SeaQuest Aquariums

A few years ago there wasn't a single SeaQuest Aquarium in the USA. Now there are 10 locations and they even outnumber the Sea Life franchises!

Here are the 10 SeaQuest franchises...in 10 different U.S. states:

Folsom, California
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Worth, Texas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Layton, Utah
Littleton, Colorado
Lynchburg, Virginia
Roseville, Minnesota
Trumbull, Connecticut
Woodbridge, New Jersey

What I'm most intrigued about is whether anyone on ZooChat has actually visited one of these places. If so, could someone type up a quick review? Are all of the franchises 'identikit' establishments that are similar to each other?

 

I have never been to a SeaLife Aquarium (even though I have passed by the Tempe location many times) and I am certain I would never step foot in a SeaQuest aquarium either. I find this new trend of franchised aquariums rather disturbing. (Even the new large aquarium in Scottsdale is going to get duplicated in San Diego). Let's hope the great originals like Shedd and Monterey Bay never get taken over by these corporations.

 

Due to Shedd's historical significance and architecture I would say it's safe. As for Georgia and Monterey Bay, I do not know.

 

Quoted from my posts on the USA: Land of 170 Aquariums thread, all about the Trumbull location:

Overall I'd give the Trumbull location as 3/10 at most.

~Thylo

 

Thanks for re-posting that information and I remember your review. It's amazing that these SeaQuest Aquariums look as if they are junky establishments and yet there are now 10 of them all across the United States. The Sea Life franchises look to be far better in quality.

 

Just for discussion:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Suspends SeaQuest License After Violations

 

On another note, it is possible I could get to the SeaQuest in Minnesota soon, if anyone cares to know anything about it.

 

I have in Lynchburg. It was surprisingly good 6/10

 

Care to elaborate? Any photos?

~Thylo

 

Sea Life locations are all AZA certified, SeaQuest ones aren't. I'd put SeaQuest's popularity on it being focused on letting kids pet and feed the animals, rather than just look. Most parents don't really care about the animals' treatment and care if it makes their kids happy.

 

Woodbridge, NJ is ridiculously close to me, and I've never heard of it. Turns out they won't be open until later this month. I can't wrap my brain around this much space--tanks deep enough for scuba diving--in a mall. I'm a sucker for sloth which can be so high up and hard to see in real environmental exhibits, so it can't be a total loss, right? Will head over once it's open and report back.

Some of these locations, like the last four, are in areas where there might not be a lot of aquarium options. Yes, I know Mystic and Camden and Brooklyn, but the Northeast isn't filled with as much marine life adventure as, say, Florida or Texas or California. Interestingly, about 40 other institutions that are AZA and well-known like Toronto Zoo are partners with reciprocal benefits for those with annual memberships, in addition to the other SeaQuests.This whole thing has me very curious.....

 

There's also a Sea Life going into American Dream/Xanadu, which will open in March 2020 with the last phase.

 

If it's anything like the Trumbull location than scuba diving will only be possible if the divers are laying horizontally the whole time (and yes they did have dives like this in Trumbull).

Yeah but the Trumbull location is only 26 minutes away from the Maritime Aquarium which is infinitely better.

~Thylo

 

All I’ll say is that they do not have great reputations in the industry.

 

Not all SEA LIFE are AZA-accredited, just most. SEA LIFE Minnesota, the only SEA LIFE I have been to, isn't (but it's a great aquarium).

 

Interesting, I'm surprised that one isn't. Usually the ones that aren't in chains, are because of the time line of getting accredited. Of the 10 USA ones on their website, 6 are AZA, two aren't, and two haven't opened yet. Arizona is the other one, and it's been open a while, too. I wonder why those two aren't?

 

I liked it alot. Very nice exhibits. There were pigs, chickens, porcupines, rays, sharks, agoutis, wallabies, agoutis, monitors, iguanas, otters, and others. Their were a number of ray cartilaginous species unsigned, but Grey smoothhound and Bat rays are some highlights[/GALLERY]

 

Is that location not all indoors in a mall with tiny enclosures?

~Thylo

 

Duck photo is a

Its all indoors. The wallabies and Pigs have tiny enclosures, the rest not.

 

So this is interesting. A study of the most popular travel experience in each state (tours, cruises, etc) found that for Minnesota, it's Sea Life! The only other zoo/aquarium mentioned is Mystic.
The Most Popular Travel Experience In Each State, Mapped - Digg