquatic animals.

The various species in Dubai Aquarium, which replicates an ocean environment, have their own marked territories at different levels of the tank, as they do at sea.

Nurse Sharks, Fantail Rays, Guitarfish and all the small reef associated species are commonly found on the ocean’s bed while the sharks prefer to be in the darker rocky areas and caves. Rays have a preference for being near the water surface, where they flap their wings and glide on in perfect poise.

The Giant Trevally, Bigeye Trevally, Rainbow Runners and Batfish are among others species that tend to prefer the water surface.

Reactions from visitors have been enthusiastic. “The boating experience was indeed awesome,” said Varun Vaidya, a tourist from India.

“The glass-bottom boat rides have created much hype at the aquarium,” said Arif Amiri, chief executive officer, Emaar Retail.

“The experience offers visitors a unique opportunity to watch and study the fascinating aquatic animals from close encounters. The boat rides are a great complement to the shark dives which have also been launched to immense success.”

To enjoy the glass-bottom boat rides, visitors need only pay an additional Dh25 ($6.80) to their Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo ticket. Add on a fish feed from the glass-bottom boat for Dh5.

The boats are operational throughout the day and each boat can accommodate up to ten guests, with each journey across the aquarium’s surface lasting around 15 minutes. – TradeArabia News Service