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Drawing of planned Manta coaster
Good news for California coaster fans! SeaWorld San Diego recently announced plans for a new flying roller coaster called Manta, which will be very similar to the popular attraction of the same name that opened at SeaWorld Orlando in 2009.
The Manta attraction has been a big hit in Orlando, offering riders a unique and thrilling ride that delivers on the promise of simulating the feeling of flying.
In addition to the coaster itself, the attraction offers people waiting in line, as well as visitors not interested in roller coasters, a chance to enjoy underwater viewing of a large marine habitat. As you’d expect, the aquarium is filled with graceful rays, but you can also watch large schools of fish and small sharks swim behind the glass. The San Diego attraction is planning to offer the same type of multi-dimensional experience. “With Manta, our guests will be able to see and interact with 65 bat rays, 10 guitar fish, and hundreds of fishes,” said SeaWorld San Diego curator of fishes, Thad Dirksen. “The below-water viewing area will include eight acrylic windows and a reef design. The above-water interaction area will allow our guests more opportunities to touch and feed the (rays)”.
The San Diego Manta will offer a new feature not currently seen in Orlando. Riders will start their ride enclosed in a launch tunnel with larger-than-life images of rays projected on a 270-degree enveloping screen.SeaWorld says this projection system will be the first of its kind in the US.
Unfortunately, thrill-seekers have a long wait ahead of them. The new Manta attraction is scheduled to open at SeaWorld San Diego in 2012.
Drawing courtesy of SeaWorld.
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