SeaWorld San Diego Reopens Upgraded Sea Turtle Habitat

SAN DIEGO, CA — A newly improved sea turtle habitat has reopened at SeaWorld San Diego. Turtle Reef was closed in October 2021 for enhancements and upgrades.

The habitat is home to endangered hawksbill sea turtles and threatened green and loggerhead sea turtles. Sea turtles are among more than 250 different species of animals that receive care and expertise at SeaWorld San Diego.

"Sea turtles play an important role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems including, among other things, maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs, but sadly every species is currently threatened or endangered," said Eric Otjen, curator of Zoological Operations and Animal Rescue at SeaWorld San Diego. "Through combining education with world class animal care and permanent homes for sea turtles that cannot be returned to the wild ocean, SeaWorld is furthering its conservation mission to protect marine animals and their habitats."

The upgraded habitat features eight new skylights, as well as a new large and seamless main viewing window. Flooring throughout the viewing areas were enhanced and repainted, and new themed rocks and additional air conditioning ducts were added to the area. Additional species of tropical fish are currently being introduced to the habitat.

Starting Saturday, SeaWorld will host daily Turtle Talks with an animal educator who will share sea turtle facts and stories of species in the habitat, as well as answer questions about the species and their environment.

The enhanced space also offers TurtleLink, a touch-screen map of the globe that allows guests to track sea turtles in oceans all over the world. There's also Race to the Beach, an interactive family-friendly video game that enables visitors to use a hand-held controller in the shape of a sea turtle and guide their animal to the Baja Peninsula to lay eggs, while navigating manmade and natural challenges that sea turtles face in the wild.