Page 46 November 2 0 1 6 By Ian Kraft The beach may not be in our backyard, but the sea life is! The OdySea Aquarium, located on Via de Ventura off the 101, opened its doors to the public on September 3. Spread across more than 200,000 square feet, the mammoth-sized Odysea offers its patrons attractions like a 3-D movie experience, an adjacent mirror maze, a 20-minute carousel ride and several interactive exhibits that include penguins, sharks and even an octopus. Filled with two million gallons of water, the complex is overflowing with unparalleled opportunities to learn about sea life. Considering it’s a stone’s throw away from the Butterfly Wonderland, it is safe to say the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is quickly becoming a must- visit for tourists and locals alike. The highlight of the OdySea experience lies in the SeaTrek underwater adventure. This hands-on diving activity immerses guests in water and sea life, and involves active participation in an underwater walk along the seafloor. Those who dare to partake will receive an OdySea wetsuit and helmet and be accompanied by a professional guide along the journey. Amram Knishinsky, OdySea’s founder, said his love for aquariums is deep and he is excited to share his vision with Phoenicians OdySea Aquarium opens gates to public

Page 47 November 2 0 1 6 Meet our teachers, ask about our STEM progr am, learn about our service learning progr am and see our updated facility! Visit our Open House on Nov. 4 from 9am – 2pm Or January 23 from 9am – 2pm or 5pm – 7pm Kindergarten Information Meeting 7pm 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org Christ Lutheran sChooL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 Tino Ferrulli In an age where electronic marketing is doing its best to overwhelm us, I must thank all of you for your referrals to me when your friends, neighbors and co-workers are looking for a new vehicle. These quality referrals come with your trust in the Team Tino approach of placing you in a Mercedes-Benz. When we do something right, tell everyone, and of course if we don’t live up to your expectations, tell me and I’ll fix it. Remember, to let your referral know to mention your name, because if they purchase or lease a vehicle from me, you will get rewarded as well. Our CPO sale continues to the end of March. Thank you for your referrals last year. teamtino@mb-scottsdale.com 4725 North Scottsdale Road • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 as well as outsiders. “I have traveled a lot in my life,” Knishinsky said. “Wherever I went in the world, I would love to visit the local aquariums. I noticed a while back that the Phoenix metropolitan area did not have a large aquarium, albeit there are some smaller ones around like Sea Life Arizona in Tempe and others.” Knishinsky, a former Navy soldier in his youth, explained that his passion for marine life came from his countless hours at sea and that bringing aquatic life to the desert has been a dream of his since he and his family docked in Paradise Valley, roughly 45 years ago. “[OdySea Aquarium] has been in my veins for a long time. It took a long time, but after 25 long, great years I have brought an aquarium to Phoenix that I can be proud of. That was my ultimate goal and I am thrilled to have this dream come to reality,” Knishinsky said. Knishinsky went on to explain that although the grand opening of OdySea is definitely something to celebrate, there is still work to be done, and a lot for visitors to look forward to in the future. “My team and I have been working on two concepts of late. One is called Paradise Earth. It is a 100,000 square foot rainforest atrium with around 5,000 birds flying freely,” Knishinsky said. He also mentioned his dream of creating a Jurassic Park -like dinosaur attraction . “There are big plans for the area and we hope to center it around a new hotel so people can come and experience all of the attractions over a weekend,” Knishinsky said. There is also an extra attraction next door to OdySea called Dolphinaris Arizona, which allows visitors to interact with dolphins and garner much needed knowledge about conservation efforts. Developed by Mexican-based Ventura Entertainment, the nation’s second-leading entertainment company, Knishinsky said, “It is a magnificent opportunity for people to come closer to dolphins than ever before, especially here in the desert.” The OdySea Aquarium is located at 9500 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale, slightly east of the Loop 101, and is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For information on pricing, directions and more, call 480-291-8000 or visit odyseaaquarium.com.