Hidden in the depths of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino is a wonderful oasis filled with aquatic wildlife known as Shark Reef Aquarium. To see a plethora of ocean creatures in a desert can be a mirage, but in Vegas, anything is possible, including…well, ocean creatures in the desert.

Stepping into the Shark Reef Aquarium, you will see billowing fluorescent pink jellyfish, scaly crocodiles, humongous fish that would make a sushi chef weep, and sharks of all ages and sizes.  Beautifully constructed, the aquarium boasts a “shipwrecked” room with panoramic views of the bottom of the “sea,” with prowling Green Sawfish, huge schools of tiny fish, playful sharks and even a treasure chest.

A delightful, 360-degree tunnel allows an optimal view of nature’s marine treasures. Shark Reef is the only aquarium in North America displaying the many predators of the sea — 2,000 predators, to be exact. Explore the jungle area of the aquarium dedicated to crocodiles, endangered lizards and piranhas that would make James Bond shiver. Touch a real live stingray in the shallow, fresh water pool. Although many of the sea-life here are aggressive, you can’t help but admire their beauty and perseverance to survive.

With the over-fished and ravaged oceans of the world, we must be conscious of every choice, whether at the supermarket or buying products that can affect the fate of sea-life in order to protect these not-so-gentle giants. If you are in Vegas, take a break from the debauchery and get in touch with the marine life, where all life started billions of years ago.