Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto

Sharks, manta rays and lion fish are coming to Toronto this summer.

That’s right; the brand new Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is opening in downtown Toronto this summer. With 130,000 square feet and 1,500,000 gallons of water this multi-million dollar new attraction will sure to delight everyone. With 45 interactive exhibits the aquarium will be on the top of the list of things to do in Toronto this summer.  Conveniently located between the CN Tower and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Bremner Avenue the Aquarium is an easy walk from the  Boatel.

We are so excited about the opening of the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto that we decided to visit the Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, SC to get a sneak preview of what to expect in Toronto. As PADI-certified scuba divers, we are accustomed to swimming with sharks and barracuda, but rarely do we get the chance to really closely observe their behavior. We spent an exciting fun-filled day learning more about these amazing underwater creatures.

The whole experience was unforgettable from the moment we walked in the door. Of course the visit with sharks is always a big highlight especially when  you get to observe the fish from overhead tanks. Having only seen a Sawfish in pictures, I was captivated at watching one swim around in the shark tank. As you can see by this picture the Sawfish looks like it is smiling at you. We were also able to view the Green Moray Eels from a safe distance as they wandered in and out of their habitat. It was our first time seeing the tiny Seahorse in person, usually they are so well camoflaged that they are difficult to see.  We spent time walking from one tank to another identifying the various species of colourful reef fish and learning about their habits.

One of the highlights was watching the Mermaids Show.  Here we got to see mermaids swimming in the tank with the Eagle Rays. Since it was my birthday I got a picture taken with one of the Ripley’s Mermaids.  It is not known yet if there will be mermaids in Toronto, but I certainly hope so!

The Ripley’s Aquarium in South Carolina was impressive and the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto promises to be even bigger and better when it opens in Toronto this summer. It’s going to be an exciting summer in Toronto for all of our Boatel guests.