SEATTLE — Visitors can now experience the Seattle Aquarium from a new perspective with the launch of Above the Reef, a behind-the-scenes tour that takes guests above the Ocean Pavilion’s largest habitat.
The 75-minute guided experience offers an elevated look at The Reef, a multi-story habitat that is home to more than 800 individual animals representing 50 species.
Limited to just six participants per tour, the program gives visitors an early-morning glimpse into the daily routines of the Aquarium’s animals and the work that goes into their care.
“As we come inside, we get to hang out before the Aquarium is open to the public,” said Emily Brunkhorst, group experience coordinator at the Seattle Aquarium. “It’s kind of an exclusive sneak peek to see what the animals are up to first thing in the morning before they have their breakfast.”
The tour begins outside the Ocean Pavilion before moving to the habitat’s largest viewing window, where guests can observe the expansive reef environment from multiple levels. Participants then head upstairs to the food preparation area, where they learn how animal care teams prepare meals and maintain the health of the habitat’s diverse marine life.
One of the highlights is watching the morning feeding from above The Reef. Visitors see tropical fish, moray eels, stingrays and other animals fed simultaneously while staff explain the planning and coordination required to care for them.
“We have Indo-Pacific leopard sharks that are part of the ReShark program,” Brunkhorst said. “One of the highlights that really stands out to me is our bow-mouthed guitarfish. My personal favorite, our newest addition to the reef, is Tandu, and he is our humphead wrasse.”
During the tour, visitors also meet members of the Aquarium’s animal care team and learn about the techniques used to care for hundreds of marine animals.
“What that is comprised of is different target training sessions for a lot of our larger animals as well as our broadcast feed, which feeds the smaller fish in the habitat,” said aquarist Alex Primo.
Primo said every animal brings something unique to the habitat.
“They’ve got personalities,” Primo said. “Each one of them are different.”
The Above the Reef experience is currently offered every Wednesday at 9 a.m. and includes Aquarium admission for the day. The Seattle Aquarium plans to expand the program this fall by adding Saturday morning tours beginning in October. The experience is open to guests aged 6 and older. For more information, click here.