Shark Reef Aquarium

family attraction

Address
Mandalay Bay, 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Hours
Daily 10 AM-8 PM; last entry 7 PM
Timed entry
Adult $29; seniors 65+ $27; ages 5-12 $24; 4 and under free
Anytime ticket
Adult $36; seniors $34; ages 5-12 $31
Age rule
Children 12 and under must be with a paid adult
Box office
Daily 9:30 AM-7:30 PM
Guided tours
Mon-Sat 3 PM; Sun 1, 2 or 3 PM (45 minutes)
Information
702.632.4555

About

Shark Reef Aquarium is inside Mandalay Bay at the south end of the Strip. MGM Resorts says it houses more than 2,000 animals, and its largest exhibit is a sunken shipwreck called Neptune's Fury, home to sharks and sea turtles.

It is the first and only facility in Nevada accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, according to the operator. Its conservation work includes breeding key species, research into shark care, and the rescue of three green sea turtles. It also recycles exhibit water and has moved its exhibit lighting to LED.

Admission includes the Undersea Explorer VR Theater, a 36-seat motion-platform theater. Its 360-degree 3-D films follow humpback whales in the South Pacific or tiger sharks and hammerheads in the Bahamas. The pre-show area has a shark-cage photo spot.

What to expect

You book a one-hour entry window, or buy a pricier Anytime Ticket valid all day. Inside, you walk through the exhibits, including the shipwreck, at your own pace. Admission also covers the VR theater, where you wear a headset in a motion seat. Children under 5 can enter the VR exhibit but cannot watch the films; they rotate with an adult.

Add-ons are booked separately. A 45-minute guided tour with a Shark Reef educator runs daily, for ages 5 and up. There are also stingray feeds for ages 5 and up, and shark and sea turtle feeds for ages 13 and up. Yoga with Sharks runs on select Saturdays at 9:30 AM in front of the shipwreck exhibit.

Other things to do nearby

Landmarks nearby

Good to know

  • Timed tickets are good for the one-hour window you choose; the operator says peak times can fill, so reserve ahead for a preferred time.
  • Nevada residents get $3 off adult or child admission with a government-issued Nevada ID, at the box office only.
  • Same-day tickets for the animal feeds must be bought in person; minors must be with a paying adult 18+.
  • Annual passes cost $85 for adults and $45 for ages 5-12, with unlimited entry for a year.
  • Yoga with Sharks is a 60-minute guided class on select Saturdays; check the official page for dates.
  • School groups can book formal education programs by emailing sharkreefeducation@mandalaybay.com.

Questions about Shark Reef Aquarium

How much are Shark Reef Aquarium tickets?

Timed-entry tickets are $29 for adults, $27 for seniors 65 and over, and $24 for children 5 to 12. Anytime tickets, valid at any hour on the date of entry, are $36, $34 and $31. Children 4 and under are free. Both include the Undersea Explorer VR Theater. Nevada residents save $3 at the box office.

What are Shark Reef's hours?

The aquarium is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM, with last entry at 7 PM. The box office is open daily from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Guided tours start at 3 PM Monday through Saturday, and at 1, 2 or 3 PM on Sunday.

Do I need to book a time slot?

Standard tickets are timed: you pick a one-hour entry window, and the ticket is good only within it. The operator uses timed entry to manage capacity and says peak times can sell out, so book ahead for a preferred slot. Anytime Tickets, in limited numbers, let you enter at any hour that day.

Can young children visit Shark Reef?

Yes. Children 4 and under enter free without a ticket, and all children 12 and under must be with a paid adult. The VR films are for ages 5 and older; younger children can enter the VR exhibit with an adult but must rotate with a parent during the film. Guided tours are for ages 5 and up.

Can I feed the animals at Shark Reef?

Yes, as paid add-ons. The stingray feed lets you hand-feed stingrays and horseshoe crabs at a touch pool, for ages 5 and up. Shark feeds and sea turtle feeds are for ages 13 and up. Minors must be with a paying adult, and same-day tickets for feeds must be bought in person.