Georgia Aquarium (Whale sharks and manta rays!)
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- Опубліковано 6 гру 2015
- Jonathan visits the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta-the largest aquarium in the world-where they keep not one but four whale sharks in captivity, as well as two manta rays. Whale sharks are the largest fish on Earth and Jonathan learns how these animals are maintained in captivity while he dives with them in a 6 million gallon fish tank!
#underwater #scuba #scubadiving #sharks #whalesharks #aquarium #georgiaaquarium #georgia #atlanta #mantarays
This segment was originally uploaded in 2012. This is a new version in HD.
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The Georgia Aquarium is one of the world’s most spectacular. It houses exhibits ranging from coral reefs to kelp forests, salt water to fresh water, warm water to cold water, and just about everything in between.
But there is no doubt that the 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager exhibit is the most impressive part of the Georgia Aquarium
There is also a tunnel through the Ocean Voyager so people can walk underneath the marine life, which includes some of nature’s most magnificent animals like manta rays and whale sharks.
Keeping manta rays and whale sharks in captivity is difficult. First of all, these are huge animals! Mantas grow larger than a car, and whale sharks larger than a bus! So they need a lot of space. But they pose another interesting challenge as well-both are filter feeders. In the wild they strain their planktonic food by swimming with an open mouth and capturing small animals from the water on their gill rakers.
In an aquarium, there is no plankton. Aquarists had to train the animals for hand feeding.
To learn how they feed the mantas, I make my way to the top of the Ocean Voyager exhibit, a nearly football field-sized fish tank!
The mantas are fed a combination of krill and small fish from a ladle.
Since the mantas can’t swim in place, they have to be fed while they swim by gently ladling the food out in front of their mouths.
While I get the bird’s eye view of the feeding from above, the aquarium visitors get the fish eye view from below in the tunnel with the sharks feeding directly overhead.
It all started in Taiwan, where whale sharks are hunted for food. The Georgia Aquarium teamed up with a local fisherman to capture a live whale shark. Once they had it in a pen, they transferred it to a specially-made sling. Then it was transferred into a custom tank with life support for an overseas flight. Finally the shark was flown on a private charter across the Pacific all the way to Atlanta, where it was driven to the aquarium. It’s quite a journey for a shark!
Given how expensive and difficult it is to get whale sharks all the way to the Georgia Aquarium, the staff isn’t taking any chances when it comes to their care.
The rooms where food is prepared are nearly as clean as operating rooms.
And I’m about ready to try diving in this inland ocean, so I head upstairs for my briefing with divemaster Devon Fleming.
While I go and get my gear on, they put the dock into the water. They don’t leave it in all the time because the animals might injure themselves on it.
Before I even have my camera, a whale shark swims silently right below the dock. It’s hard to believe I’m in a giant fish tank with a whale shark!
On the bottom, a Great Hammerhead comes over to check me out!
I follow Devon down towards the deep end of the exhibit, and Tallulah the manta ray swims over to say hello.
A whale shark, with a school of jacks keeping him company swims over me. The whale sharks move around the huge tank in circles and figure eights. They are used to the divers and don’t mind us at all.
There is so much marine life in this exhibit that sometimes I forget I’m doing a dive in an aquarium. My camera moves from whale shark, to Great Hammerhead. Then on to Nandi, the other manta ray, doing barrel rolls. Then back to another hammerhead.
On the bottom, a sawfish catches my attention. This is a kind of ray with a saw-like nose for hunting prey. I have never even seen one of these in the wild but they have nearly a dozen of them in this exhibit.
One of Aquarium staff divers peacefully enjoys a sand tiger shark lazily drifting by. In spite of their fierce-looking teeth, these sharks are no threat to people. They eat smaller prey. Soon my dive nears the end.
On our way back to the shallow end of the exhibit, I pass once again over the tunnel with the people looking up. And Tallulah buzzes by again as if to bid me farewell.
Devon gives me the signal to head to the surface. It was such a short dive…I don’t know if I can bring myself to getting out of the water.
I went on this dive after I just got certified to dive, and it was probably the best introduction you could ever have. You can't tell how big the whale sharks are once your in there with them. The mix between being within arms reach, feeling the current from the wake of the shark, and seeing other divers next to it gives you a more in-depth understanding of their size.
I encourage any new diver to go here for even their first dive, there is no waves, extreme current, or seasickness that you get from normal ocean diving, and the view is much better. I will say two things about diving here, 1- keep your distance from the sawfish, they like to take swings at fish nearby, and they might accidentally give you a free piercing (but it's extremely unlikely). 2- please make sure your buoyancy is perfect, nothing is more annoying than getting a face full of sand from another diver, or having to constantly adjust your BCD's air.
I love how much information Jonathan gives while being so energetic 😁
I know right!
❤
I just went to this aquarium and sat there for an hour watching all the fish!
Booty
I’ve done that before!
Me too, I was just there last week, it's so peaceful just sitting in that big room and watching the fish.
Bouncemore i live in Atlanta👀
Huge respect to the cameraman for getting these amazing shots on how they get the whale shark
Driving by no notice ee. TCG
I’m taking a scientific diving class in college and we get the option to go on this dive! Watching this video made me even more excited to go!
Rachel S so cool!!
Rachel S
I’m thinking about studying this in college how do you like it
What school do you attend?
Rachel S Lucky! Happy diving! :)
I have a question.. Did they take a healthy random whale shark and put it in the aquarium or was it saved from something? Just curious. I dont know much about these things and want to learn haha
Fun fact: a female whale shark named Trixie is the Georgia aquarium’s largest whale shark. She is about 27 feet in length.
RIP Trixie 😢
Everyone, I have some bad news. “What news, Shockwave?” asked Soundwave. “You can tell us anything. “The largest female whale shark, Trixie, has died since Friday 2006,” said Shockwave. “Oh, Shockwave, I’m so sorry,” said Starscream. “We’re here for you, old friend,” added Thundercracker. “We will miss you, Trixie,” replied Rumble. “We love you,” said Frenzy. “We’ll get through this together,” said Megatron.
Pikachu is babysitting his little friend, Togepi, who won’t stop crying. The heroic Autobots offer to help and realize they’ve got to find out what’s bothering Togepi.
@@alexandrajamaica146 What Did She Die Of
@@Elephant-Puppet the aquarium
Spent the night here when I was in Girl Scouts! This is one of my favorite places in the world! I went behind the scenes and saw how they feed them and how they knew what color was their’s! Awesome!😊
i did the same in boy scouts, its awesome
It continually astonishes me how utterly _massive_ life can grow to in the ocean. Guess that’s what happens when you’re built for living in water: gravity just isn’t that big a concern.
Yep, Blue Whales may be the largest animals in the ocean existing and not existing, however, life got very close in the ocean to their size back then. Most animals back then were big. Strange to see Blue Whale as the only animal to get 100 feet in the ocean. (Before someone says Portuguese Man O War, don't. They are Siphanophores and are composed of many small animals, that does NOT count.)
Soundwave: You are cleared to arrive. Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia.
It's hilarious when I live like 30 minutes away from here and hear all of this about the aquarium and also thanks bird you have been giving me so much more inspiration to become a marine biologist.
Yeah, I’m in Marietta (abt 45 mins north of ATL) and it’s crazy to think that I’m driving distance to 4 whale sharks
I just went diving in the aquarium, i never knew that from the 13 years of my life, i would end up learning to dive, thanks to Jonathan for inspiring me
Whenever I go I'm so paranoid that the screen will just crack
Especially under those tunnels with the sharks
Even tho there’s a block of glass showing how thick it is, I can’t help but think that it’ll crack
If your in the tunnel and that thing cracks don't worry you'll die pretty quickly. That's alot of water in glass crushing you in that tunnel
It’s very very very unlikely that the glass will crack, I would imagine it’s a type of thick ballistic glass that could literally take a hit from a diesel truck without breaking
Me too 😦😦😦😨😨😨😨😨😰😰😰😰😰
Certainly better and more humane than sea land/world
SuhhDoode and how is that? They’re virtually the same as SeaWorld. Which is great. They provide amazing care for all their animals.
Jake sea world is the exact same as this aquarium, both companies take care of their animals, looks like you got fooled by the media *shocker*
Rickmarine1 In my respectful opinion, I feel like the difference is that the habitat is more natural for the sea life instead of concrete empty tanks, the sea life gets to do their own thing (besides feeding time) without being forced to perform tricks almost on a daily, and are surrounded by many different types of creatures. It’s way more natural for a public conservation.
Alyssa Danielle while a nicer looking habitat could be better for the whale, you can’t have it with other sea animals because the orca would eat them. Also they don’t force anything on the animals. If they animal doesn’t want to cooperate and perform they can’t make them do it anyway. The only reason why orcas perform anyway is because they know they will get fed and that’s it. Also my main argument was that sea world isn’t a bad horrible place that abuses animals.
@Jon Campo actually they rescued the whale sharks as they were caught to be sold and killed.
Having never been to a big aquarium (there aren't many in the UK) it completely and utterly baffles me that they can fit 4 whale sharks in a tank... I'm not saying they should or how these lot get a 6 million gallon tank and the orcas still somehow only get comparatively a puddle but still this is amazing...
That'd be because Orcas are apex predators and would demolish most of the fish in that large tank. You can get around that by putting them in there on their own, but then they'd never be seen by anyone at the aquarium because the tank is so large and comparatively empty and it would also make the regular health checks the aquarists need to conduct very difficult.
Yeah no orcas just aren't animals that really work in captivity
Johnathan is the most enthusiastic person ever lol I love it
Beautiful, beautiful whale sharks. Had the rare pleasure of swimming with one off the NC coast several years back. She was extremely calm, and didn't mind me riding along next to her (no, I did not touch her) She was such a gentle giant, a true sentient being. One of the most wonderful and awestruck moments of my life.
I love watching the whale sharks be fed, they're so cute with their big mouths wide open waiting for food
Yea the just like h e l o
@@lauragodridge8966 Hello give me food my mouth is ready!
Recently became a Volunteer diver at Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX (closest to home in Houston) because of this episode!
Awesome to hear!
I love this show. You always be my favorite host mr. Bird.
Ikr
Rifki Riando of
Metlmm
Oirl
Rifki Riando ur gay
Stunningly beautiful! That place looks wonderful and well looked after. I really am enjoying these videos in HD. It feels almost as if I'm there with you. Thanks, Jonathan and team.
This is my 5 year olds favorite episode. He LOVES your show so much!
+Mary Kat Sounds like you need a visit to Atlanta!
+BlueWorldTV absolutely on our todo list for a vacation! My son wants to be a "shark scientist" when he grows up so he loves the aquarium. I especially think he'd enjoy Atlantas 👍🏼
+BlueWorldTV also, you made my sons life commenting back to him he says "Thank you Johnathan Bird! I can't believe it! This is so awesome" Lol
Been searching for videos in Georgia aquarium and finally found one. I am so going to work here for a year after I finish my aquaculture degree! Thanks Jonathan!
Jonathan, your enthusiasm is contagious! Thank you for the incredible videos! Keep posting more!
Your show is the only show I am able to watch after a hugely stressful day. Soothing, SAFE. Beautiful.
I have even spent the night in the Aquarium at a birthday party and slept in the tunnel, that's my favorite
Lucky
go to the Dallas World Aquarium and try the job😁
Tori Hallman I love the belugas I'm the shed. There're my favorite in the Shed aquarium.
wow, this si surely an awesome experience, Tori :)
Tori Hallman awesome I have never been in an aquarium but my mom has 👍🏻😀😐
I love how people organized such a facility option. Impressive pumping system and tank.
We so dearly needed from awhile ago.
I do appreciate how the facility is quarantined enough to provide jonathan bird and friends thier own dive gear an suits🧡
The same for all volunteers.
I can see myself volunteering for work orders, and experience.
Thank you so much for this video option.
Thanks to Jonathan bird and Georgia aquarium for collaborating such an example for others who might be similar somehow.
Not many aquaria will allow the public to do something like this. It's really cool and fun.
Sure thing. Standards and rights to override the order of suprize endurance cell livings.
Good video. Thank you.
I'm glad they can trust you some how. We can talk more about how your "feeding performance" was experienced.
What did you like about it?
What was the hardest part?
The Great Georgia aquarium has to be to most best occupations I can think of....
those employees students are so lucky somehow....
Jonathan bird is one of the most profound civilians I can think of....
I love those volunteers💌
My son (4 year old) and I love your show! We watch a video a night during bedtime routine and always enjoy them and learn something! Thank you for making such great family friendly content for us to enjoy : )
I've visited this place ( as a regular pedestrian ) and it is even far more wonderful than one may think just by seeing this great video alone.
This guy is so lucky. I'll never see a whale shark, dolphin or shark in my life. Awesome videos.
I am lucky, that is true. I get to do what I love.
I snorkeled with them, they gave me love taps :D
Says he wants to go back in and theres a whale shark next to him, he goes in sees the whale shark right next to him gets scared and bangs head aginst the ladder
It was nice how the aquarium allowed you to experience such an event.
What a beautiful place to raise and care for those creatures.
Thank you for getting such examples organized.
Your way seems clean and organized.
I like how you express your points of interest.
Your videos are great!
Thank you so much.
I’ll be diving in that same exhibit soon this month and I am so stoked for it. Beautiful creatures...
Reporter: They were really nice and they let me use my own fins, they got dipped in disinfectant and are very clean
:meanwhile he proceeds to lick them
I did the rebreather dive here a couple years ago so got to stay underwater for a whole hour! I got hit upside the head by one of the whale sharks who got a little too curious. It was awesome
What great experience that was!
You feed the manta ray so well your first time.
It must be really a fun place to work and service.
You camera with the red on it was looking so ideal. I want one just like that maybe a yellow one.
Thank you for showing us how much fun you had there at the Georgia aquarium.
Wow the nostalgia that kicks in
"That's a lot of water"
Me: *"THAT'S A LOT OF DAMAGE"*
it's sad to know that these beautiful creatures were captured in Taiwan and I've never seen one in my homeland when I was scuba diving.
Went diving there with my dad, its awesome to see it again.
I sure hope that the Georgia Aquarium is telling everyone that YOU and the Blue World Team are the divers du jour! What an incredible aquarium. Oh my goodness. I've been to all aquariums where ever I live or visit. Can't get enough of the water world! And Georgia Aquarium is a wet dream! grins!
Got to do it last Saturday. Really enjoyed it. Best dive ever.
Got to do it in April of 2019. Loved it first dive.
I always wanted to go here! My dream came true! I went there on springbreak.
I'm 13 and i wanna be a marine biologist and i spend my day watching your videos educating myself :)
Same here! It looks like you ride horses too! So do I!
I hope you make it
I've been there a couple of times and I love about an hour away from it I love it so much and I hope to become a marine biologist when I grow up
I love how you feel nature in a nice way
Thanks!
I have been watching this show for so long. I have fallen in love because of you. You are also my favourite youtuber
I’ve been to the GA aquarium before and the ocean voyager exhibit is AMAZING and I also got to see them feed the whale sharks on a special tour
I'd love to do this for a living cause there's so many cool sight's plus I went to Georgia Aquarium. I honestly liked the tunnel and everything else. Your so lucky to feed the majestic creature's.
You sitting at the bubble window reminds me of when I went to Mallorca two years ago I loved watching the Sharks when I was sitting at one of those windows one came so close I could see it's teeth
Hey look, it's Destiny! (Anyone who watched Finding Dory will understand that)
Alrora Laerez /I-Love U So Nice 💐
U SO CRINGE
Oh, look, here’s Destiny. Hello, Destiny.
Oh, Destiny. No guy anywhere loves a whale shark more than I love you.
Ah, there she is now.
This place is a treasure to our city of Atlanta!
Hammerhead: wanna use me for a construction job m8?
That looks so fun!
I live in Atlanta and I’m really thinking about getting certified just to experience this
Just got back from the aquarium over the weekend. My son and I did a "sharks and Ray's" encounter where we were chest deep in water letting them lol. It was amazing
This episode made me want to go to this aquarium, and that I did when I was 11. So thanks Jonathan! :D
Even do how many long years did you post this i really love to watch everyday every hour every minute every second💓 i really love your channel
I probably say that the whale shark is probably the biggest animal that’s able to be kept in an aquarium. The only animals I know that are bigger than the whale shark are baleen whale like humpback and Blue whales. They are not able to be kept in an aquarium because of their large size
Beautiful! I need to visit that aquarium.
I love ocean and watch this makes me relax .. love it so much ❤️
I love Georgia
I LIVE IN GA AND I WENT TO GA AQUARIUM AND IT WAS AMAZING
The Georgia Aquarium is such a cool aquarium! I was there about 12 years ago and I had as much fun as you did, Jonathan. I really enjoyed the Ocean Voyager exhibit. I took lots of pictures and I even got an amazing shot of Trixie the Whale Shark. She's so huge! I'm so glad you got to dive in there, Jonathan. It's an ocean wonderland. Also, you look so relaxed in the bubble window. It must've been really cool for you when that Sand Tiger Shark swam over you. 1:53 🦈👍
I visit this aquarium many times and I love it :)
Noice! Good way to end my day before bed!
They don't have a whale shark😭😭they have 4😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
And I don't have a dog, i have a pit bull. Makes sense right
@@-_-_-_8441 Lol
Bonjour
Bonjour
Bonjour
I had my OWD confined water dives in an aquarium (Zaragoza, Spain). It was a great experience and I felt lucky as I´m sure it is way cooler than doing your confined water dives in a pool.
Went diving here this past weekend. It was an AMAZING experience!
I've been to the Georgia aquarium. It was so cool!!! I loved it. I live in Nebraska, and at the Omaha zoo where I work, we have the tunnel that people walk through like the Georgia aquarium does. It is really cool.
Jessica Diemer I live in Illinois and have you Been to the Shed aquarium. It's my favorite place in Chicago and if you love marine mammals and reef animals you'll love it. It also have amphibious animals and fresh water, and Michigan lake. It may not be as big as the Georgia one it's just as amazing.
Electric Cetaceans/Electric whales 2500 hey im going to chicago for vacation in july and im going to the shed aquarium so i cant wait
i live only a couple hours from Atlanta
so cool!
Jonathan Bird, this video was a treat to watch.. Thank you very much
2:08 Looks like we found a future marine life expert hahaha. Too cute.
Wish I was a fish in that Aquarium, i would've been loved so much 😭😭
you also would've lived in absolute dismay
The whales get replaced every couple months because they die because theyre used to be in oceans not tanks
totes relatelble
Be yourself and make smart choices and the outcome will be the same
If they were getting replaced each month, then how much time do they spend getting one loaded and shipped to the aquarium, let alone finding one not down so deep to the point where they can't get it.
Who loves this guy :D
I do!
Those rays max chillin'
This was my first video I ever watched
Talula is such a lit name for a manta ray
Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm I
If Only I Could Go There
I Live In Hong Kong BTW
Wow! I didn’t even realize that there were so many hammerheads!!! Those are my favorite!
My favouritr episode by far.
Jonathan bird you should do Orcas/Killer Whales
Hey +BlueWorldTV , as a very experienced diver and marine conservationist, what are your thoughts about pelagic species in captivity? I know many divers are divided about this issue, and upon the importance or existence of aquariums at all. I would love to hear your input! :)
I have mixed feelings. For something like the whale shark, I think there is a lot of value in allowing the public to see such a majestic and amazing animal. Most people will never EVER see a whale shark except like this. If it helps people appreciate and want to protect these species, there is value is having a few animals in captivity to save the rest of them.
Thanks for the thoughtful and complete response! I feel similarly. I live and work down here in Bonaire and we love watching your videos! Keep 'em coming :) (especially the Bonaire episodes of course)!
We go to this every year I love it swimming with the fish is so fun
Wow! This aquarium is so huge!
At the ,Minnesota Zoo there is a sand tiger shark with a extremely arch back and people nickname the demented Shark
I have seen a number of Sand Tigers in captivity with a big hump. I wonder if being in captivity contributes to that?
i do underwater videos as well i was inspired by you
You just do lego unboxing. Stop lying.
Dominic Feliciano dude this comment was 4 years ago😂
Thanks this is fabulous. We were just there what amazing animals. We got to spend the night with only 11 people . Incredible to be there almost alone.
I know how the thrill feels! I went and swam with them this summer!!!! I REALLY like whale sharks... Like a lot, they are my favorite EVER
“Then on to Nandi doing barrel rolls”...Nandi does a backflip instead lol
I wish I would swim in that tank.
Bonjour
i really wish there were more divers that record when they dive to share their good time with us on youtube.
I WENT THERE TOO!!!By the way I love you!!You are one of my favorite youtubers in the whole world!!!😁😁😁😁
Your amazing I started diving because of you
Awesome!
Logan Pe
BlueWorldTV j
Logan Pence
KHIAU HOON CHEW j
Hey Jonathan! I have a question. Can you please try and dive at the New York Aquarium When the new shark tank is built? Plus please dive in the largest tank? Thanks!
New shark tank??? That sounds good!
+BlueWorldTV Do you Know where it is
Plus I'm a boy check out my channel DarthMan 1182
+Kathleen. Crowley and I will be 10 in September YAY
+BlueWorldTV my name is Sean
My family and I went here, and it was spectacular! Would deffinetly reccomend this to anybody who likes the ocean!
Wow....what a wonderful..video..
Jonathan had shown beautifully..inside the ocean
yah I live in Georgia I went behind the scenes for a field trip it is pretty cool
Me and my friend Owen dove with the Whale Sharks.
I would love to do that
Aaron1TNT It's a lot of fun.
Billy Causgrove dang about how big was it compared to you
awesome i started watching this channel yesterday
Nice host Mr Bird. Never the less I believe all this animals should be in the wild. cheers