A must-do that we heard repeatedly when visiting Monte Carlo was the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco simply because folks told us it has the best aquarium in the world. Since we love fish, we decided to fork over the 13 Euro entrance fee and see for ourselves.

We happened to go during an interesting time at the museum—shock artist Damien Hirst had set up his traveling exhibit here, titled Cornucopia. This struck us as absolutely strange. Yes, Hirst is best-known for his morbid shark-in-formaldehydes, but his other paintings and installations (not to mention his butterfly "collection"), didn't seem like a good fit for an old-timey, somewhat fading royal museum, begun way way back by Prince Albert Rainier, the 1st. ]]> juliana 2010-10-07T16:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/2/12/44323/3774

Dubai's Burj Khalifa's 124th-floor observation deck may have shut down, but college students have another excuse to travel to the city: a highly sought-after internship at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo. Oh, to be frat-age again.

To be eligible, students have to be at least 16 years old and the preference will go to those studying marine science, teaching or a tourism-related subject. Students from all over the world are encouraged to apply. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-02-12T09:00:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/5/6420/44838

We're sorry, sharks. It turns out we've been misunderstanding you all this time. You don't want to attack us – you just want a big hug.

At least that's the theory the keepers at British aquarium Sea Life are working on at the moment. They believe that sharks can be trained to feed one by one when the keeper tells them, and even to roll over and have their belly tickled. With a Pavlov's-dog-style repetitive training system, they say the smarter sharks will get the idea within three months.

There are quite a few advantages of such a system, not least that the keepers are less likely to be gobbled up by the sharks they're meant to be taking care of. Experts also say that it should improve "shark welfare" and make them happier in captivity.

And it could even make feeding time a whole lot cuter for us aquarium visitors. They plan to try banging a gong as a sign for the sharks to queue up for dinner time. We'd pay a bit extra to bang the gong ourselves.

Related Stories:
· Sea Life [Official Site]
· Sharks To Be Trained Like Dolphins at Sea Life [news.com.au]
· Shark Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wang-Qian] ]]> amandak 2009-06-05T13:42:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/7/124532/7575

When the Animal Overlords take over, we can rest assured that our own Shira Levine will be safe from persecution.

We're going to try to be more thoughtful the next time we eat sushi and just stick with the faux crabmeat after indulging in peaceful day at the Georgia Aquarium. This the only place in the world where you can swim in a giant fish tank with a couple of 23-foot long whale sharks.

The Atlanta fish farm hosts "Swim with Gentle Giants," swimming and diving tours in their football field-sized, eight-million gallon Ocean Voyager tank. To say the underwater experience is thrilling is an understatement.

These fish (which include massive manta rays and sting rays, guitarfish, zebra sharks, cownose rays and wobbegong sharks) are as friendly as puppies and kitties. They like to swim up really close and skim along your body before darting off into the faux deep blue.]]> shiralevine 2009-04-09T15:14:02-05:00 33.7622905 -84.393905 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/2/28/121724/498

Prepare to welcome your new octopus overlords. Workers at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium are mopping up after a curious female California two-spotted octopus loosened a valve in its tank on Thursday, releasing at least 200 gallons (757 liters) of seawater onto the brand new floor. National Geographic reports that such behavior is typical among octopuses, due to their unique combination of strength, dexterity, curiosity, and intelligence. In other words, be very afraid. ]]> Victor Ozols 2009-02-28T12:17:24-05:00 34.0104936 -118.49597 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/28/223136/280

On August 11, the newest theme park in the Legoland empire is set to throw open its doors in Carlsbad, California. The Sea Life Aquarium promises even more masterpieces of Lego engineering. The 36,000 square-foot aquarium will offer fun in the form of play zones, marine exhibits and, of course, Lego sculptures.

Royalty abounds at the park, as it will feature its own seahorse kingdom in addition to a 360-degree ring of stingrays. The headlining attraction will certainly be the 175,000-gallon ocean display that recreates the Lost City of Atlantis with a 10-foot statue of Poseidon, a seven-foot Lego submarine and 72 more models that share their home with live fish and sharks.

The new park does require a separate admission from the original Legoland across the way; this one is $19. It's certainly a welcome addition to the Southern California amusement park lineup--even though it offers a tribute to plastic pieces instead of plastic ears.

Related Stories:
· Sea Life Aquarium [Official Site]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: william.ward]]]> kjb 2008-07-29T10:35:25-05:00 33.1233698 -117.31277 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/16/224/17410

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta declares itself the biggest in the world, but its newest attraction is actually quite small: A rare and threatened sea dragon is pregnant and scheduled to give birth in mid-July.

Marine maniacs know it's the male sea dragons and sea horses that carry the young (take that, Pregnant Man!) and in the case of the weedy sea dragon, the aquarium had trouble getting their seven specimens to mate at all.

Now that one is confirmed pregnant, it shouldn't be too long before baby dragons populate the aquarium's tanks--a triumph for an institution still getting over the loss of a beloved beluga whale earlier this year.

Related Stories
· Endangered Sea Dragon at Aquarium Pregnant [AP, via Yahoo]
· Movie Set Travel: Meet the Browns in Atlanta [Jaunted]
· Animals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: hamwithcam]]]> egw 2008-06-16T12:15:01-05:00 33.762271 -84.393906 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/