We're visiting the Georgia Aquarium, and have already spent some time dazzled by the mind-spinning Crevalle exhibit at the entrance.
Now we enter a large central hub with various exhibits to choose from, as well as 4D movies, gift shops and a food court.. The Georgia Aquarium is different this way, in that you choose your own path rather than being funneled through according to the whim of the designers. It is, admittedly, a little overwhelming at first. So much to see, so many choices.
After a few moments, I picked Tropical Diver. An aquarium-keeper from way back, I thought this would be a good chance to see just how ambitious the Georgia Aquarium really is. There are plenty of other tropical exhibits around the country, I figured, to compare it to.
At the Georgia Aquarium, it's laid out like an art gallery, but the unfortunately the exhibits, staged across from each other, do create conflicts for photo- and -videographers, from light and reflections. Nonetheless, the result is absolutely worth seeing.
I stopped in my tracks in front of the sea nettles and moon jellies. Bizarre, graceful, fragile, they're the ballet dancers of the sea. Fascinating as dark silhouettes against a fathomless blue backdrop, they really steal the show when they catch the changing light just right, glowing warmly with unexpected colors. Their constant drifting and pulsing movements seem choreographed to hypnotize, while swelling background music coincides perfectly with their dance.
Finally I had to move along to give others a chance to enjoy the show.
So far, I thought the admission price was worth it even if there was nothing else to see.
Ah, but there was more to see. Much more, as we'll see next time, including the largest, most colorful coral reef maintained and exhibited anywhere, complete with wave action.
(All HD video/photo footage taken by author)
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