Ocean Wonders: Sharks! Guide - Route, Highlights, Photo Spots

Sharks command attention — but the magic is in the pacing. This guide helps you time encounters, spot subtle behaviors, and find angles that turn glass into living ocean.

Best Route (Beat the Bottlenecks)

1. Enter at opening and head straight to Sharks.
2. Start with wider galleries, then double back for detail shots.
3. Save the longest viewing windows for 30–60 minutes after opening.

If arriving midday, reverse the loop and return during the final hour for thinner crowds.

Species to Watch For

• Sand tiger sharks — slow cruisers with dramatic silhouettes
• Sandbar sharks — classic dorsal fin profiles in open water lanes
• Rays and reef fish — patient observers of the shark lanes
• Schooling fish — note how they shift around predator traffic

Callouts:

• Behavior: Watch for “glide and turn” patterns at window edges — great for clean side profiles.
• Lighting: Deeper-blue galleries favor silhouettes; wait for subjects to separate from rockwork.

Photo Tips

• Press your lens hood to the glass to cut reflections.
• Use dark clothing and avoid on-camera flash.
• Wait for separation: a single shark or ray framed cleanly beats a cluttered scene.
• Try 1/250s+ if subjects are fast; embrace grain for sharpness.

Pro move: Spot clean glass patches, stand slightly off-center, and shoot at a diagonal to minimize glare.

Quiet Windows

• First hour after opening
• Late afternoons outside peak season
• During outdoor show times (some visitors step away)

What Kids Love

• Walk-through tunnels, large-scale windows, and the feeling of being “inside the reef.”
• Scavenger-style spotting lists — challenge them to find 3 species each.

Bonus challenge: Ask kids to mimic shark swimming styles; capture a candid silhouette against the big blue.

Exit Strategy

• Take a 10-minute snack break after Sharks, then head outdoors to Sea Cliffs for a change of scenery.
• Mark any favorite windows to revisit in the last hour.