Aquarium Brings The 'SEA LIFE' To Great Lakes Crossing Outlets (Video)

By Edward Cardenas

AUBURN HILLS (CBS Detroit) - Visitors to the SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets can get up-close, and feel like they are swimming with sharks, bass and jelly fish at the indoor facility.

Throughout the 35,000-square-foot facility are a number of interactive displays which teach visitors about the creatures on display; fresh and salt water tanks which offer unique perspectives and a tunnel through a 120,000 tank.

"It is more than just what you might think of as a kid as an aquarium of a wall with tanks," said SEA LIFE Michigan Marketing Manager Debbie Gibb. "It's interactive, it's beautiful, it's really a work of art."

SEA LIFE hosted preview Thursday to the media and young environmentalists who were able to tour aquarium, interact with some of the sea creatures in a touchpool and come face to face with the sharks and stingrays.

"It was cool because you could see all the fish," Laurenana Stump, 10, of Shelby Township, who was able to stand in a bubble in the middle of one of the tanks and be surrounded by fish.

More than 5,000 creatures are on display in the aquarium, representing 250 species. In total, the aquarium has 180,000 gallons in the various themed exhibits including a shipwreck,a  coral reef and a sandy stingray lagoon.

Aquarium officials also plan on hosting school groups, and educating visitors, to further its brand motto, "Breed Rescue Protect."

"We are expecting lots of field trips to come on in," said Gibb, who added that there will be talks during the day for visitors.

The new aquarium will open to the public Jan. 29.