4 Must-Try Encounters at SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is the ultimate destination for anyone who wants to get up close with fascinating marine animals and learn more about the One Ocean.
The theme park has over 15 interactive rides and 100 animal experiences and presentations that make visits here enjoyable, educational, and memorable.
SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is home to the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, the region’s first integrated research, rescue, rehabilitation, return, and education center.
You can also explore the park’s top realms through its SeaWorld® encounters, unique experiences that immerse you further into the wonderful world of the One Ocean.
Unique SeaWorld® Yas Island Encounters Worth the Splurge
Below are the best SeaWorld® Yas Island encounters worth adding to your itinerary:
1. Kayak on Tropical Lagoon
The Tropical Ocean is one of SeaWorld® Abu Dhabi’s unique realms. It boasts a tropical rainforest, a lagoon, and a variety of fascinating marine life.
During your visit here, go on a kayaking tour on the crystal-clear Tropical Lagoon. This encounter lets you go on a unique adventure while enjoying a relaxing experience.
You can ride a kayak on your own or with one of your companions. As you glide over the water, you can watch the dolphins swim and play. They may even go near your kayak, allowing you to get a closer look at these frisky and adorable mammals.
Guests 10 years and older can enjoy this natural encounter. Children between 10 and 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
2. Scuba Diving Expedition
If you want to experience scuba diving in a unique underwater environment, add a Scuba Diving or SeaDive package to your itinerary.
Head to the Endless Ocean to explore an underwater world filled with colorful fish, rays, and sharks. This realm lets you enjoy diving in crystal-clear water without the strong ocean currents. It’s the ideal setting for both beginners and experienced divers.
Scuba Diving Package
The Scuba Diving Package lets you experience the thrill of scuba diving even if you don’t have a PADI certificate.
Guests who are at least 10 years old can participate in the expedition. However, those between 10 and 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian joining the tour.
Participants older than 16 but younger than 18 can go on the expedition without an accompanying adult as long as their guardian, who is at least 18, will sign their waiver.
The scuba diving experience lasts around two hours, from onboarding to diving.
SeaDive
The SeaDive encounter requires guests to be at least 12 years old and have the minimum certification level of Open Water SCUBA or equivalent awarded by PADI, NAUI, CMAS, BSAC, SSI, and other reputable diving organizations.
Guests between 12 and 15 years old must be accompanied by a participating, paying adult. Those between 16 and 17 may go on the expedition alone, but must have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian at least 18 years old.
The SeaDive expedition is approximately 90 minutes long, with a dive time of around 30 minutes.
Both expeditions start with a dive briefing where you’ll learn about the basics of scuba diving. You’ll then dive into the Endless Ocean to explore the waters and marine life.
After the dive, you’ll undergo a debriefing.
Each tour is composed of four participants with an expert guide. SeaWorld® Abu Dhabi will provide the complete scuba diving gear, including the wetsuit, mask, dive boots, fins, and head covering if you need one. However, you need to bring a swimsuit.
These scuba diving tours can help broaden your knowledge regarding various aquatic animals and marine life conservation.
3. SeaVenture Underwater Walking Tour
SeaWorld® Yas Island’s SeaVenture Underwater Walking Tour allows you to walk underwater while wearing a special helmet that supplies fresh air. This equipment lets you breathe comfortably even if you don’t have any diving experience.
As you go on the tour, you’ll encounter sharks, rays, schooling fish, and other fascinating aquatic animals. You can spend more time appreciating the stunning marine life around you because you’re walking instead of swimming.
The SeaVenture Underwater Walking Tour is a safe, guided experience, perfect for families, non-swimmers, and anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind adventure.
Participants must be at least 10 years old to join the tour. Guests between 10 and 15 must be accompanied by a paying, participating adult.
Guests between 16 and 17 can join the expedition on their own as long as they have a waiver signed by an adult companion.
Participants do not need any certification to join the tour. Wetsuits and dive socks will be provided, but you need to bring a swimsuit.
4. SeaSub
If you want to experience the wonders of the One Ocean without getting wet, join the SeaSub Adventure.
Hop aboard the SeaWorld® Yas Island passenger research submersible that seats up to four people and is guided by the onsite expert team. You’ll then descend more than 20 meters into the Endless Ocean aquarium during the 45-minute dive.
During the tour, you’ll enjoy great underwater views and see the sharks, rays, fish, and other marine species up close without getting wet.
Participants must be at least eight years old to join the expedition. Guests between eight and 16 years old must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Guests aged 16 and 17 can join the tour without an accompanying adult but should present a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
Although these encounters come at additional cost, they are worth the splurge because they can make your day at SeaWorld® Yas Island more exciting and memorable.
