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REVIEW: Aquanauts: A Discovery Zone at Georgia Aquarium

By Angie Appoo, Macaroni Kid Snellville January 30, 2015
Thanks to Georgia Aquarium for inviting us to preview their newest exhibit Aquanauts: A Discovery Zone (now open to the public). There are some perks to being a Macaroni Kid publisher, like invitations such as these ....AND catering by Wolfgang Puck! After fueling up on some delicious sandwiches, fruit, and desserts we headed to an Aquanauts tour on the upper level where the exhibit is located, next to Deepo’s Undersea 3D Wondershow. 

If you're planning to visit the Georgia Aquarium soon, this is what to expect:
First you watch a short movie, featuring Deepo, in a small seated room.
Then you register your family or group at a Kiosk in the hallway outside that room (and you get to choose a cool team name!) 
Then you are given an Ipad as an aid to navigate the different clues and keep track of your earned badges. The Ipad has a "map" that directs you to the different stations you should go to to complete your tasks. 

You're given 45 minutes to earn 5 out of 7 badges. You get the badges after you have completed the tasks as noted at each station. Don't worry about the time though, just have fun and enjoy the experience. The 45 minutes is more than enough time (we finished under 25 minutes on the easiest level) but if you happen to run out of time..there's always next time. Our next time will have us moving up to the more difficult level; there are 3 levels of difficulty. MacGirl is ready to go again! (here's where an annual membership comes in handy).

At the end of your adventure, if you have earned your 5 out of 7 badges, you become a certified Georgia Aquarium Aquanaut, or Aquarium Scientist. You can purchase your Certificate of Completion for an additional fee, at the photo center right at the exit of the exhibit or at the photo center on the main level. 

This is a great exhibit for upcoming field trips, homeschool groups and scout troops because it's an educational and fun journey that takes guests through a set of entertaining and interactive science, technology, engineering, and math-centric (STEM) experiences. Let your teachers/leaders know and maybe they can plan an excursion. The Georgia Aquarium does offer a huge discount for groups such as these, and groups in general. 

And if you're planning to go with just your family, I highly recommend looking into an Annual membership. Your family will want to visit again and again, and there are perks to being a member.

After, or before, your Aquanauts Adventure, you can explore the entire Aquarium and it's many exhibits, Deepo’s Undersea 3D Wondershow, and the Dolphin Tales show on the upper level. If you're planning to check out the Dolphins Tale show, make sure to schedule it in your day, as there are usually 3 shows (12:30, 2:30, and 4:30) and you don't want to miss it. People line up as early as 1.5-2 hours ahead of time! but it's a "stadium", and holds A LOT of people so you don't have to line up that early. You'd only do so if you want an upfront seat but here's where being an annual member is handy again. They get early seating before the general public!

If you're looking for upfront, center seats that will most likely be available - check out the splash zone seats! You will get splashed (sometimes more, sometimes less, varies with each show) We sat there, and hardly got wet, although another guest mentioned they were "drenched" the last time they were there. It was a spur of the moment decision so we didn't have any gear, but next time I would prepare with dollar store ponchos (just in case). Those seats offer a great view of the dolphins underwater in the tank, but not such a great view of them on top of the water. You do get to see the flips and tricks but some parts are seen better from a higher vantage point. If you visit muliple times, check it out from a higher view and a lower view. It's a great show, both ways! (again, a good reason to get an annual membership) Sometimes you get to take a picture with the Star of the show, so don't rush off. 


And if you're a Falcon's Fan, don't forget to snap a pic next to the Falcon's Dolphin in the courtyard when you exit the Aquarium via the giftshop. 



Check out more posts about the Georgia Aquarium HERE

*Admission tickets were provided by the Venue for the purposes of this review. All opinions are strictly those of the author.