it comes to activities and entertainment. One of the most memorable of these attractions can be found on the ground floor of the massive 440,000 square foot Dubai Mall, in the heart of the City of Dubai, and it is easily among the most fantastical sights you are likely to see in your life.
The Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is not only the world’s largest suspended aquarium at almost 50 meters wide and tall enough to be watched from the 3rd floor of the Dubai Mall; the main observation window also holds the Guinness World Record for being the World’s Largest Acrylic Panel measuring 33 meters in length and 11 meters high, giving visitors a uniquely awe-striking viewing experience. Standing in front of this massive transparent barrier gives you a feeling akin to deep sea diving, only without the trouble of getting wet!
As home to almost 33,000 creatures comprising 140 species of aquatic life (including the largest collection of tiger sharks in the world!), the Dubai Aquarium harmoniously accommodates all of them in the 10 million liter, purpose-built aquarium habitat. Visitors to the Underwater Zoo can take a leisurely glass bottom boat ride over the surface of the aquarium, watching the sea life beneath their feet, or simply walk past the gigantic observation window for a more wide-angled view.
However the most novel way to observe the creatures here has to be the walk-through tunnel running 11 meters below the surface of the aquarium. This almost dream-like stretch of tunnel gives visitors a 270 degree view of the aquarium from the floor of the habitat. It runs 48 feet long between corals and under the wondering Unicorn Fish and Wobbegong Sharks, offering a breathtaking experience that is over all too soon. Not enough excitement, you say? Well hold on to your lunch because this is just the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to thrills, perhaps the most hair-raising experiences offered by the Dubai Aquarium have to be the Caged Snorkeling Experience or its big brother, the Shark Dive.
Visitors get a chance to go snorkeling in the suspended aquarium, mere meters away from sharks, rays and piranhas! Surrounded by the cage, guests are safe, but the excitement of snorkeling with these creatures is not diminished one whit. If this still falls short of your required adrenalin rush, you might like to just dive right in among these creatures and experience the Shark Dive, coming face-to-face with reef sharks and hammerheads just like you would in the open ocean.
Whether visitors seek a unique and soothing underwater view, or a hard edged swim with the sharks, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo is an experience well worth having. Travelers looking for a Dubai hotel can find any number of them to suit their needs ranging in price, luxury and proximity to the main attractions of the city. The Copthorne Hotel Dubai is one such establishment situated near the Deira City Center and is only a short taxi ride away from the Dubai Mall. A Deira hotel Dubai such as the Copthorne Hotel Dubai offers guests all the luxury and amenities of living in the heart of the city, while being a comfortable distance from its hustle and bustle.